In case of emergency, dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Police
Callouts
Callout 26/2023 Newbridge 17:36 13th October 2023 The Team were alerted by South West Ambulance Trust to assist in the evacuation of a casualty from the Dart Valley, however before the Team arrived the ambulance crew had managed to get the casualty to the ambulance and did not need the Team's assistance.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 25/2023 Exeter 00:05 13th October 2023 The team were called to Exeter shortly after midnight on Thursday to assist in a search for a vulnerable teenager. A search of 30 high probability areas focussing on urban and parkland regions near the point last seen was coordinated from our mobile control vehicle in the grounds of Exeter police station. We were joined by our sister team North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and resources from Devon and Cornwall police. On completion of the highest priority areas searching was suspended around 6am. The Police…
Callout 24/2023 Ryders Hill 20:00 30th September 2023 The team were called out just after 8pm on Saturday evening to look for a lost walker who was thought to be somewhere between Dunnabridge/Bellever Tor in the north and Holne Moor and Ryders Hill in the south and is an area in excess of 20 square kilometres. In addition to the size of the area, the low visibility, wind and rain made for challenging searching conditions. As the search continued late into the night an on into Sunday morning we became increasing concerned for the ongoing welfare for the missing individual.…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 23/2023 Throwleigh 18:00 26th September 2023 At 08:00 this morning North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team asked us to assist them in a search for a missing person deemed to be at high risk who had been missing since the previous evening. They had searched throughout the night to no avail. At 10:40 a helicopter crew of the National Police Air Service spotted the person near Raybarrow Pool on Throwleigh Common One search party went to her while a stretcher party deployed from Shilstone Tor. She was then stretchered back to the awaiting ambulance service On return to our…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 22/2023 Haytor 20:30 13th September 2023 The team were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police at 20:30 with a request to assist a male in his 30s who had fallen in the vicinity of Haytor Rocks and sustained a suspected broken ankle. As it was dark and the temperature had started to fall the team were keen to respond as quickly as possible. Fortunately for the individual, this callout coincided with a committee meeting being held near our Rescue Centre and we were able to mobilise rapidly. Two landrovers were quickly dispatched in the darkness to Haytor Rocks and…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 21/2023 Chudleigh 18:00 6th September 2023 On Wednesday 6th September the team were asked for further support in the ongoing search for a missing person in the Chudleigh area. This followed our searches on Monday and further searching by other agencies since then. We agreed that the best resource to use at this time would be our 2 Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England dogs Binnie and Amber who are able to search difficult terrain that it had not been possible to search with other assets. They were deployed in the evening and completed their tasking at 2300. We have…
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Callouts 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…
Callout 19/2023 Dart Gorge, Newbridge 12:27 5th September 2023 The team were called at 1227 asking for assistance in evacuating a person with a suspected broken ankle from the River Dart gorge who was around 3km upstream of Newbridge. We were able to deploy a casualty carer by Team Landrover to within a short distance of the casualty location, however it transpired that they had already been carried to within a few hundred metres of the road, with the help of members of the public. The casualty was attended by our casualty carers before being brought the remaining distance to…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 17 & 18/2023 South Hams 16:00 8th August 2023 The team were called out at 16:00 to search for a high risk despondent in the South Hams. The missing person was found alive but unwell as team members started to arrive at the RV. As members were dispersing, a further call came to look for a missing child elsewhere in the region but thankfully they were found before the team deployed.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 16/2023 Three Barrows, Ivybridge 18:30 6th August 2023 The team were contacted approx 6:30pm on Sunday evening to assist with an 'unusual' incident on the moor. A dog had had a encounter with an adder near Redlake, a remote part of the moor north of Ivybridge. The owner, having initially phoned for a vet's advice suspecting a bite attack, then correctly called the Police for Mountain Rescue assistance. Three of our team members in a suitably equipped 4x4 vehicle, were able to swiftly respond and safely transport the pair back to Ivybridge, where the grateful owner picked up his…
Callout 15/2023 - East Devon 04:00 2nd July 2023 The team were called in the early hours of Sunday morning (2nd July) in relation to an ongoing search for a missing person in East Devon. Both of our team search dogs along with 2 from other local teams, their handlers and navigators, were deployed alongside Devon and Cornwall Police officers as part of the search effort for several hours on Sunday afternoon. Callout 16/2023 - East Devon 16:00 2nd July 2023 Further searches in East Devon were made by the team’s two search dogs and their handlers for several hours…
