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Callouts 2015

DSRT Admin

DSRT Admin

Sunday, 22 September 2013 14:09

Callout for high risk missing person, Torbay

Callout for high risk missing person, Torbay

At 22:55 on the 22nd September the team were called out by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist in a field search for a high risk male missing person on the edge of Torbay. Thirty minutes after the callout was initiated, the team were stood down as they made their way to the RV

Saturday, 05 October 2013 14:06

Lost in the Upper Dart Valley

Lost in the Upper Dart Valley

Our Team Leader was contacted by the Police following a call for help made by a small group who had become lost in the Upper Dart Gorge area below Dr Blackalls Drive. He contacted the group by phone and assisted in helping them relocate themselves and finding their way back to their car.

Sunday, 06 October 2013 14:05

One of our quickest ‘finds’ ever

One of our quickest ‘finds’ ever

On Sunday October 6th, our team leader and a number of our team members and search managers were deployed in the Cross Furze area near Buckfastleigh assisting with the annual Abbots Way Walk from Buckfast Abbey to Tavistock providing radio and safety cover for the event.

During the event our Team Leader was contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police with regard to a missing despondent from the Buckfastleigh area and was asked if the team members could maintain a lookout and sweep some of the local roads.

A few minutes after the contact, leaving our Control Vehicle to engage some team members on a search, our team leader spotted a person matching the description about 100 metres away and deployed a team member to investigate. The individual was confirmed as being the missing person and handed over to the care of the Police.

Having brought the search to a successful conclusion we carried on with our task in hand of supporting the Abbots Way.

Thursday, 31 October 2013 14:03

Missing child search in Abbotskerswell

Missing child search in Abbotskerswell

At 22:20 a full team callout was issued to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a missing person search around Abbotskerswell. A child had gone missing from his bedroom at around 21:15

Fortunately shortly after the call was raised the child was found safe and well and the team were stood down at 23:12.

Fullscale search for 60 year old man in Chudleigh

A full team callout was issued by Devon and Cornwall Police on Sunday November 3rd to assist with a search for a missing male in his 60’s at Chudleigh. The team were on site at 09:30 and began a systematic search of the areas highlighted by the Police Lost Person Search Manager (LPSM). Alongside our volunteers, the Police helicopter was also deployed in the search.

A body was found mid morning and the subsequent Police investigation identified the body as that of the missing person Mike Vincent.

The thoughts and sympathies of the team are with the gentleman’s family and friends at this sad time.

Friday, 29 November 2013 13:58

Police concerned for missing 50 yr old male

Police concerned for missing 50 yr old male

A full team callout was initiated at 2am this morning to assist the Devon and Cornwall Police in a search for a missing 50 year old male.

Police are growing increasingly concerned for the male who is regarded as vulnerable and was last seen at around 7am on Sunday 17 November outside of the Spar shop, in Battle Road, Heathfield, Newton Abbot.

He is thought to be in the Heathfield area.

Stuart is described as white, aged 50, of medium build with short brown wavy hair. He was last seen wearing trousers and a coat with a back pack.

He has a brace on his right leg and walks with the aid of two crutches.

If anyone has seen Stuart or has any information regarding his current whereabouts then please contact the police on 101 quoting police reference 523 of 281113.

UPDATE 29/11/2013 08:10

The missing male has been located safe and well.

Railway lines searched in Exeter missing person inquiry

The team were called to the Exeter St David’s area on Wed 11th Dec, to assist the Police in locating a vulnerable missing person from the city.

The search centred around the river and rail lines for approx 2.5 hours, before being informed that she had travelled out of the area.

Race to find missing Newton Abbot teen before storm

A full team callout was initiated at 20:51 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police, as well as Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, in the search for a vulnerable teenager who had been missing in the Newton Abbot area since mid afternoon. Due to the deteriorating weather forecast, torrential rain, winds and swollen rivers, a coordinated search was put into action quickly in an effort to locate missing person before conditions deteriorated further.

A find

Around midnight, the missing person was found by one of our team members, safe and well and the search was brought to a successful close.

We would like to thank all our volunteers for turning out to search for the individual on what was a a very wet and windy night.

Major search for missing Noss Mayo teen following storm

noss mayo

On Thursday January 2nd, Noss Mayo teenager Harry Martin left his home on foot and it is thought he was going out to take photographs. He was last seen walking in the direction of the coastal path near to his home around noon and he hasn’t been reported as seen since.

Police, Coastguard, our colleagues in the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team at Plymouth and the Plymouth Lifeboat conducted extensive searches around the coast and inland in the area. The police helicopter and RNAS Culdrose helicopter were also involved in the search. On Saturday the 4th, it was reported that over 100 people from the local community also assisted in the search along side the emergency services and professional search and rescue teams.

On Sunday 5th January our volunteers were tasked to assist with this search that had been ongoing since he was reported missing.

It was a long day starting at 9am for our teams searching in difficult weather conditions. Our last team returned to the search control at just before 6pm and were been stood down for the night. Our teams were tasked by Devon and Cornwall Police to search inland areas around Noss Mayo, Bridgend and Membland where Harry’s family live. This included farmland as well as copse and woodlands that were quite difficult to penetrate in areas. Unfortunately no indication of what has happened to Harry was forthcoming during our search.

We would just like to thank the ladies of the WRVS who provided refreshments for all involved in the search throughout the day. Thank you ladies, your efforts were very much appreciated.

INCIDENT UPDATE 16/01/2014

Police have confirmed that a body found in the sea at Noss Mayo on 11 January was that of missing teenager Harry Martin. Police, partner agencies and members of the public were involved in extensive searches of the area and the body of a man was found at Carswell Bay just after 10am on Saturday 11th.

Formal identification took place yesterday and Harry’s family has been informed.

An inquest is due to open on Monday 20th January..

Press Reports

The incident has been extensively reported by the media and links to some of the reports are included below.

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25611454

Thursday, 09 January 2014 10:19

Sad end to missing person search in Exmouth

Sad end to missing person search in Exmouth

A full team callout was initiated at 01:31 this morning following a request by Devon & Cornwall Police to search inland areas for a vulnerable female missing person in the Orcombe / Straight Point area of Exmouth, Devon.

Exmouth inshore lifeboat in action

 Picture credit: RNLI/Emma Tarling 

Police, Exmouth Coastguard, Exmouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, the Police Helicopter and a Search and Rescue Helicopter from RMB Chivenor had already thoroughly searched the cliff tops, sea and immediate surrounding areas from Foxholes to Straight Point.

Our initial search with our colleagues from North Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team didn’t locate the individual and we were tasked to complete a low-tide shoreline search where a body was discovered at the foot of cliffs at 05:30 in a location that was totally inaccessible by any Search and Rescue asset the previous night.

Exmouth Coastguard Officers were re-tasked to assist us with the recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Family and Friends of the deceased at this very sad and difficult time.

Press Reports

Exmouth Journal: http://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/woman_found_dead_at_orcombe_point_1_3190154

Missing elderly male in Torquay gives cause for concern

A full team callout was issued this morning at 05:50 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a vulnerable elderly male in Torquay. Shortly after the callout text was issued, the male was located by a member of the public before the team were deployed.

Thanks to all our volunteers who left their beds and attended.

Missing walker lost with no torch, map or compass.

The second full team callout of the day was issued at 18:25 to search for a female walker who had gone for a walk around the Avon Dam Reservoir on the south moor earlier in the day and become lost.

Our mobile Control Vehicle and team members rendezvoused at Cross Furzes on the Abbots Way and were briefed on the search and individual teams sent out to comb areas where the missing walker was thought likely to be.

A quick find and safe evacuation was made possible by one of our senior team members who having spoken to the casualty on the phone. identified her most likely position thereby allowing the control team to deploy assets to the appropriate area. Our volunteers found the missing lady safe and well at the Heap of Sinners cairn on Huntingdon Warren.

Apart from being a little cold and wet, she was otherwise unharmed by the experience and was walked to our Land Rover and driven off the moor. The lady was extremely grateful for our assistance having gone out on a stroll without a map, compass or torch.

Thanks to all our volunteers who attended and brought the incident to a successful close.

Thanks to our colleagues at Plymouth and a search dog who were put on standby for the callout but were fortunately not required.

Be Adventure Smart!

https://www.dsrtashburton.org.uk/advice/hill-safety-be-prepared

Thursday, 30 January 2014 10:13

Callout to investigate Parachute flares

Callout to investigate Parachute flares

Shortly after 8:30 this morning the team was notified of flares having been seen in the Kestor / Gidleigh Park area of North East Dartmoor National Park. The team was called out along with our colleagues from North Dartmoor SRT to investigate.

On arrival, the source of the flares became very apparent. The Royal Marines were out on training. Team then stood down and back to our day jobs.

Person missing from Totnes at height of storm

rescue post

The team were called at 19:16 on Friday February 7th 2014 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a person who had been reported missing earlier in the day from the Totnes area.

The circumstances including the weather conditions and state of the River Dart, gave cause to our Duty Search Manager to issue the callout request to our 60 volunteers despite the heavy rain and strong winds predicted.

Our volunteers rendezvoused at Totnes Police Station and shortly after were stood down when further intelligence indicated that the missing lady was safe and well.

Concern for missing kayaker overdue on The River Dart

water team at night

At 19:22 on Tuesday 11th February, the team were called out to assist in the search for a missing kayaker who was missing whilst kayaking the Upper Dart downstream from Dartmeet.

Fortunately, whilst our volunteers were on their way to the rendeavous at Dartmeet, the kayaker was found safe and well at Holne Bridge.

Team stood down at 19:44

Saturday, 22 February 2014 09:59

Concern for missing 8 year old girl

Concern for missing 8 year old girl

landrover

The team were called along with our colleagues at North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing 8 year old girl.

