Search & Rescue – Wainstones

FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2022 (1605 HOURS)

The start of a busy weekend for the Team with a call-out ahead of our annual 4-Tops Walk on Saturday and a full Team practice day on Sunday.

We were contacted by North Yorkshire Police regarding two walkers who had reported themselves to be lost in woodland, somewhere in the Clay Bank / Great Broughton area. They were apparently cold and wet and, given the weather conditions, there were concerns for their welfare. One of our Land Rover crews was immediately dispatched to the area to commence a ‘hasty search’. Other Team members were directed to an RV-point at Clay Bank carpark, taking with them additional Team vehicles, whilst our call-out officer endeavoured to contact the missing walkers by phone but without success.

Within an hour, we received a further call this time from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service – two passing walkers had come across the lost walkers who were suffering from the effects of the cold. They had been able to provide a What3Words location which was confirmed by our Phone Find system when we contacted them by phone. Team members were directed to their location taking with them a quantity of rescue equipment. After a period of time, once the missing walkers had been assessed and warmed up, they were well enough to be ‘walked off’ the hill and transported by Team vehicles to a waiting ambulance at Clay Bank carpark for a further check-up. They were then transported to their overnight accommodation to continue their journey tomorrow.

Twenty-six Cleveland MRT members were involved in the initial search phase and the subsequent rescue, supported by our Call-out Officer who co-ordinated the initial response. The call-out lasted just over 4-hours including travel time.

Many, many thanks to the passing walkers for their invaluable help and for waiting with the lost pair; and to the staff at the Wainstones Hotel for their help in relaying information to us.