top of page

Incidents

Guidelines Rev 002.png

2020

 

63/20 – 20/12/20

On Sunday evening the team was called by North Wales Police to assist with a missing person enquiry near Chirk. During the initial planning for deployment we received the great news that the missing person had been found safe and well and we stood down. We were also just about to involve our friends at SARDA Wales.

63/20 – 12/12/20

Extensive search for a missing person near Halkyn, with SARDA Wales.  Found safe and well.

62/20 – 05/12/20

On Saturday morning we were asked by North Wales Police to assist a walker on Halkyn Mountain. He had suffered a serious lower leg injury.


Team members provided advanced first aid, including pain relief and splinting, before carrying him out to our vehicle, then he was transferred to a Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust crew.
Get well soon!

 

61/20 – 27/11/20

Late on Friday morning we were called by North Wales Police to assist Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust paramedics to extract a casualty from a location near Corwen. It was thought that he could not be moved without using a full rope rescue system.
However as our first team member arrived on scene the good news came in that he had been safely extracted and we stood down.

60/20 – 21/11/20

On Sunday morning team members took part in searches around Connah’s Quay for a missing man.
This was part of a major operation involving many organisations, such as North Wales Police, SARDA Wales, HM Coastguard, RNLI and others.
We were stood down after the discovery of a body during the search activities. The man has not yet been formally identified, but we send our heart felt condolences to his family and friends.

59/20 – 31/10/20

We were called this afternoon by North Wales Police to assist a lady who had taken a fall in woodland near Abergele. Team members assisted WAST Paramedics to evacuate the casualty, using a rope system to protect the carry of our stretcher down a steep and very slippery slope.
She had been assisted by other walkers who were invaluable in providing information to us and staying with her right through to her handover to the ambulance crew – well done to them.
Get well soon!

 

58/20 – 28/10/20

On Wednesday morning North Wales Police requested our assistance with a missing person enquiry in the Prestatyn area. We responded alongside SARDA Wales
As dog teams and NEWSAR team members were arriving to start the search, the good news came in that the missing person was found safe and well and we stood down.

57/20 – 19/10/20

The team was called earlier this evening to assist North Wales Police to locate a person missing in a rural area south west of Wrexham. As over 20 team members travelled to start searching the good news came in that the missing person had been located safe and well by Police Officers and we stood down.

 

56/20 – 30/9/20

North Wales Police requested our assistance to search for a High Risk missing person in the Wrexham area. SARDA Wales also called. The team was stood down pending further police enquiries before ground searching commenced.

55/20 – 27/9/20

At lunchtime today North Wales Police requested our help with a female mountain biker who had taken a bit of a spill in the Berwyn mountains near Llandrillo.
Two team vehicles with team members responded. Fortunately we were able to use one of our landrovers to drive to the location and the casualty was quickly evacuated to Corwen for handover to the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
Get well soon.

54/20 – 26/9/20

On Saturday afternoon Dyfed Powys Police called the team to assist a young girl with a serious lower leg injury at Pystyll Rheader Waterfall. The Wales Air Ambulance attended as well
We transported the casualty until she could be handed over to Welsh Ambulance Services.
Get well soon.

53/20 – 19/9/20

This afternoon we were asked to assist the Welsh Ambulance Services with an injured mountain biker on the trails in Llandegla Forest. The WAST paramedics dealt with the casualty care and we used our vacuum mattress to immobilise the casualty, before carrying him down on our stretcher to the waiting WAST ambulance. Get well soon!
14 team members and two Land Rovers attended.
Thanks to the casualty’s party for their help and special thanks to the The Grousemoor for allowing us to use their car park as a meeting point for team members.

52/20 – 13/9/20

Earlier this evening to assist Welsh Ambulance Services to extract a male with a serious lower leg injury in Wepre Park, Deeside.
WAST paramedics provided first aid to the injured male before we stretchered him to the waiting Ambulance.

We attend incidents at Wepre every year, but so far 2020 is proving to be unusually busy.

51/20 – 9/9/20

On Wednesday evening our neighbours at Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team requested assistance with a potentially very serious Rope Rescue on the B4391. Police, Fire and Ambulance were already in attendance.


Following a two car Road Traffic Collision a vehicle had left the road and rolled down a very steep slope, coming to rest on a farm track well over 100m down. Initial reports indicated that at least one person may be trapped.


Soon after we arrived it became apparent that the car was empty and Aberdyfi, NEWSAR and Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) started a search to find the driver.
Fortunately the driver was found in the nearest village and attended to by the Welsh Ambulance Service.