The girl had gone missing whilst on a walk with her family on the Meldon Hill area near Chagford. Fortunately, the girl was found by Police shortly after and we were stood down whilst on our way to the callout location.

Helicopter evacuation after walker collapses

Abbots Way land rover

The team were called out to a female who had collapsed on the south of Dartmoor National Park at lunchtime today. The walker was evacuated by Devon Air Ambulance whilst the team was on route to her location near Redlake.

A body found in search for missing Plymouth man

vehicle sideA body has been found by search teams looking for missing Plymouth man around midday today.
 
The team were called out by the Police this morning to assist in the ongoing search for a missing Plymouth man. Police, the Police helicopter and volunteers from a number of Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams including Ashburton, were searching the area around Burrator reservoir after the missing man’s car was found there.
 
The man was reported missing to police on Sunday at around 7.15pm.
 
The family have been informed and formal ID will take place in due course. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared on behalf of the coroner.
 
Our thoughts are with the gentleman’s family.

Exeter search for male in ‘distressed state’

At 18:45 yesterday the team was asked to search for a male in his 20’s reported to be in a ‘distressed state’ in the university area of Exeter.

30+ members of North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton and 2 SARDA search dog attended and after nearly 5 hours of searching, nothing was found.

The police are continuing their inquiries and have launched an appeal

Police appeal

Police in Exeter have issued an appeal to the public in a bid to trace and identify a man who was seen in a distressed state in the city. Officers attended Streatham Drive at around 3.30pm yesterday, Wednesday, 26 March 2014 after receiving a report regarding a man who was in tears at the fishpond in the university grounds.

The man in question was not wearing any shoes and was noticed to have a mark around his neck. Officers have not been able to trace or identify the man and are concerned for his welfare. He is described as being in his 20s, around 5ft 10in tall, of medium to thin build, unshaven and with short curly hair. He was wearing a green jacket and green trousers which were rolled up to the top of his ankles.

Search in Ilsington for vulnerable pensioner

The team were called out at 02:17 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a vulnerable elderly missing person in the Ilsington area on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

The lady was found safe and well and the team stood down at 05:36 and it was off to the day jobs for our volunteers.

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Concern for vulnerable missing male sparks Teignmouth search

The team were called out at 19:15 on Friday April 12th by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist in the search for a high risk missing male.

The search was centre around Teignmouth and its golf course near to the mans home and included around 30 Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers.

Our Mountain rescue Landrover DART52 at Teignmouth Golf Course

The search continued to after midnight with no further sightings reported.

Man located

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police received a call from the individual asking for help. The Police Helicopter located him (and his mountain bike) in a field near Silverton in East Devon, and airlifted him to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital where he is recovering.

Dartmoor Rescue team members preparing to leave on a search at Teignmouth Golf Course Devon

Dartmoor Rescue team members preparing to leave on a search at Teignmouth Golf Course Devon

Mincinglake Park search for missing person in Exeter

Police and our control vehicle at Mincinglake Park, Exeter during a callout looking for a missing female

The team were called out today shortly after 3pm to assist our colleagues at North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team with a search for a missing female in Exeter. Team members were deployed to search areas around Mincinglake Park. Fortunately further Police Intelligence received meant the lady was found and the team was stood down around 8:15pm.

Its been a busy weekend for our volunteers working hard at the Dartmoor Classic and many traveling straight to the Callout. We’d like to thank them and their families for the amazing support and enthusiasm that they continue to bring to the team.

Multi agency respond to Stoke Gabriel search

A full Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton callout was issued at 19:12 on the 29th July 2014 to assist in a search for a missing female in the vicinity of Stoke Gabriel on the River Dart.

Landrover Ambulanc with a Police car behind that is semi obscured

A multi agency response had been issued by Devon and Cornwall Police that included our volunteers alongside Police officers, the Police helicopter, HM Coastguard and a Inshore RNLI Lifeboat. The Police were concerned for the safety of a female in her 50’s who it was believed had gone for a walk during the morning the previous day and not returned.

Our duty Search Manager, in consultation with the Police Lost Person Search Manager (LPSM), coordinated our response and assigned 3 teams of our volunteers to search areas around Stoke Gabriel. Around 10pm a team of our volunteers searching an area to the North West of Stoke Gabriel on the banks of The Dart, heard a voice calling for help from the opposite bank approximately 100 metres away. The identity of the missing lady was confirmed and another DSRT team was directed to her location through difficult terrain where a team Doctor assessed her condition.

Isolated location

Due to her isolated location that was difficult to reach by foot, Coastguard and an RNLI inshore Lifeboat was called to assist and she was evacuated by boat, accompanied by a Team Doctor, to a waiting land ambulance at a landing point at Kingswear.

An Ashburton team spokesman said ‘We are delighted the lady has been found following a lot of hard work by all agencies involved. Due to the difficult terrain around her location, all agencies worked together to affect an efficient evacuation. It’s on searches like this that inter-agency team working is essential to a successful outcome, and this was displayed perfectly this evening’.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton is a voluntary organisation of 60 members who are on call 24×365 to assist in search and rescue of the missing, lost, injured and vulnerable on Dartmoor and across Devon including urban areas like Exeter, Torbay and Newton Abbot. Public support is vital as 92% of their funding is from public donation.

Press Articles

Torbay Herald Express: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Woman-land-air-river-search-Stoke-Gabriel/story-22017673-detail/story.html

We are South Devon: http://wearesouthdevon.com/woman-found-stoke-gabriel-full-scale-search/

Wednesday, 06 August 2014 09:35

Belstone walker found dead following search

Belstone walker found dead following search

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton members consulting a map during a night search

At 23:36 last night the team were called to assist our North Moor colleagues with a Devon and Cornwall Police coordinated search for a missing male walker in the Belstone area on North Dartmoor.

The gentleman had become separated from his group earlier in the evening after going for a short walk, and the alarm was raised by his colleagues when he failed to return to their car. We joined the search alongside North Moor and SARDA search colleagues, and a Seaking Helicopter from 22 Squadron A-Flight RAF Chivenor.

In the early hours of this morning the gentleman was located in Halstock Woods by one of the search teams.

Not suspicious

Police today confirmed that the man had been found deceased and the circumstances were not suspicious. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “The family of the man, who was a visitor to the area and not local, have been informed of his death.”

A post-mortem is due to be carried out and a report will be filed for the coroner.

A team spokesman said “We are very grateful to all the volunteers from the Okehampton and Ashburton teams who turned out to join the search and bring it to a swift conclusion. Our thoughts are with the gentleman’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Sunday, 14 September 2014 09:32

Search for missing male in Teign Valley

Search for missing male in Teign Valley

At 12:02 pm on Sunday 14th September a full team callout was issued to assist Devon and Cornwall Police in a search for a missing male in the Teign Valley. The male was considered high risk and the Police were concerned for his welfare.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton team members involved in the Teign Valley search

Working alongside the Police LPSM (Lost Person Search Manager) our Search Manager deployed our teams to search woodland areas around his home, whilst the Police helicopter was deployed to search areas of open ground. A team spokesman said “These searches are tough as the terrain is frequently steep and unpredictable and covered in thick bramble and undergrowth making it difficult to cover the ground thoroughly”.

Our volunteers searched until daylight faded around 20:00 when the team was stood down with no further sign of where the male may be.

UPDATE Monday 15th September

The missing man was found safe and well in Exeter. Just after 12 midday.

Tuesday, 23 September 2014 09:30

Callout to high risk missing female in Chagford

Callout to high risk missing female in Chagford

At 16:57 on Tuesday 23rd September the team were called out to search for a missing high risk 67 year old female in the Chagford area.

Fortunately shortly after the callout was initiated the lady was found and the team were stood down on the way to the rendezvous.

Saturday, 11 October 2014 09:29

Ederly male gone missing from Torquay home

Ederly male gone missing from Torquay home

We were called at 0250 on Saturday by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in a search for an elderly male missing from home in Torquay. The Team Leader was pleased to hear that the missing person had been located safe and well shortly before sending a callout message to the team.

Tuesday, 14 October 2014 09:25

Missing 80 year old male in Teignmouth

Missing 80 year old male in Teignmouth

We were called today at 19.25 by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist them, alongside HM Coastguard and Teignmouth RNLI, in a search for an 80 year old male missing from the Teignmouth area.

We were very pleased to hear that he had been found safe and well by the Lifeboat crew at 19.55.

Over 20 members were already en route or at the RV point, but we were all happy to return home, knowing that the gentleman was in safe hands.

Saturday, 18 October 2014 09:21

Exeter pensioner found asleep under bush

Exeter pensioner found asleep under bush

At 03:21 on Saturday 18th October, the team were called by Devon & Cornwall Police to search for a missing 77 year old female who had gone in missing in Exeter.

Shortly after the callout was initiated, the team were stood down when the lady was found asleep under a bush by Police officers.

Injured kayaker sparks search in upper River Dart valley

At 21:34 on Sunday 19th October 2014 our volunteers were called to assist Devon and Cornwall Police in the search and rescue of 2 kayakers who were overdue whilst kayaking the Upper Dart Valley between Dartmeet and Newbridge.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton covers the popular kayaking stretch of the River Dart in the Upper Dart Valley between dartmeet and Newbridge

The group of kayakers had come to Devon for the day to kayak the popular stretch of the River Dart. Having already completed the section of river once, the group returned to Dartmeet for a second run. Unfortunately mid way through the route around 4pm, one of the team capsized and hit a rock under water with his shoulder taking the impact. He managed to right himself again and soon realised that although his injury wasn’t serious, it would inhibit him enough to make completing the route very difficult. The group decided to split up with one member staying with his injured colleague whilst the rest completed the route and raised the alarm when their colleagues didn’t make it back to the car at Dartmeet.

