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Recent Incidents

Most recent first

D denotes incident requiring team SARDA Search Dog and Handler only

A denotes assistance provided by team members to another team without formal team callout

13/05/2008	(xiii D) 1850hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby by TWSMRT in connection with a search for a despondent male in the Chester-le-Street area of County Durham. Located by TWSMRT search dog around 2240hrs. Teams assistance not required.

08/05/2008	(12) 0515hrs: Team called along with its search dog and handler to assist Teesdale and Weardale SMRT in search for an elderly female near Newton Aycliffe. Incident stood-down following extensive searches of local woodland; enquiries continue. BBC News report.

07/05/2008	(x ii D) 2030hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby by TWSMRT for search in the Bowburn area of County Durham. Not required and stood-down at 2200hrs.

05/05/2008	(11) 1515hrs: Team called to a remote location in Swinner Gill, Swaledale to rescue a 50 year old male from Kent who had fallen approximately 30m over a crag and down to the base of the gorge. Team doctor treated the man at the scene for serious multiple injuries including an open and rotated lower leg fracture. The Team, using rope rescue equipment, then hauled the casualty approximatley 400m up out of the gorge to the waiting Great North Air Ambulance for onward transport to James Cook Hospital. BBC News and The Northern Echo article. BBC TV News feature.

01/05/2008	(xi D) 0815hrs: Team search dog and handler called by TWSMRT to assist with continuation of a search from the previous night for missing male in the Langley Park area of County Durham. Commenced search at 1300hrs; stood-down at 1600hrs with nothing found.

28/04/2008	(10) 0015hrs: Team called along with Teesdale & Weardale SMRT, Kirkby Stephen MRT and five SARDA dog teams to search for missing female near Tan Hill Inn. Shortly after team members arrived on scene the missing person was located by Cumbria Police.

26/04/2008	(x D) 1745hrs: Team search dog and handlers called to assist Kirby Stephen MRT in a search for a group of six young men after they had reported themselves lost and ill equipped near Shap. Stood-down enroute when group refound a path and safety.

17/04/2008	(viii D) 1040hrs: Team search dog and handler called by Cleveland SRT to assist in the search for a missing 50 year old man in the Bilsdale area of the North Yorkshire Moors after the mans vehicle had been discovered abandoned at Spout House. Teams searched woodland, farmland and open moorland. Search was carried out with futher assistance of Scarborough & Ryedale MRT (SRMRT) and an RAF Rescue helcopter from RAF Leconfield. The man was located by a SRMRT search group safe and well at around 1500hrs.

17/04/2008	(ix D) 1725hrs: Team search dog and handler requested to assist South Yorkshire Police with search in the Rotherham area. Unfortunately, unable to assist due to extensive use of search dog earlier in the day on incident (viii D).

13/04/2008	(9 continued) Search from 12/04/2008 recommenced at 0900hrs with assistance from Cleveland SRT and Teesdale & Weardale SMRT. Large area of agricultural land and woodland to the north of Middleton Tyas was searched. At around 1600hrs search was stood down following discovery of a body by a member of the public outside the search area. Yorkshire Post article.

12/04/2008	(9) 0905hrs: Team called along with four SARDA dog teams to search for a missing 47 year old male around the village of Middleton Tyas. After extensive searches of farm and woodland nothing was found. Teams stood-down to recommence as a NESRA search on 13/04/2008.

08/04/2008	(vii D) 1705hrs: Team search dog and handler called by Cleveland SRT following a walking party reporting calls for help on Farndale Moor. On dog teams arrival an RAF SeaKing had been tasked to search the area. Dog team provided advice and liaison to other dog teams enroute. At 1900 following no reports of missing persons and completion of the helicopter search, dog teams were stood-down. Taken as innocent call out with good intent; likely to be sheep calls.

07/04/2008	(vi D) 2108hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby to assist NNPMRT with the search for three missing hill walkers in the Wooler area. Missing group located and evacuated by RAF SeaKing from Boulmer without the deployment of ground based searchers.

29/03/2008	(v D) 1800hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby to assist Cleveland SRT in search for four lost walkers on a challenge event in Bilsdale. The group were found safe and well but very tired by CSRT members without the assistance of search dogs.

26/03/2008	(A) 1540hrs: Four team members who were taking part in an advanced casualty care course in Carlton assisted Cleveland SRT with the rescue of a walker who had fallen and broken her wrist on Carlton Bank; the lady also had an additional medical condition that required a rapid evacuation via RAF Sea King helicopter.