Callout 14/2023 - Sidmouth 23:49 24th June 2023 At 23:49 the team were called out to assist in a multi-agency search for a vulnerable 74 year-old female in the Sidmouth area. 11 of our volunteers and 2 Mountain Rescue Search Dogs were involved in searching the high probability areas. At 04:00 the team were stood down for the night with our sister team North Dartmoor Search and Rescue being brought in to continue searching on Sunday.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 13/2023 - Shipley Bridge 16:43 24th June 2023 Devon and Cornwall Police contacted the rescue team to ask for assistance in looking for a missing person in the Shipley bridge area of southern Dartmoor. At 16:45 the team were called out and 22 of our volunteers and 2 Mountain Rescue Search Dogs were deployed. At 18:30 the invidivual was found by the Police and the team was stood down.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 12/2023 - Buckfastleigh 00:44 15th June 2023 Devon and Cornwall Police contacted the rescue team to ask for assistance in looking for a 68 year old male with dementia who was missing in the area of Pennywell Farm, just outside Buckfastleigh. 17 of our volunteers and 2 Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England teams were involved in the search. At around 03:30 the missing person was located and taken to Totnes Police station where he was reunited with his family. The team were stood down at 03:45. At 20:30, later the same day(Thursday 15th June), the team were contacted by…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 11/2023 - Higher Ashton 18:00 12th May 2023 The Team were alerted to search for an elderly gentleman with dementia who had left his home in Higher Ashton at lunchtime and had not returned. As the Team gathered, D&C Police collected sightings of him on a road leaving the village. Fortunately the DSRTA search dog teams were on Dartmoor for a SARDA training weekend, so we were joined by 3 other search dogs from across the country and the 5 dog teams were tasked to search likely areas along the road. As further foot teams were being formed the…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 10/2023 - Harbertonford 12:20 29th April 2023 While on duty providing rescue cover for the annual Ten Tors event, the duty search manager was alerted by D&C Police to a missing vulnerable female near Harbertonford. Team members were diverted from their deployment on Dartmoor and were travelling to Harbertonford when Police reported that the person had been spotted and the team returned to Ten Tors duty at 12:45.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 9/2023 - Sidmouth 20:00 28th March 2023 At approximately 20:00hrs, the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist with the search of a high-risk missing person in a woodland area in the hills north of Sidmouth. Initially two search dog teams were deployed with our remaining volunteers held on standby. One of the dog teams then located the body of the missing person. Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the missing person.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 8/2023 - Haldon Forest Park 14:20 23rd March 2023 At 1420 the rescue team were asked by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the a search for a 15 year old with learning difficulties and other medical issues who was lost in the Haldon Forest Park south west of Exeter. The police were concerned for his welfare as he had been missing for several hours in the woods, the temperature was dropping, it was foggy and it had also been raining heavily since the morning. One of our search dogs, their handler and a navigator were deployed and…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 7/2023 - Wrangaton 14:51 21st March 2023 At 14:51hrs the team were asked for assistance by the South West Ambulance Service Trust for a 49 year old lady hill walker who had a suspected broken ankle. She and her friend had been walking on the southern side of Dartmoor beneath Ugborough Beacon when she slipped and sustained her injury. Our volunteers were quickly at the scene where she was assessed, provided with pain relief and packaged for a 1 Km stretcher evacuation to the road head. We wish her a speedy recovery.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 6/2023 - Dart Valley, Newbridge 17:22 19th March 2023 Second callout in 24 hours! At 17:22hrs the team were deployed to locate and assist a mother and her two teenage children who had become lost then unable to move on the steep ground on the north side of the river Dart upstream from Newbridge. As the light was fading, the party of three were located approximately 100m above the path on a steep and difficult wooded slope. They were made safe and fortunately had no injuries. As darkness fell, a technical rope system was then built which enabled each…
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Callouts 2023
Callout 5/2023 - Exeter 00:25 19th March 2023 At 0025hrs the rescue team were contacted by the Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the search for a vulnerable female in woods north of Exeter. Initial areas were cleared by our search dogs and as the team was ready to deploy the individual was found safe and well by Police officers outside of our search area.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 4/2023 - Newton Abbot 11:30 26th February 2023 Assistance was requested from SW Ambulance Service (SWAST) to a runner who was reported collapsed on Hameldown, near Widecombe. While the Team were assembling, the runner was located and assisted down to the waiting ambulance by one of the Team doctors who happened to be in the area. The Team were stood down at 12:08.
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Callouts 2023
Tuesday, 21 February 2023 17:34
Elderly lady missing from care home, Newton Abbot
Written by DSRT Admin
Callout 3/2023 - Newton Abbot 02:18 21st February 2023 An elderly lady was reported missing from her care home in Newton Abbot, but as the team were loading the vehicles to deploy, she was located by D&C Police and returned to the care home.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 2/2023 - Newton Abbot 09:15 10th February 2023 Devon & Cornwall Police contacted the team at 09:17hrs, requesting assistance to search in the Bakers Park area of Newton Abbot for a vulnerable male with concerns for their mental health. 17 team members responded and high probability areas of the woodlands were searched. For the first time in over 20 years DSRT Ashburton were able to use 2 newly trained team search dogs in the search. At 14:20hrs the missing person was located safe by police and the team stood down.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 1/2023 - Harbertonford 20:15 26th January 2023 Devon & Cornwall Police contacted the team at 19:47hrs, requesting assistance to search in the South Hams for a missing teenager with concerns for their mental health. 27 team members responded and whilst most were still enroute, thankfully the missing person was located safe and well by police.
