Date: 2 September 2017
Time: 18.03hrs
Location: Drake Stone, Harbottle
Take Two…
As the first pint was being drunk after the Cotswold Outdoor sponsored #Cheviot2017 Challenge, Northumbria Police activated North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves for a re-run of a rescue we performed at a similar time last year.
A 11 year old boy became crag fast after climbing to the top of the Drake Stone. Thankfully the RV was just down the valley from Rose & Thistle at Alwinton and we were swiftly on scene.
After two members climbed to the top of the Stone, a technical rope rescue system was used to lower one of the Team members and the boy safely to the ground.
We think he really enjoyed the ride!
After clearing the incident site, sorting the kit and a quick ‘hot debrief’ it was back to the pub for a well earned drink and barbecue. All in a day’s work!
Date: 27 August 2017
Time: 18.33hrs
Location: Auchope Shelter
The busy Bank Holiday weekend continues. A female walker had sustained a knee injury and was unable to weight bare whilst walking in The Cheviots. The injured walker and her three companions decided to call for the assistance of Mountain Rescue and took shelter in the Auchope refuge hut on the Border Ridge.
North of Tyne MRT and ourselves swiftly responded with two local members travelling direct to the College Valley and two Team Land Rovers from our respective bases with two Team members on board each. The RVP was Mounthooly bunkhouse.
In parallel Border Search & Rescue Unit deployed from the Scottish side of the border with two Landrovers. They intended to approach the refuge from the Bowmont valley whilst we approached from the upper College valley.
Thankfully for us the Estate Manager for College Valley and a colleague were able to assist by transporting a Team member onto the hill in their ATV. The ATV was then used to evacuate the injured walker and one other member of the party. Our Team member then walked the other two members of the party off the hill before being transported the remainder of the journey back to Mounthooly in a Team Land Rover.
The walkers were then transported in a Team Land Rover (or taxi!) back to their car in the Harthope Valley. They never quite made it to the top of The Cheviot – their objective for the day – so we hope they’ll be back up this way again once our casualty has made a full recovery.
We would particularly like to thank Steven and Mark from the College Valley Estate for their assistance during this rescue.
Date: 26 August 2017
Time: 18.35hrs
Location: Housesteads, Hadrian’s Wall
The Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by Northumbria Police to assist in locating and evacuating a male who was suffering severe chest pains. The request for assist had come initially from the North East Ambulance Service.
The male was located 1/4 mile from Milecastle 37 just to the west of Housesteads. Due to the nature of the male’s condition, helicopter support was requested. The Great North Air Ambulance Service responded and was able to land on near the casualty, before flying them to hospital.
Date: 14 August 2017
Time: 16.43hrs
Location: Kielder Dam
Two campers were reported missing by the Forestry Commission late yesterday afternoon. Initially a group of three, the campers had got their car stuck off a track near Chirdon Head where they had been camping. One remained with the car whilst the two others went for help. The weather at Kielder was poor and as such there was a level of concern for their wellbeing.
Northumbria Police requested support from North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves. As two of our incident controllers were liaising with Northumbria Police officers and the Forestry Commission at Kielder and our Incident Officer was working with the Force Operations Manager on a search plan, news came in that the two campers had been located in the Blackcock Inn at Falstone. They were waiting on a tow truck!?!
The North East Ambualance Service requested our assistance, along with North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team, to help extract a female casualty from a difficult to access location along the Hadrians Wall path. The casualty had fallen, sustaining limb and head injuries. She was treated by NEAS before being carried by Mountain Rescue stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
Date: 27 July 2017
Time: 15.40hrs
Location: The Cheviot
The busy period continues with another incident yesterday afternoon. A walker fell on the flag stones near the summit of The Cheviot and sustained a head injury. His companion provided immediate first aid and requested the assistance of Mountain Rescue.
Northumbria Police contacted North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves, and our Duty Controller swiftly called out the Teams. Contact was also made with the casualty’s companion to assess the severity of the injuries.
As our Team Land Rover and members were en-route to the Harthope Valley, a local member headed up the hill to assess the situation. He was then followed by other Team members carrying a stretcher, casualty bag, group shelter, oxygen and other medical kit. Thankfully after the initial assessment it was felt that the casualty could walk off the hill with support. It would have been a very long stretcher carry off otherwise.