50/20 – 8/9/20

Search  for a man in his 80’s missing from the Meliden area.
As the team was heading to start searching alongside Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) the good news came in that he had been found safe and well by North Wales Police officers guided by a helicopter from the National Police Air Service.

49/20 – 7/9/20

On Monday night North Wales Police asked us to assist two walkers who had become a bit “geographically challenged” on Moel Famau as the summit was in mist and it was going quite dark. They were unsure where they were descending. While our first responder was making initial enquiries the missing pair found their way off to the Loggerheads side and were then able to arrange to get back to their car.


It may seem surprising that people can get lost on Moel Famau, but when it is getting dark and you can’t see due to hill fog, it can be quite a confusing place.

48/20 – 1/9/20

On Tuesday afternoon the team was made aware of two sheep stuck on a ledge at a disused quarry near Llanarmon-yn-Ial. They appeared to have been there for some time and had eaten all the grass.

Two team team members were lowered down 5 metres to either side of the two sheep, which were above a further 20 metre drop. The ewe was first put into a bag and brought up, followed by its lamb in another bag. We used our Vortex Tripod which reduced the risk from loose stones at the cliff edge.

They were then released into the adjoining field where they quickly set about munching the grass, making up for lost time!

Team members then brought all the kit down and returned to base.

The Vortex Tripod was purchased last year following a donation from the Mold based Bryn Gwalia Bowling Club Fund and help from R3 Safety and Rescue Limited.

This type of animal rescue is useful practice for us – although we promise not to put any humans into builders bags when we rescue them!

47/20 – 1/9/20

On Tuesday morning North Wales Police requested our help with a woman who had suffered a lower leg injury while out walking on Offas Dyke near Penycloddiau in the Clwydian Hills. Two team vehicles, together with twelve team members went to assist. After providing some pain relief and splinting she was conveyed back down in one of our Landrovers and transferred to a private vehicle to be taken to hospital. Get well soon.

46/20 – 31/8/20

At midday on Bank Holiday Monday North Wales Police requested our help to find a young child that had gone missing from a group walking in the Clwydians. We started to mobilise the team to assist when the fantastic news came in that the child had been found by another party of walkers and then re-united with their family.

45/20 – 22/8/20

Dyfed Powys Police called the team  to assist a family that found themselves unable to continue with their route due to very steep ground on a hill near Llangynog. The party was cold and wet and it was very windy.
Through advice by phone and text they were redirected back uphill to safe ground.
Once they were moving we lost contact with them so a small mixed group of NEWSAR and South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team team members went to escort them off the hill.
In the end the party managed to find their way down just as team members arrived.
After a quick welfare check they headed home.

44/20 – 13/8/20

Request to assist with the recovery of a deceased person from water.  Stood down while we were on the way.

43/20 – 11/8/20

Our busy spell continues with a call from North Wales Police to assist them with finding a lady and her daughter who had become lost up on the hills around the World’s End road near Llangollen. Our concern was for dehydration or other effects of the sun.
After first finding her car we sent search parties out along expected tracks and a combination of team members and NWP officers soon located her.
They were assessed and then taken back to their car.

42/20 – 10/8/20

We’ve been back to Wepre Woods again today! North Wales Police requested our help with a lady with an injured ankle on steep ground in the woods.
Team members provided casualty care before moving her up on a stretcher protected by a simple rope system. She was then carried across fields to a waiting ambulance Welsh Ambulance Service.

41/20 – 9/8/20

Earlier this afternoon North Wales Police requested our assistance with a rock climber who had taken a big fall and sustained significant injuries. The incident was near Llangollen.
Team members attended alongside Wales Air Ambulance, Welsh Ambulance Services and the Coastguard  helicopter from Caernarfon.
The injured climber was assisted by some other climbers who did an outstanding job of initially stabilising the casualty. One of our team members happened to be passing and also assisted in the early stages. The rest of our team members were involved in carrying the injured climber to the Air Ambulance.
Thanks also to the local person who provided refreshments to team members after their hot work in full PPE.
Best wishes to the injured climber.

40/20 – 5/8/20

At 01:45 today North Wales Police requested our assistance with a missing person enquiry in the hills to the east of Llanrwst. Working closely with Police Officers and Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) we decided on a working strategy for locating the missing person.
This did not involve us deploying immediately.
At lunchtime the good news came in that the missing person had been found safe and well and the two teams stood down.

39/20 – 3/8/20

Request to help North Wales Fire and Rescue Service with a rope rescue task on Monday evening. In the end the NWFRS teams on scene completed the task without our assistance and we stood down.