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Callouts 2023
Callout 40/2022 - Exeter 11:30 27th October 2022 On Thursday 27th Oct at approximately 11:00hrs, the duty SM, was contacted by D&C Police to assist in the search for a female seen going into the water at the Quay in Exeter. The team was deployed at about 11:30hrs, and stood down shortly after as the body of a female was recovered by Police divers. Six members of the team who made it to the Quay were able to assist the Police with cordoning off areas of interest and assisted SWAST in setting up a tent so identification could be carried…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 39/2022 - Haytor 18:15 23rd October 2022 A busy weekend and the return to Haytor. The team were called just after 18:15hrs today to help a woman stuck on the top of Haytor Rocks. Two team members, who were returning from search dog training, were nearby and diverted to help the lady down. Shortly after 18:35hrs the team were stood down. The relieved young woman told team members “This is brilliant, it was so quick. I don't know what we would do without this emergency service”.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 38/2022 - Haytor 20:17 22nd October 2022 At just before 21:00hrs on Saturday night Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton were called out to search for a man in his 40s who was lost, possibly injured, somewhere north of Haytor. He had been on a dog walk late on Saturday afternoon with his family. As darkness fell and the fog rolled in, he became separated from his group and was unable to find either them or his way back to the carpark. His sister, concerned for his safety, raised the alarm. Almost 20 volunteers from the rescue team…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 37/2022 - Haytor Quarry 18:45 13th October 2022 Not our usual callout, but nonetheless the team were called upon when a lovely spaniel had been exploring a granite spoil heap just north of Haytor when a rock slipped, trapping her for several hours. With the assistance of Devon Cave Rescue Organisation & Bovey Tracey Fire Station we were able to work together and free Jess who thankfully was unharmed but a little shaken. Our team located the site and after assessing the situation called for the specialised services of Fire and Rescue and DCRO. As it was dark, our…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 36/2022 - Cold East Cross 16:00 4th October 2022 At approximately 1600hours on Monday, the search manager was contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to request the team in locating an injured walker in the area of Cold East Cross, Dartmoor. The lone female in her 60's, an experienced walker was out with her dog and was able to raise the alarm quickly. Knowing Dartmoor, she was able to give details as to her approximate location. Unfortunately, she had taken a fall and sustained a leg injury. The team were called out at 16:21hrs and were able to quickly…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 35/2022 - Exeter 15:44 18th September 2022 At approximately 1544hrs this afternoon the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police concerning a vulnerable young female who had gone missing from Royal Devon & Exeter hospital earlier in the day. Thankfully, whilst the team were enroute to commence searching, the missing person (Misper) was spotted by a member of the public that knew her and she was found safe and well in the local area by police officers.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 34/2022 - Haldon Forest 23:43 14th September 2022 Shortly before midnight the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall police to help search for a male who was reported missing in Haldon Forest. As the team arrived at Haldon Forest the man was located by police and the team stood down.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 33/2022 - Kingsbridge 10:09 11th September 2022 The team were alerted by Devon & Cornwall police to search for an 82 year old gentleman missing from his home in Kingsbridge. However shortly after the alert, police located the missing person and the team were stood down.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 32/2022 - Becky Falls, Manaton 14:28 29th August 2022 On Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August the team were called to assist SWAST, to recover a female walker who had fallen whilst out walking near Becky Falls and sustained injuries to both legs. Paramedics were at the scene and several members who were in the area arrived ahead of the main team and assisted with the carry off. Twenty two members were able to respond and those not at the scene or on route were stood down. We wish the injured lady a speedy recovery.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 31/2022 - Marldon, Torquay 23:50 27th August 2022 Just before midnight on Saturday 27th Aug, DSRT Ashburton were called to assist in the search for a high risk male in the Marldon area of Torquay. Team members arrived at about 01:00hrs and searched until 03:00hrs. Unfortunately the missing person was not located and Police enquiries continue. The team stood down and set off home for a well deserved rest, having been out less than 24hrs earlier looking for a vulnerable female in Ashburton. Fortunately she was found and handed over to the Police.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 30/2022 - Ashburton 04:00 27th August 2022 The team were alerted to search for a 71 year old female who had left her house in the early hours. Several areas along her likely route to Buckfastleigh were searched, until the lady was located near Buckfastleigh at around 07:30 and returned home by police.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 29/2022 - Kingsbridge 09:30 24th August 2022 On Wednesday 24th Aug, DSRT Ashburton were called by Devon & Cornwall Police, to assist in the search for a missing vulnerable 71yrs old female on the outskirts of Kingsbridge. 13 members of our team along with a Mountain Rescue Search dog team from DSRT Tavistock and several members of our sister team from Plymouth, attended. Members started to search designated areas just before midday, then in the early afternoon the search dog team found the missper, unfortunately deceased. Our thoughts are with the family at this tragic time.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 28/2022 - Buckfastleigh 15:54 18th August 2022 The Team were alerted to help search for a missing 10 year old child, however within 5 minutes of the alert the child was found safe and well by the police.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 27/2022 - Bickington 00:30 18th August 2022 The Team were alerted to search for a missing vunerable male near Bickington, however he was located by police while the team were mobilising for the third callout in 3 nights.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 26/2022 - Newton Abbot 20:00 16th August 2022 The team were called to assist in the search for a high risk missing person in the Baker's Park area, however while on route to the incident the person was located by the police helicopter which directed local police resources.