Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton

18 miles from the moor to the sea. Haytor to Shaldon. It starts off pretty easy: a walk in the park. 🚶♀️ 🚶♂️ (#Dartmoor National Park, that is!). But once you reach the tidal estuary of the River Teign, you start to question yourself! 😰 Was 18 miles too much for me? And then, before you know it, you're sipping on cool liquid refreshments 🍹 on the village green in stunning Shaldon ⛵ - with a medal around your neck and huge grin on your face. 🥇 😄 Are you up for it? Challenge yourself. Challenge your friends, family and colleagues. Join us on 27th April and earn that refreshing pint! 🍺 https://lnkd.in/eXHxkP5f

There's more to Mountain Rescue than you might realise. We don't just help people who are lost and injured on the hills. Our dedicated volunteers are frequently called upon by the Police to search for missing and vulnerable people across the whole of our patch, from Kingsbridge in the south, to Lyme Regis in the east. An area of around 700 square miles! Last week was an example of this, with two callouts. Unfortunately, both incidents concluded with very sad outcomes for the missing persons - and our thoughts are with their families and friends. Further information is shared below: Callout #9 Tuesday 4th March 2025 At 07:40hrs, the team was called out to support a multi-agency search for a vulnerable individual who had gone missing on Monday afternoon near Membury. The search had been started the night before by Exmoor Search and Rescue Team and included overflights by the National Police Air Service Helicopter. Supporting Exmoor Search and Rescue on Wednesday were individuals from Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton , North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Urban Search and Rescue and Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England. The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton Search and Rescue Ashburton drone was also flown during this callout.  Our team was stood down at 15:30 after the individual was found deceased. Callout #10 Wednesday 5th March At 16:45 the team were asked to assist in a search for a vulnerable male who was missing from Finlake Park near Chudleigh. Foot teams and our Mountain Rescue Search Dog Binnie were immediately dispatched to search the highest probability areas. As a result of this activity the individual was found but was sadly deceased. The team stood down at 19:00. 40 of our volunteers took part in this callout. Can you help us by providing essential funding? Without fundraising, we would not be able to exist. Thank you. https://lnkd.in/eRGXXrEY

This International Women’s Day let’s take a moment to show some praise and appreciation for the amazing women in our team. All of them are superstars 🙌🏼 #IWD2025 #MountainRescue #Dartmoor #Devon

A snapshot into an emergency training exercise at Dartmoor National Park in Devon 🦺 The Dartmoor Search & Rescue Teams provide regular joint training for emergency services located near the Dartmoor National Park to ensure they are equipped and prepared for future incidents. Over 70 callouts in the Dartmoor area happen each year and it’s important the first responders react swiftly. RRT Torbay served up 80 burgers to responders after their 8-hour exercise. #rrtcares Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton

Callout #8 Sunday 23rd February 2025 At 02:45hrs in the morning after the joint exercise, the team were called out by Devon and Cornwall Police to assist in the search for the driver of a crashed car who was missing. The incident was on the on the B3212 near Challacombe Cross. (The moorland road to The Warren House Inn). In the darkness and biting wind our rescue team searched the highest probability areas in the vicinity for of the crashed vehicle. The driver was not found. The team stood down at 06:20 with Devon and Cornwall Police continuing to investigate. 15 of our volunteers attended this incident.

On Saturday the rescue team held an 8-hour search and rescue exercise based at Postbridge in central #Dartmoor. The exercise involved two scenarios; one moorland based and the other river based. In addition to our team there were representatives from our sister teams Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth ⛑, North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team and Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team - Tavistock. Devon and Cornwall Police were represented by two Police Search Advisors (PoLSAs) and two Initial Missing Person Search Advisors (IMPSAs) who were embedded in our teams. Almost 60 people were involved making our largest joint exercises in recent years. Rapid Relief Team (RRT) United Kingdom provided hot drinks and hot food which were greatly appreciated by our participants. In the afternoon the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton drone team were flying as part of the exercise. It was an unusually good day for Dartmoor in February – sun, a little wind, and only a few light showers. The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton Team Leader Craig Scollick said, ‘This joint exercise allowed us to practice all our land and water-based skills in one day. It also allowed us to practice working with our fantastic colleagues from the other Dartmoor teams and Devon and Cornwall Police. Exercises like this help prepare us for large search and rescue callouts which involve multiple teams working together. We are also extremely grateful to Rapid Relief Team (UK) for providing us with drinks and food throughout the day’. #dartmoornationalpark #searchandrescue

Registration is now open for this year's Templer Way. Check out the link below for more info. 27th April 2025  The Templer Way Challenge is our biggest annual fundraiser. This walk is 18 miles between Haytor on #Dartmoor and Shaldon on the south coast. From moor to sea in a single walk. ⛰️ ➡️ 🏖️ The Way traces the route by which granite was exported from Dartmoor via the unique Haytor granite tramway and the Stover Canal. It's a cracking day out, a proper challenge, and all proceeds go directly to the team. Let’s dust off those boots! 🥾 https://lnkd.in/eXHxkP5f

Callout #7 Monday 17th February 2025 At 03:30hrs the team were called out by Devon and Cornwall Police to join a multi-agency search for a vulnerable individual in the open areas around Buckland in Newton Abbot. Coastguard Helicopter R188 from St Athan and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton searched the highest probability areas. The team stood down at 07:00 but Devon and Cornwall Police continue to investigate. 12 of our volunteers attended this incident. #MoreThanJustMountains #Devon

As January comes to an end, we reflect upon a busy start to the year, with five callouts this month. (Plus a few near-misses). 🚨Callout #4 Friday 24th January 2025 At approximately 22:00hrs the team were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police requesting our assistance to search for a vulnerable male in & around the Exminster area. 13 team members deployed overnight, along with our Search Dog, Binnie. Urban searches were made along with searches of open marshland & fields. The team were stood down at 03:30hrs whilst police continued with their enquiries. We were very pleased to hear that the male was located safe & well later that morning, outside of our search area. 🚨Callout #5 Sunday 26th January 2025 We were called at 10am to assist with the transfer of a deceased person from woods in South Devon. This is not standard work for the team, but on this occasion decision-making considered that the transfer would be a relatively simple task with our skills and resources, whilst also easing pressures on emergency services during a period of bad weather. #searchandrescue #Exminster #dogs #mrsde #searchdog #devon

Defib no’s 232, 233, and 234: Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton We were recently contacted by Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton as they needed to replace their aging defibrillators. We were only too happy to help such a brilliant organisation by providing 3 iPAD SPR defibrillators and a training model at the price that we pay as a charity, as well as making a small contribution. It’s always a pleasure to help out amazing local organisations like this, knowing the fantastic difference they make in emergency situations! Dan went down to their HQ earlier this week to meet the team and drop off the equipment. Pictured are Phil (Remote Rescue Medical Technician), Dan and Simon (Paramedic). #jaysaim #searchandrescue #dartmoor #support