23/03/2008	(8) 0350hrs: Team called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to Ivlet, Swaledale to recover a late night sledger who had sustained lower leg injuries. Weather and road conditions were very poor with heavy snow. The YAS ambulance was unable to progress beyond Gunnerside Village. The team stabilised the casulaty before evacuating him by stretcher from the remote farm location to the road before onward transport in our Landrover ambulance. Incident stood-down at 0600 just in time for the Easter Bunny.

10/03/2008	(7) 0933hrs: Team called after group on Duke of Edinburgh's Award Expedtion had left overnight campsite in Swaledale during poor weather conditions and their supervisor was unable to locate them. A local team member was dispatched to Keld to interview person reporting, but within the party were located shortly afterwards without further SMRT assistance. Team stood down.

08/03/2008	(6) Provided assistance to canoeist who has capsized and safety reached the river bank suffering from mild hypothermia and exhaustion. The canoeist was treated at the scene by the team before being walked from the river to an awaiting vehicle. Once recovered he was returned to join his group at the end of their trip.

22/02/2008	(5) 1610hrs: Team along with four SARDA dogs and handlers called to Arkengarthdale Moor above Swaledale by walking party who had become separated from two members of their group whilst trying to cross a flooded gill. Search manager on scene within 30 minutes; as searchers were about to deploy the two walkers navigated their own way to the Tan Hill Pub and were reunited with the group.

17/02/2008	(4) 0905hrs: Team along with SARDA dogs and handlers called by North Yorkshire Police to search for a missing male who had left the Crown Public House in Askrigg late on Saturady night to walk home to Hawes. Stood down almost immediately when the man arrived home (obviously with some explaining to do).

03/02/2008	(3) 1800hrs 01/02/2008: Called to assist TWSMRT with planned search for missing male from Darlington in the Wolsingham / Hamsterley area of County Durham. Continuation of dog only incident 31/01/2008. BBC News link.

01/02/2008	(2) 1614hrs: Team called along with TWSMRT and Kirkby Stephen SMRT to assist with the evacuation of motorists from the snow-bound A66 in County Durham and Cumbria. Following initial assistance on the A66 search groups and team vehicles checked local roads for further stranded motorists. By 2000hrs all motorists either confirmed as safe or evacuated by Mountain Rescue Teams. The Northern Echo

30/01/2008	(iv D) 2245hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby by Teesdale & Weardale MRT to commence search at first light. Game Keeper made possible sighting of missing person from dog only incident 25/01/2008 in the Hamsterley Forest area of County Durham. Local SARDA dogs searched until 0300hrs. SMRT dog team not deployed following further investigation.

29/01/2008	(iii D) 0910hrs: Team search dog and handler called to assist Keswick MRT with ongoing search for a 52 year old female in the River Greta area close to Keswick. Stood-down enroute when body of missing person was located by RAF Helicopter.

25/01/2008	(ii D) 1020hrs: Team search dog and handler placed on standby to assist Teesdale & Weardale MRT with possible search in the Darlington area. Following consultation with police dog teams were not deployed.

19/01/2008	(i D) 1530hrs: Team search dog and handler called to assist Teesdale & Weardale MRT with search for missing 9 year old girl. All NESRA SARDA dog teams were training in the Lake District and were making ready to depart when girl was found and search stood-down.

17/01/2008	(1) 1300hrs: Rescue of game keeper's terrier from cave near Askrigg. The dog was found live and well at the foot of an 80' hole 27 hours after disappearing. See article in The Northern Echo.

16/12/2007	Called to assist the drivers and passengers of two 4x4 vehicles who became bogged down on an off road trip between Swaledale and Wensleydale. Four were walked off the hillside by team members with the fifth, a wheelchair user, being carried off by stetcher to a waiting team vehicle. At the time of the incident the temperature was -3 C. The Northern Echo Article.

07/12/2007	Team search dog and handler contacted by Duddon & Furness MRT to assist in continued search for a missing 57 male in the Grizedale Forest area of the Lake District. The body of the missing man was located by an MRT search group during Friday morning.

10/11/2007	Whilst attending a national training weekend on Saddleworth Moor, Lancashire, our Search Dog and Handler were requested to assist in the search for a despondent male in the Delamere Forest area of Cheshire. The missing person's vehicle had been located in one of the forest car parks earlier that day. Stood down at approximately 2000hrs following extensive searches of scrub and woodland with nothing found. Search involved around fifteen SARDA England search dogs, Buxton MRT and Cheshire Lowland Search Team.