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 25/2022 - Exeter 20:16 15th August 2022 Late evening on Monday 15th Aug, DSRT Ashburton were contacted by D&C Police to assist in the search for a missing vulnerable male in the Exminster area of Exeter. 14 members were able to assist and searched large wooded areas on the outskirts of Exminster. The search continued into the early morning standing down at about 01:30hrs. We were unable to locate the individual and the Police search was scaled back and may be resumed.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 24/2022 - Sidmouth 16:00 10th August 2022 Late afternoon on Wednesday 10th Aug, the team were called to attend and search an area of woodland above Sidmouth, searching for a vulnerable missing female. At about 21:30hrs after an extensive search of a defined area we stood down as light was fading. Unfortunately, the following day a body of a female fitting the description of the miss per, was found in an outcrop of rocks just off the seafront of Sidmouth. Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 23/2022 - Broadhempston 15:00 6th August 2022 The Team were called to assist in the search for an elderly female with dementia, but were stood down while en-route when she was found by a member of the public.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 22/2022 - Teign Valley 21:10 27th July 2022 On the evening of 27-07-22 the team were called to search woodland in the Teign valley for a person reported to be missing and vulnerable. 26 team members attended and searched for just short of 5 hours. We stood down for the night at this point. The following day a deceased person was located and further searches were suspended. Our thoughts are with the missing person’s family and friends.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 21/2022 - New Bridge 21:29 8th July 2022 At 2130hrs on Friday the rescue team were called out by South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) to provide assistance with a climber who had fallen near Haytor Rocks and sustained back injuries. The team were mobilised and as the light was fading 15 volunteers headed to scene. Just as the first team members reached the casualty site the injured climber was airlifted by the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter. The team were then stood down. We wish the climber a speedy recovery
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Callouts 2022
Callout 20/2022 - Teignmouth 02:10 5th July 2022 At approximately 02:10hrs, the duty SM, was contacted by D&C Police, to search for a 72yrs old female with dementia, poor eyesight and reduced mobility. The full team was called out at about 02:40hrs. Open areas on the edge of Teignmouth seafront and paths close to the railway line were searched. Once these areas had been done, teams were then brought into search the streets and alleyways, close to the misper's home. Several members had to leave and the remainder were split into 5 teams of two, enabling us to cover large…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 19/2022 - New Bridge 04:00 30th June 2022 Just after 04:00 the rescue team received a request from D&C Police to assist in a search for a woman reported missing, and her car had been located at New Bridge near Poundsgate. Teams were dispatched to search the banks of river Dart and other likely areas while the police made further enquiries. Once the police had confirmed she was definitely at the location using CCTV, assistance was requested from Plymouth and Tavistock DSRT teams and also the Fire Service. Further extensive searches were carried out until late in the afternoon.…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 18/2022 - Becky Falls 17:00 22nd June 2022 At approximately 1700hrs on Wednesday 22nd June the rescue team received a request for us to provide assistance to the South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) in bringing a lady with a suspected fractured ankle back from a difficult to access location within the Becky Falls woodland park tourist attraction. Due to the narrow paths, trees, stumps, roots, steep slopes, boulders and steps this turned out to be a challenging callout. Despite this our skilled volunteers utilised their training to bring the casualty back to the road head as quickly and…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 17/2022 - Dartmeet 16:00 16th June 2022 At approximately 1600 hrs on Thursday Devon and Cornwall Police contacted the rescue team with a request for us to provide assistance to a South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) ambulance crew in bringing an injured patient along a difficult to access footpath in the Dart valley approximately 1 mile south of Dartmeet. An initial team of our volunteers with a stretcher were dispatched from their rendezvous point at Dartmeet to the injured person's location and within 5 minutes they encountered the ambulance crew and their injured patient walking back along the…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 16/2022 - Saddle Tor 15:00 11th June 2022 Whilst assisting D&C Police on a training course for police search managers, an incident was called regarding a member of the public had suffered a dislocated knee on Saddle Tor. Police exercise was stopped and all teams assisted with recovery. This became a joint recovery of PenMaCRA members assisting the recovery of the casualty, who was eventually handed over to the ambulance service.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 15/2022 - Dr Blackall's Drive 16:20 22nd May 2022 At approximately 1620hrs today Devon & Cornwall Police contacted the rescue team to ask for assistance for a 23-year-old male in an electric wheel chair which had broken down towards the western end of Dr Blackhall’s Drive, just north of New Bridge. Several team members who were nearby, quickly located the individual and his 68-year-old carer and assessed the situation. In the meantime, a limited callout was issued and 8 team members and a team landrover were dispatched to the location. Team members assisted in getting the broken-down electric wheelchair,…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 14/2022 - Shipley Bridge 12:09 2nd May 2022 At approximately 12:10 yesterday the team were contacted to assist with an injured walker, who had slipped on riverside rocks, sustaining a back injury just North of Shipley Bridge car park. A limited number of members were required and those not required were stood down. 8 team members and a first responder remained with the lady until the ambulance arrived at 14:00. The team utilised their equipment to keep her warm and protected her from the elements until the ambulance arrived where they assisted paramedics in moving her into the ambulance.…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 13/2022 - Sidmouth 18:58 21st April 2022 The team were called at 18:58 on 21st April to assist with the search for a high risk missing female with dementia. As the Search Manager was arranging drivers the team were stood down at 19:02 as the missing lady was found by Devon & Cornwall Police.