 

38/20 – 30/7/20

we were asked by Dyfed Powys Police to assist an injured walker at Pystyll Rhaeadr. As we started to respond the good news came in that the injured persons group had managed to get down to the road and they were taking the injured group member to hospital. Get well soon.

37/20- 28/7/20

Late on Tuesday evening North Wales Police requested our help to find a missing person in a rural area between Mold and Wrexham. Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) were also involved in planning for the search.
Shortly before we deployed we received news that Police officers had found the missing person and we stood down.

36/20 – 28/7/20

North Wales Police requested our assistance with two persons reported lost somewhere on Moel Famau. We were unable to contact the lost persons. While we were preparing to deploy a team to try to find them the good news came in that they had figured out where they had gone wrong and were down safely.

35/20 – 26/7/20

Today we helped a farmer retrieve two stuck sheep on a cliff above Llangollen.
Usually “stuck” sheep become magically “unstuck” after a few days when they have eaten all the grass on their little ledge!
In this case they didn’t appear keen to move after a while.
So we used a well rehearsed system…. two team members abseiling in to each side of the ledge, which is followed by some fairly “energetic” stuffing them into a builders bag! It’s not pretty, but they are not hurt in the process. Then everyone gets lowered to the ground…. sheep run off… not a wave of thanks… tsk!🙂
Farmer was very grateful though!
Good bit of rope work practice for us too.
Score 🐑🐑 0 – 🧗‍♀️🧗‍♀️ 2

34/20 – 25/7/20

The team was called to Wepre Park in Connah’s Quay this afternoon by North Wales Police to assist the Welsh Ambulance Service with a patient with a leg injury.
The rescue required two rope systems, firstly a lower to the stream and then a raise/haul system up the other side.
Get well soon.
The Park is the busiest we can recall at the moment.
It seems like such an innocuous place, right on the edge of Connah’s Quay and Shotton. However there are some very steep slopes and even some small cliffs.

33/20 – 23/7/20

This afternoon North Wales Police requested our assistance with a missing person enquiry in the Deeside area. Working with Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) we established plans for search operations, but before they commenced the good news came in the that missing person had been located.

32/20 – 18/7/20

This afternoon we were called by Dyfed Powys Police to assist a woman with a serious leg injury at the top of the Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall.


Due to the difficult location and expected long stretcher carry, with the associated delay getting the casualty to hospital, we requested the assistance of the Coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon.
We managed to drive one of our landrovers to the top of the falls with a team from the Wales Air Ambulance, but the very rough ride down would have been extremely uncomfortable for a casualty in a stretcher.
The Welsh Ambulance Service also attended.
Team members assisted the Winchman Paramedic to move the casualty to a suitable winch location.
Get well soon.

31/20 – 16/7/20

The team was requested by Dyfed Powys Police to assist with a casualty at Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall.
As our First Responder was gathering initial information it became apparent that the Coastguard helicopter was already tasked. The helicopter was able to complete the task without involvement from the team and we stood down.

30/20 – 14/7/20

Our third job in four days was to assist the Welsh Ambulance Service to evacuate a patient from steep woodland above the A5 just west of Llangollen. A man had taken a fall down a rocky slope and required stretcher evacuation. The pictures show the stretcher and rope system used to haul the casualty back up.
Working with North Wales Police officers our vehicles were used to temporarily close the A5 during the haul of the stretcher back up to safe ground, as there was a significant danger of dislodging rocks and loose timber onto the the carriageway from the much steeper lower part of the slope.
Get well soon!

29/20 – 12/7/20

North Wales Police requested our assistance with an incident in Wepre Park. A teenage boy had suffered a leg injury in a location where it was difficult to extract him. The Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics had provided casualty care so we set up a rope system to get him up to a path. We then carried him to our vehicle and drove him up a steep narrow track to the road for handover to an ambulance crew. 

Thanks also to the Flintshire Countryside and Coast warden who provided excellent access information and guided our vehicles to the closest access point, saving a longer stretcher carry.

Get well soon.

28/20 – 11/7/20

The team was called this afternoon to assist North Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service with a casualty on Moel Famau. Also attending was the Wales Air Ambulance.
Further to this we can now release additional information about this very sad incident.
On Saturday July 11th one of our team members was out on Moel Famau. He was alerted by other walkers that there was someone in trouble and ran to assist, providing initial first aid and organising rescue efforts.
Sadly it was not possible to save Richard despite the combined efforts from ourselves, Wales Air Ambulance, Welsh Ambulance and North Wales Police.
Our thoughts are with his wife Lizzie, their children, family and friends.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/headteachers-tribute-kind-devoted-husband-18640728

27/20 – 6/7/20

Dyfed Powis Police requested our assistance to move a casualty from a hard to access location to a waiting Welsh Ambulance Service vehicle.  We were stood down while on the way as a more local resource was able to complete the rescue.