After medical attention and being warmed, a 3km supported walk down the hill and a short Landrover ride later, saw us hand over the casualty to the North East Ambulance Service.
We wish the walker a swift recovery not least because the accident happened on their first walk of a holiday to Northumberland. Not the way either of the walkers had hoped their day would end.
Please like and share to raise awareness of the work of the voluntary Mountain Rescue Teams.
Everyone in good spirits at the casualty site near the summit of The CheviotWalking off the casualty with support from Team membersJust over another kilometre to goFinal descent to the waiting Land RoverA welcome sight just above the Harthope Valley
Date: 24 July 2017
Time: 22.08hrs
Location: Chattlehope, near Catcleugh Reservoir
Just as many of you are waking up, some of our members are just off to bed! Or more to the point off to work after no sleep!
A Duke of Edinburgh Gold mountain bike expedition group from the Midlands was reported overdue by their supervisor. Northumbria Police swiftly alerted North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves. Initial information on the group was limited and our Duty Controller was unable to contact the supervisor due to the poor mobile service in the area he was in.
After an hour further information on the group’s potential location became available as contact had been made with two of the group who were walking off the hill towards Chattlehope by the shores of Catcleugh Reservoir. The other two group members were in their tent which was believed to be on Girdle Fell. The farmer from Chattlehope House assisted with the retrieval of the two group members who were walking off the hill to raise the alarm. Unfortunately he and one of the supervisors were unable to initially locate them.
At this point we called both Teams out and by this stage one of our controllers and a 4×4 vehicle were already en-route. Soon after the arrival of our controller at the farm, news came in that the two group members had been located and were being transported back to Chattlehope in the farmer’s 4×4.
Our attention then turned to the two members still up on Girdle Fell. Given the misty conditions, the remoteness of their location and the fact that there wasn’t any mobile communication with the two remaining group members, it was agreed with Northumbria Police that we would locate them and walk them off the hill.
Four Team members along with Search Dog Ben and the farmer from Chattlehope House ventured up Girdle Fell. Ground conditions were extremely difficult and visibility was low due to the prevailing mist. The group’s tents and the two group members were located at 03.46hrs. Both were in good spirits and we duly walked them off the hill; all back at the vehicles an hour later.
The group was well equipped and had made the right decision to hold their position and send for help after the conditions experienced on their route were more challenging than expected, causing them to be very late. A good outcome for all concerned and a long night for some!
Many thanks to the farmer and his wife at Chattlehope for their hospitality and assisting with the rescue.
The incident involved 5 Team members for 7 hours 30 minutes. A further 12 Team members were en-route before being stood down.
Please like and share to raise awareness of we do.
Walking off the hill in the early hours at Catcleugh Reservoir.
Dawn is breaking at Catcleugh Reservoir.Everyone safely back at the Landrovers at Catcleugh Reservoir.Track of our Team members and the point where the two remaining group members were located on Girdle Fell.
Date: 23 July 2017
Time: 17.26hrs
Location: Yearning Saddle Refuge
A female walker sustained an upper leg injury late yesterday afternoon and was unable to weight bare. The female, her partner and their two dogs took refuge in the shelter at Yearning Saddle just below Lamb Hill and called the Police and requested Mountain Rescue’s assistance. By this stage the weather conditions on the hill had deteriorated with heavy rain and low visibility.
North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves responded immediately, with local members heading straight up the Upper Coquet Valley to Blindburn to liaise with Northumbria Police officers. Two Rescue Team vehicles were also deployed. Borders Search & Rescue Unit were alerted in case additional assistance was required.
Once again the shepherd from Blindburn assisted us by skilfully driving up onto the Border Ridge in his 4×4. Conditions were worse than two weeks ago when he last made the same trip but nevertheless we made it!
Our Team Leader and a Paramedic from the North East Ambulance Service were soon at the refuge shelter where the female was assessed and given pain relief before being assisted into the 4×4. Half an hour later we were safely back down at Blindburn and the female casualty was handed over to a NEAS crewed ambulance.
Thanks again to the shepherd from Blindburn who made our job a lot easier yesterday evening. A long carryover beckoned…!
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