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 12/2022 - Seaton 02:48 10th April 2022 The team were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police at 02:48 this morning to search for a lady in her 50s who was missing in Seaton with significant concern for her welfare. A full team callout was issued at 03:12 for team members to deploy. 3 search parties covered a number of areas and routes between her point last seen and her home address. A fire service drone search unit also assisted in the search. The lady was sighted, on the move, by team members at approximately 07:15 and brought back to…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 11/2022 - Bel Tor corner 14:01 8th April 2022 The team were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police at 14:01hours today following a request for assistance for an unwell walker in an organised party. The duty search manager contacted the party leader directly and learned that the casualty was not far from the road and ambulance service were assisting by phone. It was agreed to provide a limited response to assist in getting the casualty to the road, and therefore a callout initiated at 14:13hours. The informant called back at 14:18hours to advise that the casualty had recovered significantly…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 10/2022 - Clyst St Mary 14:29 6th April 2022 At approximately 14:00hours DSRT Ashburton were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist in the search of an elderly male with dementia in the area of Clyst St Mary. The team were called out at approximately 14:25hrs with the intention of providing a limited response to work alongside Urban Search and Rescue from DSFRS with more members in reserve to scale up our response in the evening, if required. As team members arrived at the rendezvous and began obtaining details from police officers on scene, the gentleman was located…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 9/2022 - Torquay 21:10 31st March 2022 The duty SM was contacted by D&C Police at approx 21:10 last Thursday evening, requesting team assistance towards a high risk missing person search in the Torquay area. Having agreed with the LPSM a targeted area search, the team deployed to seven open ground and wooded area sectors within 1km of the home address. The team stood down around 01:00 having completed these, with no further action pending further information.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 8/2022 - Torquay 18:00 7th March 2022 The team were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police at just before 6pm on Monday evening and asked if they would assist the Coastguard in the search for a 29 year old high-risk missing male in the Meadfoot/Ansteys cove area of Torquay. Just as the team were arriving at the scene the missing person was found by the police and the team were stood down.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 7/2022 - Haytor 11:05 6th March 2022 This morning the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) and asked to assist with the evacuation of a 70-year-old male who had had a seizure near the top of Haytor Rocks. A Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) helicopter was also requested. The rescue team were quickly mobilised and 16 of our members headed towards the agreed rendezvous point at Haytor. As it was possible to transfer the male to the aircraft with the medical personnel who were in attendance our team…
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Callouts 2022
Callouts 5 & 6/2022 - Woodbury Common 22:35 25th February 2022 The team were called at 2235 to assist with the search for a high risk missing woman on Woodbury Common. Team members deployed and searched until approximately 0400. At 0602 on 26-2-22 a second callout was sent for members to continue the search alongside DSRT Okehampton. The team were stood down at 0852 as the misper had been found and was in the care of medics
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Callouts 2022
Callouts 3 & 4/2022 - Cadover Bridge 21:30 11th February 2022 At approximately 21-30hrs on Friday 11th Feb, DSRT Ashburton were called to give assistance to our sister teams DSRT Plymouth & Tavistock, who were involved in a large area search near Bickleigh Bridge on the edge of Dartmoor, looking for a vulnerable high risk missing person. Twelve members responded to this call, who were tasked to search areas near Cadover Bridge. They searched the area until well into the early hours of Saturday morning, unfortunately, without success. Team members eventually got home about 04:00hrs. At 07-45hrs on Saturday more…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 2/2022 - South Brent 17:00 23rd January 2022 The team were called out at 17:00hrs by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist the search for a missing despondent male in the South Brent area. Just as team members were arriving at the rendezvous a police patrol car located the male. The team were stood down at 17:36hrs.
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Callouts 2022
Callout 1/2022 - Avon Dam, Shipley Bridge 17:32 12th January 2022 The team’s normal Wednesday training evening was interrupted by their first callout of the year. Devon & Cornwall Police contacted the rescue team at 1750hrs to assist in finding a lady in her 50s who had gone out to take photographs and who had become lost and disorientated North of the Avon Dam. Luckily, the police were able to provide the team with a grid reference of her location. It was dark by this time and the temperature rapidly falling below freezing. As the lady did not have any…
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Callouts 2022
Callout 34/2021 - Hembury Woods 15:37 19th November 2021 At 1537hrs our duty search manager was contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police and asked we could assist DSFRS in the recovery of a deceased individual from a difficult location in Hembury Woods, Nr Buckfastleigh. At 1551hrs a limited callout for team members was sent. Our team deployed nine of our volunteers, two 4X4 vehicles and a specialised stretcher in support of Devon Somerset Fire and Rescue (DSFRS). The combined team then swiftly brought the deceased to an ambulance at the road head. Our thoughts are with the friends and family…
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Callouts 2021
Callout 33/2021 - Longdown 09:10 12th November 2021 Missing vulnerable male: At approximately 09:10hrs on Friday 12th November, DSRT Ashburton were requested to continue a search in the Longdown area, Nr Exeter that had commenced just before midnight the previous day by our sister team North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team. Eleven team members and two SARDA dog teams assisted in the search. Extensive searches in the wooded areas and open fields failed to locate the missing person. After some 6 hours of intense searching the decision to stand the teams down was taken. Our thoughts are with the family…
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Callout 32/2021 - Teigngrace 16:47 5th November 2021 The Team's Swift Water Technicians were requested by Police to attend the site of a callout from March to assist following additional information from a member of the public..
