Callout 21/2023 Chudleigh 18:00 6th September 2023
Callout 20/2023 Chudleigh 13:00 5th September 2023
Whilst the previous call was underway, we were asked to stand by to assist in a search for a vulnerable elderly person who had missing from the Chudleigh area for the past 3 days. On completing the handover at Newbridge the team moved to Chudleigh and carried out extensive searches of high probability areas close to the home of the missing person. This included the difficult ground in and around Chudleigh Rocks and a number of other rural segments. Our colleagues from the Devon Cave Recue Organisation also searched the caves. We were joined later by our 2 search dogs and their handlers. Our searches were not successful and the team finally stood down at 2130. The Police enquiry remains ongoing. Our thoughts are with the family of the individual at this worrying time.
Fire crews and volunteers are tackling 12 separate blazes across seven miles of south Dartmoor.
Photo credit: Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
BBC News article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-48022190
7 team members were called to act as drivers and navigators for fire service personnel when another blaze was reported on Ryder’s Hill.
After being stood to for several hours it became apparent that the newly reported blaze must have been a misreported sighting of the earlier fire. Team members and vehicles now heading for home.
21:00 on Sunday 19th February Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton were called by Devon and Cornwall Police due to concerns for two overdue kayakers on the upper section of the River Dart.
The pair had set off with a group from Dartmeet and after a while had decided to get out of the river and walk out to meet the rest of the group who had continued kayaking. When the pair didn’t reach the car park and darkness fell their friends alerted the police who then called the team out.
Believing the missing kayakers to be on the south bank of the river, two team members took a Land Rover upstream from New Bridge for a hasty search whilst the rest of the team prepared to carry out more thorough searches and our swift water technicians and rope experts prepared to carry out a technical evacuation if required.
5 foot search teams were sent to search both sides of the river. Thankfully the missing kayakers were located safe and well just before 23:00. They were walked to one of our Land Rovers and driven back to New Bridge to be reunited with their group.
An incident like this shows the importance of being prepared. It would have been dark under the trees in the valley before 1700; the missing kayakers didn’t have any torches with them so were in complete darkness for 6 hours. Thankfully it was quite a warm night. #BeAdventureSmart
For over 40 years, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton has been supporting the annual Ten Tors Expedition. Over 2,400 young people taking on the challenge of Ten Tors over 35, 45 or 55 miles, as well as the Jubilee Event that gives those with additional challenges the chance to get involved.
We camp at Sittaford Moor Gate for the weekend and this short video gives a behind the scenes look of what we get up too.