Rescue team plays vital role

Feb 2 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

Trekking through extreme conditions is all part of a day’s work for volunteers of Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team. Chris Robinson is put through his paces in a gruelling training exercise

IN the rain and bitter cold on rocky terrain in Northumberland, a radio message informs rescuers: “Casualty has been located. Call for medical backup.”

Lying huddled under a cliff with suspected spinal injuries is Lynn Harrison, a woman in her mid 40s who was reported missing three hours earlier.

Fortunately, this is a mock-up training exercise for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and apart from being desperate for a cup of tea, the “casualty” is perfectly safe.

It’s first-light on a Sunday morning and volunteers are already setting up base in the grounds of Bolam Lake Country Park, in Belsay, Northumberland.

Initially covering a 100-acre site, the park is surrounded by farm land and has breathtaking views of Shaftoe Crags.

“This is one of the most impressive teams in the country and we have developed search techniques that are used everywhere,” said Dave Perkins, a member of the group for 35 years who initiated a six-point action plan now used in both Canada and the USA.

The plan has spread far and wide from its roots in Northumberland and was almost rolled out by Nasa officials trying to recover the debris from the Columbia disaster in 2003, after the space shuttle broke up over Texas during re-entry.

“By knowing about the missing person then we can discover a likely place to look,” Dave said. “But at first it’s about finding all you can about the missing person, finding out all the facts, where they might have gone and that includes unlikely places they could have gone to shelter in.

“Different types of people are found in different locations, walkers may be found on paths and tracks and places where they would be able to shelter. Small children will often find somewhere with shelter. Then you make a plan based on that and what resources you may need.

“In the old days it would have been two radios, a map and a compass, but we are much more skillful now in the way we manage searches.

“Originally we were just dealing with missing walkers in the hills but now we get calls to incidents in urban areas, and to cover large areas we can also link up with our sister team – the North of Tyne Search and Rescue.”

For the purposes of the exercise, the initial “call” had been received around 7.30am from the police after “Mrs Harrison’s” sister had become concerned about her safety. Our team is told she had been out with her husband the previous day for a walk to rebuild their marriage, however there was an argument and she decided to continue herself.

At first it is decided that one group should cover the area directly around Bolam Lake, leaving no obvious stone left unturned.

“Make sure you check the toilets and the cafe again,” shouts one rescuer, “Often they could be right under your nose so it’s best to check everywhere.”

After it is confirmed to move further afield we jump into one of the charity’s Land Rovers to comb the outside of the park, slowly driving up and down to scan the area.

The search then spreads from Bolam Lake into the nearby farmland leading up to a very muddy and very wet Shaftoe Crag. “If there is no wind it can become an extremely difficult search,” said Brian Allport, trainer of search and rescue dogs Jem and Sam. “Sometimes you don’t realise what’s happening and you can’t see them so that’s when the dogs prove very useful. They rely on getting the correct scent. No stone can be left unturned.”

That is exactly what I am about to find out making my way around a corner of rocks into what can only be described as a mud bath ... at least I hope it is mud.

There is of course still no sighting.

The search has so far taken two-and-a-half hours. Studying a map, myself and my team leader Richard start to plan a new route when we receive the news we had been waiting for. “Casualty has been located.”

We race up the crag where the team first on the scene is administrating first aid, in which all the team is trained.

The casualty is identified as Mrs Harrison, who is fully conscious but suffering from hypothermia. It appears she had fallen from one of the rocks.

After an initial assessment it is then decided to transfer her on to a spinal board to an ambulance, about 3km away. Although a helicopter is often used, it can never be guaranteed.

A message then comes over the radio that the scene should now be treated as a potential crime scene and we have to be careful not to disturb any evidence.

It takes six people to carry the stretcher alternating along the route and it is difficult work, especially in muddy conditions.

At 20, Josh Dunn is the youngest member of the team. “It’s helping people and is something that not a lot of people realise exists,” he said. “It’s about being part of a dedicated team and we all have our role to play.”

All members are volunteers and are on-call and it is at the discretion of their employers as to whether they can take part in a search. They are always looking for more members.

My day with the team gave me an understanding about just how important a service like this is in potentially life and death situations. But without the constant support of its volunteers the service, and others like it, could quite easily be withdrawn.

Last year rescuers were called out 76 times, well above the Northumbria average of 35 requests to assist lost or missing persons.

For more information about Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team visit www.nnpmrt.org.uk