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Callout 31/2021 - Paignton 21:18 4th November 2021 At 21:18hrs last night, the team were deployed by Devon & Cornwall Police to search for a high risk missing person in Paignton. In the darkness, 16 volunteers were engaged in searching high probability wooded areas around Primley House. The team were stood at 00:15hrs. Police are continuing their investigations beyond the initial search area.
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Callout 30/2021 - Mamhead, Near Dawlish 19:31 29th October 2021 Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton (DSRTA) were deployed by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the search for a dog walker who had gone missing near the Obelisk at Mamhead near Dawlish. Two men had been dog walking at the Obelisk and at dusk one of the dogs fell down a steep wooded slope and did not return. As darkness fell one of the men went looking for the dog. An hour later neither the man not the dog had returned and the remaining concerned dog walker called 999.…
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Callout 29/2021 - Lopwell Dam, Plymouth 07:40 22nd October 2021 The team was contacted by the Police at 0740 to request assistance with an ongoing search for a missing person thought to be in the area around Lopwell Dam. This would be the continuation of an overnight search involving DSRTs Plymouth and Tavistock. We had a turnout of 25 members and were joined by a SARDA dog and handler, which allowed us to field 5 search parties including one dog team. These hill parties searched some difficult, steep, wooded terrain on both sides of the River Tavy, alongside numerous colleagues…
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Callout 28/2021 - Erme Plains 12:24 10th October 2021 Shortly after midday today DSRT Ashburton were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in locating a walker with a lower leg injury on Dartmoor National Park somewhere north of Ivybridge. 20 team members and 3 Land Rovers were deployed onto the Moor using a track from Bittaford. Having located the casualty, team members assessed the injury and carried him across rough ground on a mountain rescue stretcher. In consultation with colleagues at ambulance control we agreed to convey him back to his car so that he can return to…
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Callout 27/2021 - Cullompton 09:00 23rd September 2021 Following extensive searches by our sister teams, Exmoor Search & Rescue Team, North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, Devon & Cornwall Police over the previous 36hours, Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton were deployed by police this morning to continue the search of a high risk missing person from Thames Valley area, in woodland between Kentisbeare and Broadhembury, East Devon. We were joined by Urban Search & Rescue, other outside agencies and our colleagues Dsrt Plymouth were also deployed, along with Police Drones and West Cornwall Search &…
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Callouts 2021
Callout 26/2021 - Wrangaton 18:16 13th September 2021 The team were called at 1816 to assist in the search for a despondent female walking the moor near to Ugborough Beacon. Whilst en route the team were stood down at 1849 as the missing person was located and with police officers.
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Callouts 2021
Callout 25/2021 - Torbay Hospital 17:31 8th September 2021 The Team were alerted at 17:31 to locate a missing person near Torbay Hospital, but stood down while members were en-route at 17:50 as the person was located by police.
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Callout 24/2021 - Haytor 21:06 2nd September 2021 The team were called at 2106 to search for a male who had become benighted and disorientated in the Holwell area of Haytor Common. Members deployed and the person was located fairly quickly. The team was stood down at 2325
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Callout 23/2021 - New Bridge 13:43 29th August 2021 The team were called on Sunday 29th August at 13:43 to assist in an incident in which it was reported that a person had fallen from the Lover’s Leap crag on the ‘Loop’ section of the River Dart. Initially, we had no indication of the extent of the fall, the casualty’s condition, or indeed his whereabouts, as it was not clear whether he had fallen into the river. Some team members deployed to locations on both sides of the river, ahead of the arrival and set up of the control point.…
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Callout 22/2021 - Lucky Tor 21:00 20th August 2021 Shortly after 21:00 on Friday 20th August Dartmoor search and rescue team (Ashburton) were contacted by police with a request from SWAST to assist a walker in the Dart Valley with a lower leg injury. With support from a local landowner who facilitated access through their fields an advance party was deployed to treat & stabilise the casualty, while a stretcher party make their way to the casualty location. On recovery to the road head the casualties situation had remained stable and it was agreed that it would be appropriate for…
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Callout 21/2021 - Honiton area 21:45 6th August 2021 On Friday evening the duty SM, was contacted to assist D&C Police in the search for a vulnerable missing girl in the Honiton Area. The missing person had suffered a catastrophic injury some years ago and now had the mental age of an 11 year old. The team was called out to assist at about 21:45hrs. Sixteen members were able to attend, however, 5 members made it to the RV just as the young girl was found, the remaining members were stood down on route. The missing person was located in…
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Callout 20/2021 - Exmouth 02:40 15th July 2021 At approximately 02:40, the team were called to assist D&C Police in the search for a missing vulnerable 18yr old male in the Exmouth area. Team members responded to the call with additional support coming from our sister team DSRT Okehampton. Just before dawn the misper was located by team members, and Fire Officers, unfortunately, deceased. A massive thanks to members from both teams and Fire service, who assisted. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tragic time.