With little daylight remaining, negotiating the gorge on foot with no torches whilst carrying their kayaks and a shoulder injury, the pair decided to sit tight and wait for rescue.

We arrived on the scene around 10pm. Our Control vehicle was set up at Bel Tor Corner from which multiple field search teams, including a team of our Swiftwater rescue specialists, were deployed into the gorge at various points.

A team spokesman said “The missing kayakers were located beside the river below Lucky Tor fairly quickly and were a little cold. Our Search Manager directed teams to their position from both sides of the gorge to aid their evacuation. After a medical assessment, it was deemed that they were able to walk out with one of our search teams to a waiting ambulance at Venford Reservoir, whilst their kayaks were recovered by a separate team. Fortunately the injury to one of the pair didn’t require hospital treatment.”

Callout to search and rescue missing kayakers in the upper River Dart gorge

We can’t provide our service without the dedication of our volunteers as our Search manager acknowledged. “Many thanks to 29 of our volunteers who attended and finally made it back to their beds just after 2am in the morning ready for work on Monday.”

Although the kayakers did have some emergency supplies and a first aid kit with them, it would be a good idea when tackling this stretch of river to add a torch to the equipment list. The gorge is very difficult to negotiate due to the steep terrain and undergrowth, and if you have problems a good torch can help you find a safe path and also signal to rescuers.

Swiftwater Rescue Technician in action

A short video of one of our swift water rescue level 3 technicians in action in the River Dart during the callout.

Saturday, 01 November 2014 08:47

Torquay Pensioner found following major search

Torquay Pensioner found following major search

At 17:43 today, our team of volunteers were called out to assist Devon and Cornwall Police in searching for a missing elderly male in the Babbacombe area of Torquay.

Peter Farmer aged 83 and a dementia sufferer, was last seen around 2pm, and as night fell the Police became increasingly concerned for his welfare.

Our teams of volunteers worked alongside the Police, Torbay RNLI, HM Coastguard and Rescue 106 helicopter launched from Portland in a major multi agency response.

Further care

Our Search Manager said “Shortly after 8pm Peter was located by one of our search teams a little rain soaked and confused and was attended to by one of our team Doctor’s before being handed over to the South West Ambulance Service for further care.”

“We frequently train with other agencies to make sure that when deployed on an incident, all agencies are aware of each others capabilities and work seamlessly together to give the best chance of success. Tonight this hard work paid off and we are very pleased that Mr Farmer has been found swiftly.”

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton have approximately 60 men and women on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist the Police in searches not just on Dartmoor but across Devon including urban areas like Torquay.

Friday, 21 November 2014 08:44

Exeter student defeated by thick mist

Exeter student defeated by thick mist

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton, affiliated to Mountain Rescue called out to find a missing walker around Shipley Bridge. Found by the team she was none the worse for her ordeal

A female student from Exeter found herself disorientated this evening after she was caught out by mist on the Avon Dam Reservoir area of south Dartmoor.

Lost, she contacted Police on her mobile phone and called for help. Our Search Manager was contacted and initiated a full team callout at 17:45. Whilst our volunteers made their way to the area, our Search Manager managed to contact the walker by phone and having made an assessment of her rough location, advised her to head South and follow water courses.

On arrival of our volunteers our Search Manager then directed a team on to the moor to the west side of the Avon Dam Reservoir, and shortly before 19:00 the lady was located by the team, safe and well.

Following the successful find by team members our Search Manager said ” The lady did the right thing. She had been caught out by the thick mist in the area and called for help. Our volunteers train for this type of incident and we are glad we were able to locate her quickly. She was none the worse for her ordeal but perhaps a little wiser in that the weather on the moor can catch you out and you need to be prepared.”

Tuesday, 25 November 2014 08:39

Police concern for 88 year old in Torquay

Police concern for 88 year old in Torquay

dark control vehicle

A team callout was issued at 17:13 on Tuesday 25th November to assist the Police in searching for an elderly vulnerable male that had gone missing during the day in Torquay and hadn’t been seen since around 08:30am.

There was additional concern for the gentleman’s welfare due to the cold and wet weather.

Fortunately shortly after the team was deployed, the gentleman was found outside our search area by a member of the public at around 18:30 who called the Police.

A team spokesman said “We, alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, would like to thank the public and media for their assistance in finding Harry safe and well.”

Friday, 28 November 2014 08:33

Major Dartmoor search for Ashburton man

Major Dartmoor search for Ashburton man

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton, Affiliated to Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and Dartmoor Rescue Group, on site at a search looking for a missing Ashburton male

A very long search in Dartmoor National Park yesterday for our Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team (DSRT) Ashburton volunteers following a callout that was issued at 11:11. The incident was controlled by DSRT Search Managers who coordinated the efforts of all 4 DSRT teams, search dogs, Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service and Devon Cave Rescue Organisation, as well as police search teams.

We finally stood down at 00:30 last night, 13 hours after the initial call out to the team. We left colleagues from the cave rescue teams to concentrate on some mine workings.

The search effort will continue today.

Dave Underhill, DSRT Ashburton Search Manager said “We are all concerned for Morley’s welfare. If anybody has any information on the whereabouts of Morley Petherick, please contact Devon & Cornwall Police by dialing 101.” Log now closed following Morley’s return on 1st December.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton, Affiliated to Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and Dartmoor Rescue Group, on site at a search looking for a missing Ashburton male

A link to the Police appeal is below.

http://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=9f697c01-805f-415f-b2f2-e9d05c5a445f

Saturday, 29 November 2014 08:25

Search for missing Ashburton man continues

Search for missing Ashburton man continues

We are pleased to report that Morley has returned on his own accord today.

Callout report –

Devon based rescue team Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton, affiliated to Dartmoor Rescue Group and Mountain Rescue England and Wales, were deployed on a major multi agency search for missing Ashburton man Morley Petherick.

Following a very long search on Thursday looking for Ashburton man Morley Petherick, our Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team (DSRT) Ashburton volunteers were asked to cover additional search areas today.

The searching continued for the missing man in the Ashburton area. Around 30 our members and DSRT Plymouth, plus two search dogs and 12 members of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service searched throughout the day. Unfortunately the search revealed no further information as to what has happened to Morley and our search teams were stood down 6pm.

Morley was last seen on Sunday night (27th Nov) at his home on Dartmoor, just north of Ashburton. He is believed to be wearing a green shooting jacket, blue jeans and white trainers, and is believed to be in possession of a black and yellow torch. He has no phone, money, bank cards, or any other personal items.  

Press articles

wearesouthdevon.com

Paignton search is fourth in a week for volunteers

2nd callout of the day

On Saturday evening the 29th November the team were called out to search for a missing 83 year old tourist missing near Paignton in Devon. The lady was believed to be an alzheimer patient so the team prepared to attend another search after being out all day on the 2nd day of a search for missing Ashburton man Morley Petherick.

Lady is found

Fortunately shortly after the callout had been issued and team members made their way to the rendezvous, the lady was found and the team were stood down.

This has been a very busy week for our team of volunteers with 4 callouts and 2 days of extending searching as part of a major multi agency response in looking for Morley. A team spokesman said “We would like to extend our deep appreciation to our volunteers and their families who have squeezed in 4 callouts in amongst family commitments and their day jobs. Being part of a search and rescue team is a huge commitment and this week has certainly been a very busy week.”

Saturday, 10 January 2015 18:01

Teenager missing in Ashburton

Teenager missing in Ashburton

At 04:31 on Saturday 10th January a full team callout was issued to search for a teenager who had been missing since 01:00. Fortunately, just before 05:00 the missing person was located by The Police and the team was stood down.

Concern for high risk missing person in Brixham

Control vehicle and landrover ambulance

At 01:47 on Saturday 17th January, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton were called out to search for a high risk missing person in the Brixham area.

In freezing conditions and often treacherous ground the team continued until being stood down at 13:05 on Saturday lunchtime. Shortly after the missing woman was found safe and well.

Thanks to all our volunteers who turned out, along with assistance from DSRT Plymouth and HM Coastguard.

 

Wednesday, 04 February 2015 17:54

Haldon forest search in freezing temperatures

Haldon forest search in freezing temperatures

At 02:16 on Wednesday 4th February 2015 our volunteers were called to assist Devon and Cornwall Police in the search for a high risk missing person in Haldon Forest.

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Team members searched woodland in darkness and freezing temperatures until 06:45 when they completed their search areas.

The missing person was later located by police in a different part of the woods outside our allotted search area.

Velntine's Day paddle finishes with helicopter airlift

The team were called at 16.45 yesterday, 14th February, to an injured kayaker on the upper Dart. Information about the exact location was coming in piecemeal as the team was making its way to the RV whilst Rescue 169(RAF) Sea King winched the injured kayaker and transferred him to Derriford Hospital.

The team received conflicting information about the rest of the party and their intentions but located all the remaining kayakers and assisted them for the last leg of their walk out of the upper Dart valley.

Best wishes to the injured party and well done to his colleagues who were reasonably equipped and managed their self rescue well.

Also on scene and many thanks to Devon and Cornwall Police, NPAS Exeter, BASICS Devon, SWAST and 22 SquadronRAF

Team called to join Widecombe-in-the-Moor search

The classic Mountain Rescue 'Rescue Post' plate on display at the Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team - Ashburton's rescue base near Buckfastleigh in Devon

At 20:17 the team were called to search for a missing person in the Widecombe-in-the-Moor area of SE Dartmoor. Fortunately the missing person was located whilst the team was on route and our volunteers were stood down and returned to their homes.