30/09/2007	Search for missing 18 yo recruit who was reported missing during a training exercise on the Catterick training area. The team were called and began searching with assistance from RAF Sea King and a SARDA dog handler. As TWSMRT were about to be mobilised to provide assistance the soldier was found by the army safe and well in a bivi site approximately 1km away from his intended site.

29/09/2007	Search for a missing man who became separated from his walking group after a lunch stop. The man returned to his home and the group advised of his safe return.

22/09/2007	The team provided assistance to a Duke of Edinburgh's Award group, one of whom was reported to be ill. After initial help and advice to the group's supervisor, team vehicles met up with the group to check that they had been succesfully located.

19/09/2007	Called by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to assist in location and recovery of injured person at waterfalls. The team were stood down shortly after arriving on scene, with the injured person being attended to by the ambulance crew.

19/09/2007	Team SARDA dog handler called to assist North of Tyne SRT in the continued search for missing person in the Killingworth area, north of Newcastle. Stood-down en route when misper returned home.

12/09/2007	The team was called to assist the police and ambulance service in the rescue of a man found in a confused state in the River Swale near Easby Abbey.

26/08/2007	Called to assist injured mountain biker who came off his bike in Arkengarthdale. The man was treated at the scene by team members and packaged for onward transport to hospital by air ambulance. The Northern Echo Article.

19/08/2007	Called by North Yorkshire Police, early afternoon, to assist in the search for a Duke of Edinburgh's Award group reported overdue by their supervisor from the previous evening. The team was mobilised and during initial search planning the group contacted their supervisor after reaching the intended destination for the next day near Reeth. The group were safe and well following a nights camping and being assisted off the hill with directions from walkers. Assistance was provided by local gamekeepers and SARDA, with Teesdale and Weardale SMRT and Kirkby Stephen MRT placed on standby.

08/08/2007	Called to assist climber who had fallen on crag near Downholme. Casualty was treated at the scene for suspected back and pelvic injuries, carried by stretcher to landing site for onward transfer to hospital by RAF helicopter.

08/08/2007	Attended major incident at helicopter crash site on the Catterick Garrison training area. Team members worked alongside police, ambulance, fire, army and RAF personnel as part of the search and rescue operation to prioritise and treat casualties, marshall and coordinate SAR aircraft taking the injured to hospitals across the North East. Further assistance was provided to the RAF MRT by the team's SARDA dog and handler along with team members to search the area surrounding the site. BBC News site The Northern Echo article

12/07/2007	Team's SARDA dog handler called by Teesdale and Weardale SMRT to assist in search for missing male in the Peterlee area. Stood-down enroute when missing person was found in Sunderland having walked there.

10/07/2007	Team SARDA dog handler requested to standby to assist Northumberland National Park MRT and North Of Tyne SRT in search from missing male in the Washington area. Stood-down when misper located by police.

22/06/2007	Called to assist North Yorkshire Police in the search for a missing female near Masham. The lady was found by the police as the team was being mobilise.

15/06/2007	Called to assist North Yorkshire Police in the search for a missing male in a beck close to Catterick Garrison. Initially, with assistance of SARDA, and the RAF a search of the area was undertaken, standing down that night due to failing light. The following day, with assistance from NESRA teams, a further search of the area was conducted. As beck levels fell the missing man's body was found later in the day. BBC News article

11/06/2007	Team SARDA dog handler placed on standby by Teesdale & Weardale SMRT for search in Shildon Area. Stood-down when misper located by Police.

25/05/2007	Team SARDA dog handler called to assist Northumberland SRT’s in search for missing vulnerable person in Gateshead area. Stood-down en route when misper located by Police.

25/03/2007	Team SARDA dog handler called to assist Cleveland SRT in search for missing person on Yorkshire Moors. Stood-down en route when misper located by Police.

10/03/2007	Called to assist female with query fractured lower leg in in Arkengarthdale. The alarm was raised by the lady's partner and the pair located by the air ambulance. SMRT tasked to assist and arrived on scene as the aircraft was departing. SMRT assisted uninjured partner of injured walker return to their vehicle.

31/01/2007	Called to search for elderly male who was reported as missing from home. SMRT carried out a detailed search of the area around the man last known position which continued through the night, and instigated a panel call out for a start in the morning with assistance from TWSMRT / CSRT / SARDA. The man was found alive approximately three miles away from home by two men next day.