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Callout 19/2021 - Kingsbridge 19:44 2nd July 2021 DSRT Ashburton were alerted by Police for a missing elderly gentleman with dementia in Kingsbridge area. As the team were assembling, the Police were alerted by residents to a confused gentleman knocking on doors, who was confirmed as the missing person. The team were stood down at 21:26.
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Callout 18/2021 - Upottery 14:00 23rd June 2021 DSRT Ashburton along with sister teams from SAR Exmoor, DSRT Okehampton, assisted Devon & Cornwall Police and other emergency services in the search for the 62yr old missing farmer Roy Hunt. On Sunday 27th whilst Police carried out further searches in outbuildings on the farm, they unfortunately came across the body of Mr Hunt. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this most difficult of times.
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Callout 17/2021 - Huntingdon Warren 15:14 31st May 2021 At approximately 15:00hrs the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist with evacuating an experienced walker who had a suspected broken ankle near Huntington Warren. A full team callout was therefore initiated at 15:14hrs. One of our team members happened to be out on the moor nearby when he received the callout. Making his way to the location he assisted in loading the lady on to an air ambulance who conveyed her to hospital. The team were stood down at 15:44hrs. We wish her a speedy recovery.
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Callout 16/2021 - Sidmouth 16:08 15th April 2021 Shortly before 16:00hrs on Thursday 15th April the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the search for a high risk missing person in the Peak Hill area of Sidmouth. At 16:08hrs a full team callout was initiated. Alongside HM Coastguard, search areas were tasked with assistance from MRSDE search dog Oscar (DSRT Tavistock). Members covered a vast area of difficult terrain, however at 21:30hrs the team were stood down after the missing person had not yet been located. Devon & Cornwall Police are continuing with their enquiries.
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Callout 14/2021 - Torquay 15:55 10th April 2021 The team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in a multi-agency search for a high risk missing individual in the Torquay area. The focus of the search on Saturday was in the steep coastal and inland areas between Watcombe Beach and Black Head. Agencies involved were: Torbay coastguard Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton Berry Head Coastguard Teignmouth coastguard Prawle Point Coastguard National Police Air Service (NPAS) Coastguard Helicopter - Rescue 924 RNLI Torbay RNLI Teignmouth Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton stood down at 20:00 hrs. Callout 15/2021…
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Callout 13/2021 - Paignton 21:18 8th April 2021 Shortly after 21:00hrs the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the search for a high risk vulnerable missing lady living with dementia in the Paignton area. A full team callout was initiated at 21:18hrs with 16 members arriving at the rendezvous ready for deployment. As well as DSRT Ashburton, Devon Somerset Fire & Rescue, HM Coastguard, RNLI, and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) were also in attendance. The team were tasked with searching several regular walking routes of the female who had not returned home following…
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Callout 12/2021 - Woodbury Common 20:59 7th April 2021 Whilst on our weekly training exercise in the Saddle Tor area the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in a search for a young adult on Woodbury Common. She was thought to have experienced a medical episode having not returned home from a walk & her phone was not reachable. A full team callout was made, the exercise aborted and our sister team North Dartmoor Search & Rescue were asked to stand by, pending improved understanding of the search tasking. Thankfully she was located by Police helicopter,…
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Callout 11/2021 - Teigngrace 15:00 18th March 2021 At approximately 14:30hrs, on Thursday 18th March, DSRT Ashburton were called to assist Devon & Cornwall Police in the search for a missing male in the Preston, Teignrace area of Newton Abbot. Due to the high concern for the individual, a full team call out was sent at approximately 15:00hrs. On arrival of team members, two search teams searched along both sides of the River Teign from Sampson’s Farm to Teign Bridge, and another search team carried out a sweep down from New Bridge to Sampson’s Farm. On completion of these searches,…
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Callout 10/2021 - Bovey Tracey 02:49 17th March 2021 On 02:36hrs Wednesday 17th March the team were called by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in the search for 2 vulnerable female teenagers who had been missing in the Bovey Tracey area since Tuesday evening. Thankfully whilst team members were en route to the RV the girls were found by a security officer and the team was stood down. Thanks to all who attended.