Exeter search following report of missing vulnerable person

A full team callout was issued at 20:29 on Tuesday 24th March to search for a vulnerable adult who had been reported missing in the Countess wear area of Exeter.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton, affiliated to Mountain Rescue England and Wales has a Swift Water Rescue capability comprising of a team of Swift Water Rescue Technicians

Devon and Cornwall Police were sufficiently concerned for his safety to initiate a multi agency response consisting of, Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue swift water rescue team, an NPAS Police helicopter, North Dartmoor Search and Rescue and our own search teams including our swift water rescue team.

The response

The response concentrated on the River Exe and Exeter Canal areas in the city to the north and south of Countess wear bridge with both foot and water teams being deployed.

We were stood down shortly before 01:00 on the 25th March as the missing person returned to his home.

Dartmoor walker collapses from heat exhaustion

During a sponsored walk event organised by Dartmoor SRT Ashburton on Sunday 19th April, one of the walkers collapsed suffering from heat-related exhaustion.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton Landrover Ambulance alongside South West Ambulance Trust Ambulance

Team members were quickly on-scene to stabilise the female casualty in her 50’s, and then evacuate a short distance to a waiting Ambulance where, after receiving assessment and further treatment, was well enough to return home.

Team spokesman

A team spokesperson said that “due to the nature of the safety cover provided for the event, team members were well placed to respond rapidly and effectively to prevent her condition from worsening, and provide effective evacuation from a remote location.

Monday, 20 April 2015 14:07

Injured walker evacuation from Dartmoor

Injured walker evacuation from Dartmoor

The team were called out today at 18.50 to assist the ambulance service at an incident in the Scorriton area on Dartmoor. The casualty, who had been walking with a group, had injured an ankle.

Dartmoor Search and rescue team Ashburton Landrover ambulance DART52

The first team members arrived at the casualty site at 19.20, where paramedics were already in attendance. Team members then evacuated the casualty by Landrover to the South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust ambulance at the road head.

Thursday, 23 April 2015 13:28

Missing person callout in Torquay

Missing person callout in Torquay

The team were called at 12:51 on Thursday 23rd April to assist the Devon and Cornwall Police in a search for a vulnerable 74 year old female in Torquay. Fortunately on the way to the incident our team was stood down.

Side of control vehicle displaying mountain rescue logo

Dartmoor Rescue on search in  Beer and Seaton East Devon

Our control vehicle and landrover ambulance side by side. Photo shows front of landrover and side of control vehicle

After being placed on standby, a full team callout was issued at 11:39 to search for a high risk missing person in the Beer / Seaton area of East Devon.

Shortly after arrival of search manager and the first team members the missing person was located and coastguard and police responded. It was agreed that further assistance from DSRT Ashburton was not required and the team stood down.

Thanks to Exmoor Search and Rescue and our Dartmoor Rescue colleagues at Okehampton who were also en route to assist.

Concern for missing Bovey Tracey man with dementia

At 00:04 on Friday 3rd July, a full team callout was issued following a request by Devon and Cornwall Police to help in a search for a missing 63 year old male with dementia in the Bovey Tracey area who had been missing since earlier in the evening.

Dartmoor Rescue Ashburton's Mountain Rescue Landrover DART52

Fortunately, shortly after the callout was issued, the male was located by Police in Moretonhampstead and our volunteers were stood down at 00:31 and returned to their beds.

Search sparked due to abandoned kayak on River Teign

At 16:39 today a team callout was issued to assist the Police and the NPAS Police Helicopter with a search of the River Teign around New Bridge just to the south of Chudleigh Knighton.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Control Vehcile (DART02) and Landriover Ambulance (DART52) on site whilst assisting Police with a search on the River Teign near Chudleigh Knighton

The search was instigated following the report from a member of the public of a damaged and abandoned kayak found on the river.

Swiftwater Rescue Technicians

Team members including our Swiftwater Rescue Technicians searched the river in the area including the banks before being stood down around 7:15 pm following the receipt of further information.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers on site whilst assisting Police with a search on the River Teign near Chudleigh Knighton

Thanks to all our volunteers who attended.

Friday, 07 August 2015 12:49

Walker injured in Upper Dart Valley slip

Walker injured in Upper Dart Valley slip

The team were called today at 16:59 to assist the South West Ambulance Service with the extraction of a casualty who had sustained a minor lower leg injury after slipping by the river in the Upper Dart Valley.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers worked alongside ambulance service personnel to effect a rescue from the Upper Dart Valley

Paramedics were in attendance to assess the casualty’s injury before she was packaged on to our stretcher. Once secure, a rope system was put in place to relay the casualty up the steep side of the valley to safety and a land ambulance.

The lady was taken to hospital to have her injury x-rayed.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers worked alongside ambulance service personnel to effect a rescue from the Upper Dart Valley

Our duty search manager commented

“This was a perfect example of our volunteers working alongside full-time emergency service personnel to effect the safe rescue of casualty from a difficult to access location. We wish the lady a very speedy recovery.”

Update

We’ve since been told that the lady concerned was found to have chipped a bone in her foot and is now on crutches and expected to make a full recovery

Monday, 10 August 2015 12:41

Body on beach at Budleigh Salterton

Body on beach at Budleigh Salterton

The team of volunteers were called at 20:50 last night Sunday 9th August to search for a high risk female in the area around Budleigh Salterton in East Devon.

Landrover Ambulance with a Police car behind that is semi obscured

The lady had been reported missing earlier in the day and a search involving the coastguard and Devon and Cornwall Police had taken place.

We continued searching specific areas around the town and the River Otter with our colleagues at North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team until around 02:15am with no signs of the lady’s whereabouts.

We have been stood down for the time being whilst the Police continue with their enquiries.

 

Update from Devon & Cornwall Police 17th August 2015

Body found on beach, believed to be missing woman.

The body of a woman was found at Budleigh Salterton beach shortly before 6pm on Friday 14 August. The body was found not far from Steamer steps by a member of the public and is believed to be the missing person Jayne Brocklehurst. 48-year-old Jayne was last seen on Saturday 8 August in Budleigh Salterton. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the family have been informed.

Our thoughts are with the lady’s family and friends.

Wednesday, 19 August 2015 12:36

Search volunteers called to Countess weir

Search volunteers called to Countess weir

Vehicles

A full team callout was issued at 13:25 on Wednesday 19th August to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing middle aged male. We were stood down around 18:30 following searches in the Countess Wear area of the city.

After we were stood down, the man concerned was located safe and well in Exeter.

Missing person located following 8 hour Dartmoor search

At 20:52 on Monday 28th September, a full team callout was issued to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing female in her late 40’s. The lady had been last sighted in the Haytor Down and Holwell Lawn area earlier in the day and the Police were concerned for her safety.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton members consulting a map during a night search

The search involved around 30 of our volunteers, Police and the Police helicopter. As the night wore on, search managers were confident the lady was still in the area and our colleagues at DSRT Tavistock were placed on standby to continue the systematic search once our volunteers were stood down around 03:00

Fortunately the lady was located around 04:30 this morning by a DSRT Tavistock team where she was given medical attention on site before being evacuated to a land ambulance.

Our team duty search manager said “We believe the lady concerned was moving throughout the evening and hence made our search even more challenging. We are very grateful to all our volunteers who turned out overnight and those from our sister team at Tavistock who brought the search to a successful conclusion.”

 

Press reports

Torbay Herald Express: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Missing-woman-Dartmoor-following-overnight-search/story-27887684-detail/story.html#ixzz3n7kO4nHq

Sunday, 08 November 2015 12:29

Callout Interrupts Trainee Selection Day

Injured walker at Hameldown Tor

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers worked alongside ambulance personnel to effect a rescue from the Upper Dart Valley

Saturday November 11th we were hosting our annual selection day for new prospective team members when at 11:20 we were called to assist South Western Ambulance Trust with an injured person in the Hameldown Tor area.

On route to the callout we were stood down when the injured person was able to make it to the roadside and a waiting ambulance crew.

Thursday, 17 December 2015 12:25

Search instigated at South Brent

Search instigated at South Brent

At 19:08 on Thursday 17th December the team were called to assist the Devon and Cornwall Police with a missing person search in the South Brent area of South Dartmoor. On the way to the RV, our volunteers were stood down as the person was located at Buckfast Abbey safe and well.

Landrover Ambulance with a Police car behind that is semi obscured.

Sunday, 27 December 2015 12:12

Devon volunteers called to Yorkshire floods

Devon volunteers called to Yorkshire floods

The team have been called out, alongside other Dartmoor teams and Exmoor, to assist with the flood situation in Yorkshire.

Please spare a thought for the 16 DSRT Ashburton members who are driving to York right now to assist with flood recovery work. Please also think of their families and friends whose sacrifice often gets missed.

The search and rescue teams from Dartmoor, Exmoor and Cornwall are all supporting this effort to respond to flooding alongside team members from many mountain rescue teams nationwide.

Please spare a thought for the 16 DSRT Ashburton members who are driving to York right now to assist with flood recovery work. Please also think of their families and friends whose sacrifice often gets missed. The search and rescue teams from Dartmoor, Exmoor and Cornwall are all supporting this effort to respond to flooding alongside team members from many mountain rescue teams nationwide

 On standby

The team were on standby to help with the floods just before Christmas in Cumbria, however we weren’t required.

The SW peninsula region has provided 49 people (22 Swift Water Rescue Technicians, 27 Level 2 trained), 8 4×4 vehicles, 1 boat and 2 water incident search managers. This still leaves over 75% of our personnel and the better part of our resources in the area.