26/20 – 29/6/20

The team was called this morning by North Wales Police to assist with an operation in the vicinity of Poncysyllte Aqueduct. Team members attended and we deployed four team vehicles.
Also in attendance were dog teams from Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) and team members from Cheshire Search and Rescue
Sadly the body of a man was located by Police and team members then carried out a recovery due to the awkward to access terrain. Our thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the deceased.

 

25/20 – 3/6/20

At 4AM today North Wales Police requested our assistance with the search for a man missing in the Wrexham area. As initial planning was taking place the good news came in that he had been located and we were no longer required…. back to bed!
This is the second early morning call in two days.
Hoping we don’t get a hattrick tonight!

 

24/20 – 2/6/20

On Tuesday the team assisted North Wales Police in the search for a man missing in the Mostyn area. Initially Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales) deployed two dog teams that were then followed up by NEWSAR team members.
Despite covering several areas of dense woodland he was not located.  Later in the day he was located out of our allocated search areas. We were then requested to assist with his evacuation, but in the end a Welsh Ambulance Service crew and Police Officers were able to evacuate him.
Get well soon.

 

23/20 – 25/5/20

Late on Monday afternoon North Wales Police requested our assistance for a man with an incapacitating leg injury on Ruabon Mountain. He was out for his permitted exercise, walking from home, absolutely in line with Welsh Gov guidance.
A smaller than usual team was sent out due to COVID-19 infection control. Awkward deep heather made the extraction difficult.
This is the first time we’ve had a long stretcher carry while wearing our anti-infection PPE. It made for a very hot job!
Thank you to the landowner for assistance with vehicle access and routes to the site.
Get well soon!

22/20 – 4/5/20

North Wales Police requested our assistance with a historic missing person search on the banks of the River Dee.  SARDA Wales also attended.  Nothing found and enquiries are ongoing by North Wales Police.

21/20 – 27/4/20

On Monday we were requested to assist North Wales Police with the search for a man missing from Buckley. We worked alongside Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA Wales). The man was located safe and well the next day.

20/20 – 19/4/20

The team was called by North Wales Police late last night regarding a missing person enquiry. Our First Responder discussed the circumstances of the enquiry with the Police and it was then agreed that there were no logical search parameters requiring our deployment so we stood down.
The missing person was located this morning safe and well, outside our area.

19/20 – 5/4/20

The team assisted Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust this morning with a medical emergency in north Denbighshire. We deployed a small team and a single vehicle.
Note that this was neither a “mountain” or COVID-19 related incident, but our skills were useful due to the slightly awkward terrain where the casualty was located.

18/20 – 14/3/20

This afternoon team members assisted the Welsh Ambulance Service to extract a casualty from a hard to reach location near Dyserth. Get well soon.

17/20 – 25/2/20

At 12:30 today North Wales Police asked the team to assist a walker who had a lower leg injury on Moel Famau.
The call had originally come through the ambulance service.
We had limited location information initially and this resulted in a search along several possible routes. He was found on one of the less frequently used paths and hadn’t seen any passers by which is unusual for a busy hill. We usually use some “phone wizardry” to locate people, but it doesn’t always work and we went back to basics with “rapid search parties” moving quickly along trails.
Once located the man was assessed by our Casualty Carer and then assisted to a location where he could be collected by a team landrover.
He was then taken to the road and family/friends took him to hospital.
Get well soon!

16/20 – 23/2/20

The team has assisted North Wales Police with a water rescue following a road incident on a closed section of the B5426 near Bangor on Dee.
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also attended. They had got to the casualty as we arrived and our water rescue team stood by to assist if needed.

Please do not pass road closed signs.

The water is not just deep, it is fast flowing.

15/20 – 22/2/20

Late on Saturday night Dyfed Powys Police called us to assist a group stuck in a 4×4 vehicle with a mechanical failure offroad high in the Berwyn hills. The persons on board were deemed at risk due to the remote location so we were the best resource to assist.
We recovered the occupants and were able to free the vehicle too.

14/20 – 16/2/20

Extensive search for man missing in the vicinity of Pontcysyllte. Nothing was found and we stood down.

 

13/20 – 14/2/20

Earlier this afternoon North Wales Police asked us to assist a family who were unable to continue in their 4WD on a high level off road route in the Berwyn Mountains. As there was a young child on board they couldn’t simply walk off the long distance to a road. We sent two vehicles and a small group of team members to assist.
We were able to drive to around half a mile from their location and then walk the remainder to escort them back down.
After this we took them to a place of safety where they could arrange onward travel.