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Callout 9/2021 - Haytor 05:24 13th March 2021 At 04:57 the on duty search manager team was contacted by the Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in locating a cold and distressed male in his early 20’s, camping near Haytor Rocks. As the weather conditions on the moor were very hazardous with heavy rain, driving winds and very low temperatures, the team was quickly mobilised with a full team callout triggered at 05:24hrs. The Police helicopter was also tasked to assist. With the weather conditions as they were, the helicopter struggled to maintain a search pattern but credit to the…
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Callout 8/2021 - Haytor 13:35 2nd March 2021 At 1335 on Tuesday 2nd March the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist South West Ambulance Service with the extraction of a lady with a broken ankle on the northern side of Haytor Rocks. After contacting the lady directly to assess the situation, a limited callout was initiated with the plan of taking a small number of team members and a landrover to the lady's location. No sooner had the team been mobilised Devon and Cornwall Police control room contacted us to say that the South West Ambulance…
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Callout 7/2021 - Exeter 06:00 27th February 2021 At 7pm on Friday evening we received a request to join various local resilience forum discussions which continued late into Friday night. The conclusion was that 36 members of the Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton team and a similar number of colleagues from DSRT Okehampton joined Coast Guard, Devon Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Devon 4x4 response and REACT volunteers to assist Devon & Cornwall Police with evacuating over 2500 thousand properties in the Exeter area due to the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb. The team were deployed for…
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Callouts 2021
Callout 6/2021 - Shipley Bridge 15:20 14th February 2021 This afternoon the team were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police, who had received a report from two female walkers that had become cold and frightened whilst on a walk from Ivybridge to Buckfastleigh. Team members were deployed from Shipley Bridge and Lud Gate (near Buckfastleigh) to a known position gained from the walkers mobile phones. Once located they were checked over by a team Dr and escorted by team members back to our control point to be collected by a relative. Whilst every team member is happy to volunteer their…
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Callout 5/2021 - Bovey Tracey 06:50 6th February 2021 The team were contacted at 06:50hrs this morning by Devon & Cornwall Police to respond to a missing person from the Kingsteignton area. Initial information led the police to request us to search locations in the Bovey Tracey area. Shortly after 10:00hrs a member of the public reported seeing a person matching the missing persons description in the area of Heathfield, Newton Abbot. Two team Land Rovers took team doctors and other personnel to the location where the missing person was assessed medically and handed over to South Western Ambulance Service…
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Callout 4/2021 - Honiton 01:50 28th January 2021 The team were called out during the early hours of Thursday morning to search for a missing person. Subsequently we have been part of an ongoing multi agency search in the Honiton area over the last 36 hours involving search & rescue teams from across the county, as well as DSFRS and of course Devon & Cornwall Police. During that time 35 team members from Ashburton have been out searching across three separate shifts. Woodland, farmland, rivers, paths and bridleways have all been searched with no further sighting of the missing person.…
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Callout 2/2021 - Holne 04:00 24th January 2021 Last night the team were placed on standby due to the snow and freezing conditions, with 10 team members & 2 drivers from Devon 4x4 response on standby from 2330hrs spending a very cold night at our rescue centre. Thankfully traffic was very light and we had no major incidents for most of the night . At around 4am we were tasked to investigate a report that a gritter had overturned & that contact with the driver had been lost. The team deployed in 3 land rovers to facilitate social distancing. On…
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Callout 1/2021 - Hound Tor 00:15 3rd January 2021 Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton were deployed to locate an overdue camper near Hound Tor - more details to follow...
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Callout 49/2020 - Combestone Tor 12:37 30th December 2020 Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton were deployed yesterday by Devon & Cornwall Police to locate and evacuate an elderly male walker who had taken a fall near Combestone Tor. The reporting person (a passing member of the public) gave a location about 200m SW of Horn’s Cross. South Western Ambulance service and HART had also been requested. A full team callout was initiated at 12.45 and very soon after that a team member already walking in the area was deployed to the given location arriving at 13.10. By this time the…
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Callouts 2020
Callout 48/2020 - Various locations 23:00 18th December 2020 The water team have been placed on alert and are on standby at our rescue centre awaiting deployment to assist with flood relief if required. A Dartmoor Search & Rescue team leader was seconded to the silver command structure at Devon & Cornwall Police headquarters, and a team comprising of 7 swift water rescue technicians, 2 vehicles, rescue raft and drivers were assembled at the team base. The team were on standby for four hours & at approximately 23:00hrs were tasked to check a known flood risk location near to Newton…
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Callouts 2020
Callout 47/2020 - Longtimber Woods, Ivybridge 15:24 24th November 2020 On Tuesday 24th November Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton were contacted by our sister team DSRT Plymouth to assist with the search for a missing vulnerable male who has been missing since Saturday. DSRT Ashburton team members searched the Northern area of Longtimber Woods, Nr Ivybridge, searching paths, woodland and stretches close to the River Erme. With no sighting of the missing male, a halt to the search was called at approximately 20:00hrs, with the likelihood to resume searching the following day. DSRT Plymouth continued their search on subsequent days…
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Callouts 2020
Callout 46/2020 - Puffy Billy track, Bittaford 18:30 13th November 2020 Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police at approximately 18:30hrs after two walkers had reported themselves lost on a hike near Avon Dam. They judged that they had walked a considerable distance but had no means of determining their position. Their phone was low on battery so any call to gather information about their route had to be kept very short. Whilst the full team were placed on stand by at 19:07hrs, a 2nd search manager was tasked to speak to them and quickly…
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Callouts 2020
Callout 45/2020 - Avon dam, Shipley Bridge 16:00 4th November 2020 The team were called out by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist in a search for two walkers in their 70s who had become lost north of the Avon Dam reservoir near Brockhill Stream. An advance party was dispatched while the remainder of the team were being mobilised. By 1630 the walkers had been found by the advance party and as they were fit and well walked off the hill. The remainder of the team were then stood down. The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Search Manager said 'The…
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Callouts 2020