Press Articles

The video is courtesy of BBC Spotlight

Friday, 15 January 2016 10:48

Fears for Missing Newton Abbot Woman

Fears for Missing Newton Abbot Woman

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Dart 62 Landrover ambulance

At 02:23 a full team callout was initiated to support Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing vulnerable woman in her 60’s who had been reported missing from her home around 8pm on Thursday 14th January.

Our team volunteers conducted searches through the woods alongside the River Lemon by Bradley Manor until 07:30 when we were stood down pending further Police investigations.

Update:

12 Noon 15th January 2016. Good news, the woman was found safe and well in a Newton Abbot B&B this morning.

Walker stranded with no map, compass, torch or whistle

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers were called at 19:04 this evening by Devon and Cornwall Police to search for a lost walker in the Pupers Hill area of South Dartmoor National Park.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton called out to assist a lost walker who had undertaken his walk with no map, caompass, whistle or torch

A rapid response from our volunteers meant we had teams out on the moor by 19:40 and the casualty was found safe and well by our volunteers at 20:10.

The individual had left his car at Ludgate for a walk on the moor at 4pm this afternoon. Unfortunately, he had no map or compass and as visibility and daylight soon deteriorated, he soon became lost and disorientated. He also had no whistle or torch, essential safety equipment when walking on the moor, so could not signal his location to rescuers.

As weather conditions was good with light winds, our members homed in on the area he was suspected to be in, found him and escorted him off the moor and to his car.

Our duty team Search manager said “Fortunately the gent had a mobile phone which meant we could talk with him and get a good idea of his location before sending out foot teams to escort him off the moor. We recommend that walkers always take a map and compass, and know how to use them, along with essential safety equipment such as a whistle and torch on Dartmoor walks. They don’t weigh much but can make all the difference if you are delayed and find yourself out on the open moor after dark enabling you to find your way or to signal rescuers”.

Safe to say he is a lot wiser now and has learnt a valuable lesson in being properly equipped. We wish him well.

Press Articles

Grough Online: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/01/19/take-a-torch-map-and-compass-say-rescuers-after-dartmoor-walker-gets-lost

Poor weather catches out Two Moors Way Walkers

On Tuesday afternoon our duty search manager was contacted by the police who had concerns for two walkers who had dialed 999 after getting disorientated and cold in horrendous weather in the south of Dartmoor National Park.

crossways callout

The pair of walkers had set off from Ivybridge in the morning heading towards their accommodation in Scorriton, as they left the Two Moors Way to join the Abbots Way the weather closed in and they became lost.

After making contact with the walkers our search manager was able to determine their location and initiated a limited team callout. Shortly after 1430 four team members in two Land Rovers drove the 12km along the Puffing Billy Track to Crossways where the walkers were found sheltering in the old explosives hut.

Although cold, one individual was wearing shorts, the walkers were safe and well, hot tea was administered and they were escorted off the moor. The team was stood down shortly after 1700. This incident highlights the importance of dressing appropriately and being adequately equipped for the weather conditions.

Wild wet weather on Dartmoor

Thanks to team member Dave for the photo and video which show how wet and windy it was.

Press Articles

Grough: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/01/28/two-walkers-rescued-after-getting-lost-on-dartmoor-route-in-horrendous-weather

87 with Alzheimer's goes missing in Teignmouth

Our control vehicle and landrover ambulance side by side. Photo shows front of landrover and side of control vehicle

Our volunteers had an early morning alarm call this morning at 06:47 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for an 87-year-old gentleman with Alzheimer's who had gone missing in the Teignmouth area. Fortunately, he was found safe and well and we were stood down on our way to assist.

At the same time, an incident was just starting in Exmouth which we handed over to our DRG colleagues based at Okehampton whilst we were dealing with the Teignmouth job. Fortunately, that also came to a rapid conclusion and the team were stood down on route.

Saturday, 13 February 2016 10:31

Junior Doctor goes missing in Torquay

Junior Doctor goes missing in Torquay

Shortly after 20:00 on Friday 12th February, a full team callout was initiated to search for a missing female in her mid 20’s who Devon and Cornwall Police were very concerned about.

Dartmoor Rescue Ashburton's Mountain Rescue Landrover DART52 at Teignmouth Golf Course, Devon

The search was focused around the Hopes Nose / Ansteys Cove area of Torquay and consisted of multiple agencies including the Coastguard, RNLI and Helicopter.

Our team of volunteers were stood down around 02:00 and placed on further stand-by to continue the search later in the morning once light. The team has been in further communication with the Police today and as yet no further search activity is required by our volunteers.

Update

Rose’s body was recovered from the sea of Weymouth at the beginning of April. Our thoughts and condolences are with Rose’s family as they mourn her loss.

Teenagers rescued in midst of Storm Katie

CALLOUT to Crossways area of the Abbots Way.

Our team of volunteers had a bit of a late night last night as they were called at 23:45 to search for a group of teenagers who had found themselves in difficulty to the north west of the Avon Dam Reservoir.

Initially a team of 6 members walked out from the dam towards a position indicated by a tracking device the group were carrying. Other team members in our Land Rovers made their way up the puffing billy track to begin searching from west, see video.

An hour after leaving the dam our initial team located the missing group hunkered down in a emergency shelter they had been carrying. They were cold and wet but unharmed.

After a quick check over by our casualty carer the 5 teenagers were walked to Crossways on the puffing billy track to meet our Land Rovers. As one of our Land Rovers drove the teenagers off the moor a number of our members remained with our second land Rover as it had developed an electrical fault and broken down, after 45mins of fiddling a temporary fix had been found and the last of our team members were off the moor and heading to their beds by 0430.

Press Articles

Grough Online: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/03/28/teens-rescued-from-dartmoor-after-getting-lost-in-dark-during-storm-katie

Motorcyclist injured green laning on Dartmoor

The team was called at 16:13 today to assist the ambulance service with an injured motorcyclist on a green lane in the Scoriton area of South Dartmoor. The injured male was transported to a land ambulance and taken to hospital with a dislocated knee.

Concern for vulnerable missing person in Stoke Gabriel

The team were tasked at 21:07 to assist Devon and Cornwall Police in the search for a vulnerable female who had gone missing from the Stoke Gabriel area on the edge of the River Dart.

One of our team volunteers on the way to the search rendezvous point came across a lady by the side of the road and suspected her to be the missing person we had been tasked to find. Escorting her to the rendezvous this was confirmed by the Police Lost Person Search Manager (LPSM) and the team were stood down.

Missing person search around abandoned car at Dartmoor Reservoir

On the evening of Friday 6th May the team were tasked to assist our North Dartmoor colleagues with a search for a missing 85 year male whose car had been found abandoned in the Meldon Reservoir area of North Dartmoor.

Team members of all 4 Dartmoor teams were already deployed to assist with the annual Ten Tors expedition so a joint team approach was taken in the search for the missing gentleman whilst maintaining cover for the event.

Our members returned to our Ten Tors base at Sittaford Moor Gate on the edge of Fernworthy Forest at around 03:30am with no sign of the gentleman.

Our search and rescue colleagues at Cornwall continued the search for the gentleman and he was located safe and well later during the morning.

Missing person search centred around Seaton in East Devon

At 11:19 on Saturday 14th May the team were called to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a high risk missing Lithuanian female in the Seaton and Beer area of East Devon.

 The lady in her late 20’s had gone missing earlier that morning and the Police had conducted a search with the assistance of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter based at Exeter Airport, the RNLI and HM Coastguard.

The call was a joint approach with our colleagues from North Dartmoor and Exmoor Search and Rescue Teams also taking part.

All the Mountain Rescue volunteers were split into various field teams to cover the areas identified as likely locations for a find. Fortunately around 4pm the lady was located and after being assessed by one of our team Dr’s, was handed over to the ambulance service for further treatment.

The call was a great example of not just differing MR teams working seamlessly together, something we regularly train for, but also MR volunteers working alongside other agencies such as HM Coastguard.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton deployed to a callout in the Seaton and Beer area of East Devon

Thanks to Tesco Seaton

We would like to thank Tesco’s at Seaton, who despite a busy sunny Spring Saturday, accommodated all our personal and team vehicles in their car park and fed our volunteers with bacon butties and coffee. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

On the following day, the team were put on standby to search for 2 children who had gone missing on Haytor Down. A concerned member of the public came across 2 children at Smallacombe Rocks asking for directions to Haytor. The member of the public alerted the Police after pointing them in the right direction who put us on standby. The Police managed to locate the parents at Haytor and fortunately the children managed to find their way back.

Multiple Dartmoor incidents on busy Saturday

After a busy morning doing weekly vehicle and kit checks, the team were put on stand by at 13.35 for possible missing persons in the Widecombe area, fortunately, they were located safe and well before being deployed.

An hour and a half later the team were called again to a missing male reported to be unwell in the Piles Copse area.

Ambulance

Piles Copse

On route to the RV we were informed that Police Officers had found the casualty but need assistance in getting off the moor. Both team Land Rovers then made their way along the old tramway where we found a very wet and cold casualty on the track North of Piles Copse. All involved including the finding Police Officers were then evacuated from the moor in DSRT Ashburton Land Rovers, the casualty to a waiting ambulance and Devon and Cornwall’s finest to their cars and hopefully a well earned brew.

A good outcome in what were very poor conditions.

Bodies Discovered in Search for Missing Torquay Man

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton were called out by Devon and Cornwall Police at 16:22 today to assist in the search for missing 39-year-old Torquay man who had last been seen on Saturday (21st May) night. Around 30 of our members took part in the search in the Oddicombe / Babbacombe area of Torquay until being stood down around 22:00 this evening with no further clues or sightings of the missing man being reported.