01/12/2006	Search for man reported as missing from home, after his car was found at West Witton, and believed to be on Pen Hill. During search man found by police 8km south of search area.

22/11/2006	Search for missing army recruit who failed to return from run on training area. The team commence a search and the missing recruit returned to his guard room shortly after.

21/10/2006	Attendance to two separate trials bike riders on the annual Scott Trial in Swaledale, the first suffered abdominal injuries; the second (a spectator) required Sea King evacuation to James Cook Hospital following head injuries.

17/10/2006	Lady missing whilst on walk with dog. Team along with police officers located dog and lady in River Swale. Both recovered safely from river.

15/10/2006	Duke of Edinburgh's Award group telephoned via mobile phone reporting as being lost in the Tan Hill area. SMRT mobilised a search for the group and returned them to the supervisor.

15/10/2006	Assistance to TWSRT and Durham Police on recommenced search for missing person as part of NESRA callout. Search successfully located body of missing man.

09/10/2006	Assistance to Kirkby Stephen SMRT on search for missing person, along with TWSRT, Penrith MRT. The search ended same day without a succesful find.

06/10/2006	SMRT were initially called to assist North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service remove a body from the river bank up steep ground following a car leaving the road in Swaledale. A search continued with the assistance of SARDA to locate second person travelling in the car whose body was found approximately 2 miles down river the following day.

20/08/2006	Called to assist the East Cumbria Search Panel in search for 75 year old missing from home in Brampton, Cumbria. The man’s dog barking alerted passing walkers and both were found on moorland some 48 hours after the start of the search.

10/06/2006	The team provided assistance to various competitors on the annual Swaledale Marathon; one with minor injury following a fall, and several suffering from the effects of heat through the day.

25/04/2006	Called to assist the East Cumbria Search Panel in search for 75 year old walker missing in the Dufton / High Cup Nick Area. The man’s body was subsequently found by local teams.

19/04/2006	The team provide assistance to a canoeist who suffered a dislocated shoulder on the River Swale.

05/04/2006	The team were called following a group of seven Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students being reported overdue on a practice walk. The group arrived safely at their destination whilst the team were being mobilised.

20/02/2006	Called to assist injured walker, who received assistance from nearby people while the team were en route and handed over to the ambulance service.

11/02/2006	Called to assist police in search for 23 year old missing from home in the Bedale area. Missing person was found by the police while the team were conducting initial search of the surrounding area.

29/01/2006	Called to assist ambulance service in recovery of crashed paraglider on Whether Fell. The Team were stood down on route following recovery of the injured pilot by air ambulance.

10/01/2006	NESRA call out to assist Teesdale & Weardale Search & Rescue Team in search for missing male in the Sedgefield area. The man was found whilst the team were on route.

05/01/2006	Assistance to police as part of search for a missing 54 year old in the Catterick Garrison area who was later found safe and well in Richmond.

22/10/2005	The team provided treatment and assisted riders in the Scott Trial; a motorcycle event in which riders have competed since 1914, with the event being held in Swaledale since 1950.

03/09/2005	Called to assist fire service to rescue male who was injured after jumping off waterfall at the popular waterfall attraction in Richmond.

15/08/2005	Called to assist walker with chest injury on Great Shunner Fell. The team were stood down on whilst on route.

31/07/2005	Small underground team deployed to assist police during search of disused mine shafts.

29/07/2005	Call to assist police in search for missing 50 year old on moorland area near Richmond. Team started the search with assistance from six SARDA search dogs and handlers until 3.00am. The search continued at first light with assistance from Cleveland Search & Rescue Team and a further two SARDA dogs and handlers who made a successful find.

09/07/2005	Called to assist police in search for missing 19 year old. Team searched areas requested – nothing found.

19/06/2005	Initially called by the ambulance service to assist during flooding in and around the Thirsk area. Once on scene the team remained on standby to assist the police until the early hours of the morning.

01/06/2005	Called to assist the ambulance service on deployment of air ambulance. The team was stood down on route.

20/05/2005	Two adventurous sheep became stranded on a ledge on the aptly named Ewe Leap Scar in Gunnerside Gill. The team retrieved the sheep and returned them to their grazing.

08/05/2005	Called to assist a mountain biker who had come off at speed. The rider was treated for injuries at scene, before being transferred to hospital by air ambulance.