12/20 – 13/2/20

North Wales Police called us just before 8pm tonight regarding a man on a late night walk up Moel Famau. He’d got a bit geographically challenged. Our First Responder was able to work out where he was from his description of his surroundings and got him back on the right track.
Given he was rather wet and cold a couple of team members went along in a Landrover and gave him a quick check over when found.
All was well and he was able to return home without further assistance.

8-11/20 – 9/2/20

Flooding response in Llanfair TH and St. Asaph. Taskings included:
Rescue from vehicles
Horses in a flooded area
Welfare checks in St. Asaph
Evacuation from a Caravan Park

7/20 – 4/2/20

“Mountain Rescue, much more than just mountains”. Tuesday night’s callout proved again how our tools and versatility can be useful in a variety of circumstances.
A van delivery driver had broken down in the middle of Clocaenog Forest, some distance from a public road on the forest tracks. It was very dark and he had no idea where he was. We used the PhoneFind system to locate him and then one of our local team members popped along to pick him up and take him to a place of safety where he was able to make his own way home.
The vehicle will be recovered today in daylight.
Some people may consider this is nothing to do with Mountain Rescue, but as far as we are concerned he was in a vulnerable position, unable to reach safety, needing to be rescued, which we were happy to help with.

6/20 – 3/2/20

On Sunday three walkers were out near Corwen when one slipped and suffered a suspected fracture to their lower leg. Thanks to the assistance of a local farmer, our two Land Rovers were able to get close to the incident site by use of farm tracks.

The casualty was given first aid before we used a rope system to protect the move of the stretcher down to our Landrover. They were then carefully driven back down to the road for handover to Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust crew.

Get well soon.

Daily Post: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/major-mountain-rescue-launched-difficult-17678201

Denbighshire Free Press: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18206886.man-rescued-breaking-leg-fall-near-corwen-quarry/

Leader Live: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18207159.walker-rescued-falling-near-corwen-quarry/

Deeside.com: http://www.deeside.com/mold-based-rescuers-newsar-called-to-injured-hiker-near-corwen/

5/20 – 1/2/20

Earlier today a gentleman had a nasty fall while out walking near Lake Vyrnwy. He was reported as unable to continue due to his injuries. We dispatched two landrovers, plus team members to potentially stretcher off the patient. Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were also asked to attend to ensure we had enough people for the carry off as the exact location and casualty condition was not known.

In the end a Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust crew managed to walk to the site and they were able to evacuate the casualty without the use of a stretcher. Team members who reached the site were on standby to assist but were not needed.

Thanks to RSPB Lake Vyrnwy for providing information and the initial means for the incident to be reported via their landline.

Get well soon.

Powys County Times: https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18206638.walker-rescued-nasty-fall-near-lake-vyrnwy/

Photo from the Hirnant road as our Landrover headed home.

4/20 – 18/1/20

This afternoon North Wales Police asked us to assist a lone female walker in the remote and rarely walked hills between Bala and Lake Vyrnwy/Llyn Efyrnwy. We also called our neighbours at Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team who are almost the same distance away so they could stand by to assist.

The walker was unable to make effective progress following an extensive day out.
We used some phone technology to confirm her location. Due to the time it would take to reach her by road our First Responder encouraged her to continue to try to make some progress so she didn’t get any colder. Four team members then went in one Landrover to intercept her, while our First Responder remained in contact by phone, confirming her location periodically.

Once the team members located her she was given a check over by one of our Casualty Carers. She was then able to drive herself home.

Nice sunset!

3/20 – 12/1/20

In the early hours of this morning the team was contacted by North Wales Police regarding a missing teenager from the Hope area near Wrexham. As initial work was taking place the good news came in that NWP officers had found the missing person safe and well. SARDA Wales also deployed a dog team.

2/20 – 12/1/20

Earlier this evening North Wales Police called us to assist Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to evacuate an injured mountain biker in Clocaenog forest. Two team vehicles and around twenty team members attended the scene.

It was an awkward, very muddy and slippery location, in the trees and on steep ground. So after carefully putting the casualty on our stretcher we used a rope system to protect the lower down to our waiting Landrover. After that it was a short drive to hand over to the WAST Ambulance so they could get to hospital.

Get well soon.

1/20 – 4/1/20

We had our first callout of 2020 today. We were asked to assist Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to move an injured person. The location was in the hills south of Abergele. While we were on the way we were notified that more local resources had become available and we stood down. Get well soon.

bottom of page