Our Control vehicle DART02 and Landrover DART62 deployed on a callout at Babbacombe in Torquay

During our search of the area around Petitor Point, around 20:45 one of our search teams found a body which it is believed had been there for some considerable time and not related to the search we were deployed on. This was reported to Devon and Cornwall Police who sent a team to investigate. Items found with the remains which are being used to assist officers with identification.

The second body was located by Police Officers at around 8.10am on Wednesday 25 May, which appears completely unrelated to the human remains discovered the night before. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

The area has been cordoned off and a full investigation is being carried out to establish the circumstances of both deaths.

A team spokesman said on news of the 2nd body being found. “With the body found by one of our search teams last night and the second discovery by the Police this morning, our thoughts and condolences are very much with the families of those concerned at this very difficult time, and we hope identifications are made quickly.”

Press articles:

Grough: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/05/25/dartmoor-search-team-finds-two-coast-path-bodies-in-hunt-for-missing-david-cauldwell

Ashburton rescuers deployed to Barnstaple missing person search

At 10.30 on the 27th May, North Dartmoor Search and Rescue had a call to assist Exmoor Search & Rescue Team with a callout assisting Devon and Cornwall Police in Barnstaple for a search for a missing vulnerable male.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton 2 Landrover ambulances. DART52 and DART62

Both teams searched, through the night and after 6 hours of searching the missing male had mot been found.

Search breakthrough

At 7am on the 28th May, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Tavistock and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (Ashburton) took over the search. The missing gentleman was located in Barnstaple a couple of hours later.

Another missing person callout involving multiple Mountain Rescue teams.

Vulnerable missing person search at Moretonhampstead

Full team call out to the hills above Moretonhampstead early in the morning on Saturday 4th June to search for a vulnerable missing person. He was found outside of the area that we had been tasked to search shortly after we had deployed.

Thanks to DSRT Okehampton who were en route to assist.

Busy weekend for Devon rescue volunteers

Call out- The weekend ends as it started; with a full team response to a missing person with possible dementia on the eastern side of Exeter at the end of a day where the team had been fundraising at the River Dart Country Park.

The team were just about to start searching when he was located by family members. All’s well that ends well.

Vulnerable teenager missing at Watcombe Torquay

The team were called by Devon & Cornwall Police at 03:32 in the early hours of this morning to assist with locating a high-risk vulnerable 16yr old, last seen in the Watcombe area of Torquay. Teams were deployed for approx. 3hrs when the misper was reported by a member of the public in the Babbacombe beach area.

She was detained by Maritime Coastguard Agency personnel until Police and an Ambulance could attend, at which point the team stood down.

Blackpool Sands search for missing teenager

At 13:44 on Tuesday 14th June the team were called to assist the Devon and Cornwall Police with a search for a missing vulnerable teenager in the Blackpool Sands area of the South Hams.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton deployed on a search for a missing teenager at Blackpool Sands in the South Hams Devon

Also in attendance were the Coastguard, RNLI boats from Salcombe and Dartmouth, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency helicopter from St Athan in South Wales and our colleagues from our sister team at DSRT Plymouth.

Searching of the local area continued until beyond dusk. At 11pm with the mid-summer light fading, Police decided to close the search for the evening without the missing female having been located.

 

The Police investigation continues and are appealing for information from the public in helping to locate the missing teenager as the search continues,

Press articles

BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36570869?post_id=1179192365446356_1179192435446349#

Thursday, 16 June 2016 08:46

Teenager unconscious on Dartmoor

Teenager unconscious on Dartmoor

Early this morning the team were called out to New Waste near Cornwood to assist our colleagues at DSRT Plymouth to search for a Duke of Edinburgh award team. The D of E team had called the ambulance service and reported that one of their members was unconscious.

The team were located by helicopter and all members were air-lifted off the moor and our volunteers were stood down.

Vulnerable male missing on Woodbury Common

At 20:26 on Sunday evening the team were called to search for a missing vulnerable male with mental health issues in the Woodbury area of East Devon. The team was stood down shortly around 02:00 with our colleagues at Exmoor and North Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams on standby to continue the search.

However good news shortly after we were stood down as the male was located. He had made his way to the Cat and Fiddle pub on the Sidmouth road after going out for a walk and getting lost, we believe in the fields towards Westpoint, possibly because he heard the Elton John concert!. He was fine and in good spirits although soaked through, but safe and well.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said ” Thanks to all Mountain Rescue personnel who turned out, it was a great effort by all in miserable weather and over tough terrain. We really do appreciate it especially, as people are out at all hours and have work / commitments the following day. I know that the home staff and the males family also wanted to pass on their thanks to all of your team members for coming out and doing such a remarkable job. #mortethanjustmountains

Dartmoor Classic followed by search for elderly man

Over the 25th / 26th June our team members and dart2ZERO volunteers were heavily involved with the Dartmoor Classic Cycle Sportive event which attracts 4,000 cyclists each year to tackle routes over Dartmoor. We fundraise, hand out cake to participants and provide our Control vehicle and team members to assist the organisers with the event Silver Control.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Incident Control Vehicle DART02 with Devon and Cornwall Police vehicles on a team callout

Just after we announced the winner of our Prize draw on Sunday and were preparing to return home to our families and a well-earned beer, we received a call from the Police to search for a missing elderly gentleman with Alzheimer's who had gone missing earlier in the day in the Newton Abbot area.

We redeployed to the Passage House Hotel car park from Newton Abbot Racecourse to begin our search. However, shortly afterward the gentleman was found in Kingsteignton and we were stood down. Now, what about that beer ……

#mortethanjustmountains

Wednesday, 06 July 2016 08:35

Fallen climber at Houndtor

Fallen climber at Houndtor

At 16:59 today the team were called to assist the SW Ambulance Trust with a climber who had fallen from Hound Tor. We were stood down shortly after when the ambulance trust had resolved the incident.

Difficult helicopter winch for badly injured walker

A full team callout was issued at 18:10 on Friday 8th July to assist the SW Ambulance Service with the recovery of a walker who had slipped and fallen 20m on to rocks in the Upper Dart Valley.

Team members walked from the Newbridge car park with the necessary equipment into the casualty site on river left near Bellpool Island to assist paramedics who were on site.

The lady had sustained multiple injuries in the fall and was lying on rocks close to the river edge. It was quickly determined that assistance would be required from Rescue 924, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) S92 search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay to relay the lady to hospital.

The casualty received medical care on site and was transferred onto our vacuum mattress as a precaution against any potential spinal or neck injury. Due to the narrow gorge and tree cover, a safe place needed to be found from which to winch the lady on to the helicopter. We train frequently in the area and had previously identified likely areas for winch evacuation. Members of our rope team rigged rope systems to help transport the casualty safely up the valley side on our stretcher to above the treeline from where the helicopter returned to winch the casualty onboard and onwards to Derriford Hospital.

Team members packed up our equipment, walked back to Newbridge car park and returned to our Rescue Centre around midnight.

Our duty search manager said “The Dart Valley is always a challenging area to rescue people from, and this was quite a difficult one and took several hours. We wish the lady a speedy recovery.”

Press reports

Grough Online: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/07/13/rescuers-in-six-hour-operation-after-walker-injured-in-65ft-fall-in-dartmoor-gorge

missing person search near Cheriton Bishop

At 11am on Monday 11th July, the team were called to assist our North Dartmoor colleagues with a search for a missing person in an area near Cheriton Bishop.

Fortunately just after we were called the missing person was found and we were stood down.

Standby – 24/07/2016

Briefly on the 24th July at 18:10, the full team were placed on standby to search for a missing person around the Passage House Inn area of Kingsteignton. The team were stood down at 19:28 with no further action required.

Exeter missing person search turns up no clues

At 18:35 on Thursday 4th August, a full team callout was issued to assist Devon and Cornwall Police with a search centred around the Countesswear Bridge area of the city.

Our search was concentrated around the Counteewear bridge area of the City of Exeter

A male in his 50’s, considered at high risk, had gone missing around lunchtime and his family were concerned for his welfare. Working on what little information there was regarding his potential whereabouts, our search areas were concentrated north of Countesswear Bridge alongside the River Exe and the canal.

3 x field teams, controlled by our Search Manager working alongside the Police Lost Person Search Manager (LPSM), and a National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, searched until 22:30 when our volunteers were stood down.

Exeter search around countesswear

Fortunately, the man returned home in the early hours of the morning safe and well.

Monday, 15 August 2016 07:41

Lone walker lost on Dartmoor camping trip

Lone walker lost on Dartmoor camping trip

A callout for assistance was issued at 09:07 this morning by Devon and Cornwall Police to find a lone walker who had become lost whilst out on a camping trip. The walker was also diabetic and had been advised to stay put in his tent and wait for team members to find him.

A team of 5 team members alongside 2 from our sister team at Plymouth, drove team Landrovers up to the Marker Stone on the Two Moors Way near Crossways from which we walked out to meet him. In the meantime our Search Manager used the SARLOC system to locate his position and pass on the resulting grid reference to the team on the ground.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton called out to assist a missing walker near Eastern White Barrow

We reached the walker shortly after 11:25, assessed his condition and were happy he could be walked off as apart from dehydration, he was perfectly ok.

Our team Leader said. “We have had a number of callouts to the same area this year as walkers get caught out by that section of the Two Moors Way being tricky to navigate as it is not clearly marked. If you are going to attempt the walk, make sure you have the ability to map read and navigate to the required standard.”

“The walker did the right thing in the circumstances and we are pleased he was in good health and we could escort him off the moor to his family, a little wiser than when he left.”

Missing teen entered River Dart at Dartington

The team were called around 22:00 on Friday 5th August to assist Devon & Cornwall Police in looking for a 16-year-old male reportedly entering the River Dart having shed all his clothing.

Totnes Search Managers

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers were tasked to search the Staverton branch-line and various land-based areas, whilst the MCA & RNLI focused on the water environments. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service decided to wait for daylight to put boats in the water following their risk assessment, departing around 1am following searches earlier that evening. MCA personnel continued riverbank searches alongside the Police Dive Team until around 2am. DSRT Ashburton members were stood down around 05:00 having exhausted regions of woodland and field systems identified as high-probability areas.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Control Vehicle on site looking for a missing lad at Totnes

Our team duty Search Manager said: “DSRT Ashburton covered a lot of ground overnight during the 6hr deployment, that focused on high-probability areas around the ‘point last seen’ for the teenager. Missing person behavioral analysis was less predictive in this instance, due to the reported use of new psychoactive substances (NPS); however, the areas targeted included minor roads, tracks and trails, dense woodland, steep ground, river-bank and flood-plain areas, and parts of the Totnes to Buckfastleigh branch-line. The team remains on alert to assist if required.”

Our colleagues at DSRT Plymouth took over the Dartmoor Rescue response on Saturday morning to give our volunteers a rest, following by DSRT Tavistock in the afternoon / evening..

Body discovered

On Sunday morning the 8th August, Police divers discovered a body. The next of kin have been informed in advance of an official identification

Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family at this very difficult and sad time.

Sad end to Valley of the Rocks search at Lynton

Shortly before 5pm on the 15th August, a full team callout was issued to assist our sister teams Exmoor and North Dartmoor Search and Rescue.

Emergency Vehicles

Exmoor had been tasked to assist Devon and Cornwall Police on Sunday with a search for a missing vulnerable male in the Valley of the Rocks area West of Lynton who had not been seen since he checked into a campsite on Tuesday for a one night stay.

North Dartmoor and ourselves joined the search today that along with Exmoor, involved the RNLI, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Body discovered

Our duty search manager said “We were stood down shortly after 8pm when a body was discovered by an RNLI crew further along the coast. We extend our sincere condolences and thoughts to the family and friends of the person involved at this very sad time.”

Concern for missing vulnerable 59 year old from Exeter

At 19:53 on Tuesday 30th August, a full team callout was issued by Devon and Cornwall Police who had requested assistance in the search for a 59-year-old vulnerable female from Exeter. The lady had gone missing around 4pm and given her neighbours cause for concern.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton on site at a callout near Exeter in Devon

Our volunteers, assisted by our colleagues at North Dartmoor Search and Rescue, searched ground around the Ide / St Thomas / Pocombe Bridge area of the city with no sign of the lady’s whereabouts being discovered.

After completing our assigned search areas the Dartmoor teams were stood down around 02:00 on Wednesday morning.

The Police continued their investigation and the lady was found by officers to have returned home at around 10:00.

A good outcome for all. The search is another example of how Mountain Rescue Teams work together with the statutory emergency services and cover areas beyond the mountains. #MoreThanJustMountains

Sunday, 04 September 2016 14:05

Dartmoor Rescue join major search in Cornwall.

Dartmoor Rescue join major search in Cornwall.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers were called to assist Cornwall Search and Rescue today with a search operation that had been underway since Friday in East Cornwall.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton is a charity based in Devon that relies on public donations for around 92% of its funding. The team is part of Dartmoor Rescue Group (DRG) and Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW). Its Landrover Ambulance, callsign DART52 is fully equipped with specialist rescue equipment

84 year old Derek Dilworth had been missing from his home at Darleyford near Liskeard since Friday afternoon. We joined a coordinated operation that consisted of all 4 Dartmoor search and rescue teams, the fulltime emergency services including the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter.

Derek had been out in the wet weather that swept the peninsula yesterday afternoon and we are delighted that he has been found. He was found cold and wet this morning and was flown to Derriford hospital for a thorough check-up.

Cold East Cross search in busy week for rescuers

AmbulanceWhat turned out to be a busy few days has seen our number of callouts for the year hit 30 as we were called to a search near Cold East Cross in Dartmoor National Park.

The team were called earlier this evening to assist Devon & Cornwall Police with a missing high risk vulnerable male, whose vehicle was discovered in the area earlier by officers. The team, joined by a Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) dog part way through the evening, were deployed to several search areas and the team were eventually stood down before 22:30 once these had been exhausted.

The investigation continues.

Tuesday, 06 September 2016 13:59

Repeat search for missing Newton Abbot man

Repeat search for missing Newton Abbot man

Mountain RescueFollowing last night’s callout to Cold East Cross for Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers looking for a missing Newton Abbot male in his forties, the team were called out again this evening to cover another search area highlighted by the Police that they wished to clear as part of the investigation into the man’s disappearance.

The ground covered last night and tonight turned out to be challenging with dense fern, gorse and bramble meaning low Probability of Detection’ (PoD) scores. PoD gives an indication on how throughly a particular search area can be swept. In an ideal world this would be 100% but in areas such as woodland or common land with dense gorse it can be almost impossible to achieve 100% and hence in reality on most searches a lower score can only be achieved.

Once priority search areas have been covered, the Police can then request a a second search in some areas to try and increase the PoD score as a missing person investigation continues. resources at there disposal includes search teams, air assets such as the Police and HM Coastguard helicopters for aerial searches and of course, search dogs.

Further intelligence from a member of the public was received mid way through our search which gave a sighting of the missing person near Teigngrace. Police were dispatched to the area and shortly afterwards the man was found and given the care he needed and we were stood down.

Saturday, 24 September 2016 13:45

Missing person search at Hound Tor

Missing person search at Hound Tor

Ambulance

The team were called to the Hound Tor area of Dartmoor to search for a high risk missing person on Friday evening.

Team members rendezvoused at the Hound Tor car park ready to deploy. As members arrived the missing person was located by the National Police Air Service helicopter and officers on the ground recovered him safe and well.

Dartmoor Rescue called to missing person search at Branscombe

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton assisted Devon and Cornwall Police with a missing person inquiry around the Branscombe area in East Devon this morning.

The man from Exeter went missing on Tuesday 25th October whose disappearance is out of character.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton on a calloit to Branscombe East Devon

Following his car being found in a public car park at Branscombe beach, the team were allocated search areas by the Police which we searched from 08:00 to around midday with no further signs of the missing elderly gentleman.

Devon and Cornwall Police have issued an appeal for information https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=49b56879-f282-44b4-86e9-03ead94bbe88

The Police investigation continues

 Dartmoor Rescue and Air Ambulance rescue walker

Second callout of the day to assist the Devon Air Ambulance with a patient evacuation.

As a Devon search and rescue charity, we assist the emergency services with incidents across the county where they don’t have the equipment or resources to bring the incident to a conclusion themselves. On occasions, we also assist the Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) to transport patients to their aircraft in remote areas where it is difficult to land close by the accident site. Today was one such occasion when we were tasked to a young lady who had slipped on a track behind Honeybag Tor and broken her ankle. Due to the location of the incident, we were deployed to assist the air ambulance Doctor with the casualty evacuation.

Our trained volunteers were on site within 25 minutes of the callout being raised and, along with the air ambulance crew, and a local farmer’s pickup truck, the lady was transported to the helicopter and taken for further care at Derriford Hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Following the incident we were delighted to receive a thank you card from the casualty who thanked us for our care and good humour helping to keep her spirits up. It's always nice to be appreciated! She is expected to make a full recovery.

Saturday, 26 November 2016 12:54

Overdue Walking Group at Harford Moor Gate

 Overdue Walking Group at Harford Moor Gate

Harford Moor Gate

DSRT AmbulanceDartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers were called on this evening by Devon and Cornwall Police regarding a party of walkers overdue at Harford Moor Gate in Dartmoor National Park.

A mixed group of 8 walkers on the Two Moors Way including adults and children were expected at Harford Moor Gate around 6pm.

They reported by phone that they were 10 mins away but had not arrived, and had lost phone signal, an hour later. This would be easily explained as a misinterpretation of where they were on the tramway and there was no suggestion of mishap or vulnerability.

The team was put on standby in case they were not able to sort themselves out by 8pm. Soon after 8pm it transpired that the group had separated into a faster group of 5 and a slower group of 3 in the Redlake area. The 5 overshot Harford and left the moor near Wrangaton golf course. The police sent a National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter to confirm that the remaining 3 were on course. When they were not seen on the tramway a team callout was issued.

As expected this resulted in them showing up at Harford bunkhouse! Members were converging on Bittaford Moorgate that had been chosen so that we could cover the walkers overshoot area, with our sister team DSRT Plymouth covering the Erme valley, but also partly due to access through Harford was difficult due to a serious house fire.

Concern for missing Exeter man in sub-zero temperatures.

With temperatures below freezing, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton was called by Devon and Cornwall Police to search for a missing 47-year-old male in the Barley Lane area of the city of Exeter yesterday evening.

Water Cas 151104 01 150x150Acting on Police intelligence, members searched wooded steep ground on the Western side of the city for any signs of the missing male. Unfortunately, no signs of the whereabouts of his whereabouts were discovered and the team were stood down around midnight.

The missing man Mr Pryce, who lives in St Thomas, hasn’t been heard from for almost a week and police are appealing to the public to help locate him.

Mr Pryce is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, slim build, and short brown hair. Brian wears glasses and has a Japanese symbol tattooed on his left arm.

If you have seen Brian Pryce in the past week, know of his whereabouts or have any information that can aid the police with their search, please contact 999 quoting police log 440 for the 28thof November.

Worried family prompts search for missing teenage Walker 

Last night’s joint training exercise with Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Tavistock turned into our 37th callout of the year and the second in as many days as team members arrived at the RV at Two Bridges.

Nav TrainingThe worried family of an experienced and well equipped teenage walker who left home for a few days Dartmoor camping had called Police after no communication had been received from her since she left.

Members from both teams retraced her intended route and other locations on the north moor in freezing temperatures and thick fog looking for her.

Late into the evening a member of the public reported seeing somebody matching her description who had pitched a tent in the Sourton Tors area of the moor. Shortly before midnight the camper was awoken from her peaceful slumber and confirmed to be the person we were looking for.

We were very pleased that she was found safe and well and left her to finish her trip. She is expected home to her very relieved family on Friday.

 

Be Adventure Smart

Be prepared is the message for enjoying some solitude on the beautiful wilderness that is Dartmoor National Park. Check out our advice pages for a checklist of what to do before and during your trip.

Body found in search for teenager in Otter Valley

CALLOUT 32 / 2017 - 09:00  16th DECEMBER 2017

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton was called to search a number of areas in the Otter Valley between Ottery St Mary and Tipton St John for a vulnerable 15-year-old male this morning, who had been missing since Wednesday.

Team members deployed to East Devon in search for teenager.

Sadly, after about an hour into the search a body was found by one of our foot teams and the location was secured and handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police.
This was a multi-agency effort involving Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams from Ashburton and Okehampton, SARDA search dogs, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Cornwall Police.

It goes without saying that our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the young person. Especially so at this time of year.

Dartmoor Mountain Rescue teams are predominently funded by public donation and frequently get called to help find missing people across Devon, including urban areas such as Exeter and Torbay. #MoreThanJustMountains

River Dart Kayaker trapped by partially submerged tree

CALLOUT 31 / 2017 - 10:05  7th DECEMBER 2017

Just after 10 am this morning, the team were called to assist at an incident where a kayaker had been reported as trapped under a tree whilst paddling in the Upper Dart Valley between Dartmeet and Newbridge.

Our volunteers, including our swift water rescue specialists, accompanied Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Devon and Cornwall Police and South West Ambulance Service to the location beside Bellpool Island up-river from Newbridge.

Map of incident location to recover kayaker

Unfortunately, it became apparent that despite the best efforts of his companions, the rescue had become a recovery operation as the kayaker was still in his upturned kayak, both of which were below the water line trapped beneath a partially submerged tree.

Our volunteers, working alongside Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue and the kayaker's companions, recovered the body early this afternoon. The casualty was loaded on our stretcher and transported safely back to Newbridge and to the care of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton working alongside Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, Devon and Cornwall Polcie and South West Ambulance Service during callout to recover a kayaker on the River Dart.

Our Team Leader said: 'We have a very close bond with the kayakers that paddle this section of the River Dart, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family friends and his paddling companions with him today. We would also like to acknowledge the help of his companions in recovering their colleague. They were all very well equipped for the conditions and very experienced paddlers.'

Greator Rocks casualty airlifted by Devon Air Ambulance

CALLOUT 30 / 2017 - 13:10  26th NOVEMBER 2017

The team were called out earlier today to assist the South Western Ambulance Trust with the evacuation of 2 reported casualties near the Houndtor Medieval Village. Members began to arrive at the Houndtor car park within 30 minutes and walked across the short distance to the Medieval Village. Passing Houndtor and with a good view down to the village, the Devon Air Ambulance was spotted already onsite having landed at Greator Rocks alongside a white Landrover. 

The lead team of 3 of our members arrived at Greator Rocks just as a casualty, understood to be in her 60's,  with a dislocated shoulder had been escorted to the helicopter for evacuation to hospital. The second casualty thought to be her partner was deemed to be non-urgent having initially given cause for medical concern on seeing his partner fall and was in the white Landrover belonging to our sister Dartmoor Search and rescue Team at Plymouth.

The Plymouth Landie escorted the 2nd casualty to the Houndtor car park where he was checked over by one of our team Doctors.

It appears the casualties had been part of a fundraising walk being organised for the Plymouth team who had sent their Landrover along to accompany the event.

Our team members and vehicle congregating at the Houndtor Car park were then stood down.

 

 

 

Wednesday, 01 November 2017 12:50

Teen missing in Lustleigh

Teen missing in Lustleigh

CALLOUT 29 / 2017 - 01:36  1ST NOVEMBER 2017

DSRT Ashburton incident control vehicle at Lustleigh during teenager search

Devon and Cornwall Police raised a callout request to the team at 01:36 alongside other agencies including an NPAS (National Police Air Service) helicopter early on Wednesday morning. A teenager had not returned home and the alarm had been raised.

Shortly after our volunteers began arriving at the rendezvous at Lustleigh around 02:30 am, the young person arrived home safely to 'words of advice'.

Sunday, 15 October 2017 21:27

Trio tackle River Dart in an inflatable

Trio tackle River Dart in an inflatable

CALLOUT 28 / 2017 - 16:30  15TH OCTOBER 2017

At 4:30 this evening (or just as I was about to carve the slow-cooked shoulder of lamb I'd been cooking since 1 o'clock to put it another way). We had a call from Devon and Cornwall Police in relation to an overdue trio of river users n the River Dart.  A lady had reported that her husband and 2 children were overdue after she had dropped them off at Dartmeet to paddle the river with limited safety equipment and an inflatable kayak, and she was waiting for them at Newbridge and they had failed to turn up.

The stretch of the River Dart from Dartmeet to Holne Bridge is arguably the most famous whitewater kayaking river in England.  The Upper Dart is harder, grade III, and on occasions, Grade IV, with the middle 'The Loop' section between Newbridge and Holne Bridge, mostly grade II with a few well-known grade III sections. Hence it should be respected and only attempted by those with the experience to match the conditions with tha appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE).

Our team of volunteers train frequently in the valley as it has various access and evacuation challenges due to its steep and wooded sides, and next to no mobile phone coverage meaning it can be difficult for walkers or kayakers in difficulty to raise the alarm if there is an incident.

Given the potential seriousness of the situation and the difficulties in access, the full team was called the team out immediately once called by the Police for assistance with the incidence.

A Police spokesperson said 'Numerous Police units from across the South Hams, Teignbridge and North Devon were dispatched to assist, along with a National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, to work along side the volunteers from Dartmoor Serach and rescue Ashburton'

Fortunately, the family turned up safe and well at Newbridge after the kayak was punctured on rocks en route and they had to negotiate the remaining distance on foot. 

Our team duty search manager said. ' We are very pleased that this family has turned up safe and well. Hopefully they have learned a valuable lesson about learning more about the stretch of river they are planning to tackle and will be better prepared and more cautious in future.'

'When participating in any activity which could pose a risk, please ensure you are prepared properly by understanding the challenge you are undertaking and have the correct equipment, the recommended safety kit and an emergency backup plan just in case something goes wrong.'

'At this time of year the nights draw in quickly and having the means to signal rescuers in the dark along with spare warm clothing, 'just in case' can make a huge difference should you be delayed due to kit failure or injury.'

We were pleased to be notified by Police that the missing party had arrived safe but behind their schedule. Alls well that ends well.

As ever thanks to our families, and supporters who continue to support the team and the work we do.

And although the slow-cooked lamb shoulder was tepid, it was still absolutely delicious.

 

 

 

Vulnerable man airlifted to hospital from Dartington

CALLOUT 27 / 2017 - 12:55  4TH OCTOBER 2017

Shortly after midday today, the team responded to a request by Devon and Cornwall Police to search for a vulnerable missing person in the Totnes area.

Police helicopter on site ready to collect a casualty from Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton

Our volunteers were deployed from the Dartington Estate and shortly after the search was initiated, a Devon and Cornwall Police search dog located the missing person.

Our team doctor assessed the casualty on site and, alongside other team personnel,  transported him to a landing area ready for the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter to evacuate the male to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital.

Keith Lambeth the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Team Leader said: 'Our thoughts are very much with the missing person and we wish him a speedy and full recovery. We'd also like to acknowledge the support received from our dart2ZERO supporters without whom, we wouldn't be able to carry out this life saving work for our local community.'

15 team volunteers were able to respond to the callout.

Saturday, 30 September 2017 20:14

Search for a missing man from Totnes

Search for a missing man from Totnes

CALLOUT 26 / 2017 - 10:00 30TH SEPTEMBER 2017

Dartmoor Search and Rescue volunteers were asked by Devon and Cornwall Police to continue a search for a high-risk male who had been initially reported missing on the 16th September.

Deployed to the Totnes area, our volunteers searched several areas of woodland and fields alongside three dogs and handlers from the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA), to eliminate final intelligence tasking by the Police..

Searching most of the day, unfortunately, no evidence indicating the missing person's whereabouts was found and the Police investigation continues.

Rescue specialists search South Devon cliffs for missing person

CALLOUT 25 / 2017 - 09:30 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 

At just after 09:00 this morning our steep ground specialists were called out to assist Devon & Cornwall Police with an ongoing male despondent missing person search in South Devon.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue volunteers searching steep ground near the coast in South Devon

 

Alongside HM Coastguard, DSRT Plymouth, and Devon and Somerset Fire Service teams, which was a continuation from a previous day's search,  we searched a steep heavily overgrown quarry around Beesands until being stood down at 1700.

Search teams were deployed to various areas around sheer and steep ground slopes within the quarry, supported by the Police Drone Unit which sought to identify possible areas out of sight from the ground.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue volunteers searching steep ground near the coast in South Devon

Unfortunately, no trace of the missing person was found and the Police investigation continues.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue volunteers frequently help the Police with missing person inquiries not just in Dartmoor National Park, but across Devon and on occasions, to major incidents nationally. #morethanjustmountains

 

 

 

 

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