The volunteers who come to our aid at 2,000ft

Mar 21 2008 by Sally Williams, Western Mail

Heading for the hills this holiday weekend? Take care! But be reassured by the fact that the dedicated teams from Mountain Rescue can help in an emergency. This is their 75th year of saving lives in the hills. Sally Williams reports

THEY are the best mountain rescue teams in the world and if ever we were to get in trouble at 2,000 feet on the Brecon Beacons, they would drop everything and rush to help us.

But some people may not realise that these super-fit rescuers who brave the elements and scramble up sheer cliffs to be at our side with lifesaving equipment – day or night – are actually volunteers.

They work for a charity funded through voluntary donations and they are not a Government- provided emergency service, contrary to the common public perception.

Sir Chris Bonington, who climbed Everest and has become an ambassador for climbers across the globe, said, “Mountains by their very nature involve some element of risk and there will always be those who are caught unawares.

“I’ve climbed the world over and seen rescue services swing into action, in such cases some of those rescuers have been paid professionals.

“Others as is the case with our own Mountain Rescue Service, are unpaid volunteers.

“They go out in all weathers in the service of all who enjoy the hills and high places.

“The British teams are without doubt the best in the world.”

Peter Howells, team leader of Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, has helped rescue around 500 people off the peaks of central Wales since he joined the team in 1992.

Over the past year or so, around five of the people he has rescued were attempting to climb Pen y Fan’s red table-top summit – the highest old red sandstone peak in Britain.

And several others were rescued in and around the Brecon Beacons National Park, which spans 519 square miles and has one of the most stunning and wildest landscapes in Europe.

Mr Howells said, “Last autumn a young man slipped and fell while climbing off Pen y Fan.

“He continued walking but his leg had frozen solid at the knee.

“His leg had a deep cut in it and it was swollen and bleeding but he didn’t realise how deep it was.

“He called us but there was no footpath we could access.

“He was on broken ground which was difficult for us to get to. So we called the helicopter and he was airlifted to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, where he was treated for trauma.”

Four mountain rescue teams in Mid and South Wales work together and help each other whenever and wherever they are needed.

And they work together with the police, three qualified dog handlers, the air ambulance service and the RAF to co-ordinate rescues and for training purposes.

Mr Howells added, “The RAF provides most of the flight rescue training for us and they provide us with a larger helicopter and crew when necessary.

“They helped us on one of the biggest rescues we were involved in, when a group of soldiers from Italy went missing.

“The search involved all four mountain rescue teams and the Chivenor’s RAF search and rescue duty helicopter crew.

“They can use sophisticated heat signature equipment that can differentiate between people and sheep.

“We located the group on a hillside after they had got into difficulties because they didn’t know how to navigate at night.”

The work of the Mountain Rescue Teams in Wales was brought to public attention earlier this month, when the body of Michael Todd, 50, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, was discovered on Snowdon.

Twenty-five rescuers went to the scene, in gales gusting up to 70mph and they found his body at Bwlch Glas, an exposed area of the mountain.

They were members of an RAF team and the Llanberis and Ogwen mountain rescue teams, working in appalling conditions.

Mr Howells said, “These kind of circumstances occasionally happen on the mountains and the police chief’s high-profile death drew attention to that fact that tragically, people can sometimes apparently have an intention to harm themselves.

“We were involved in a search for a missing disorientated lady after Christmas, whose body was sadly found at the bottom of a cliff.

“But there are not a large number of people who apparently have an intention to take their own lives. The largest number of lost or missing people simply don’t have the navigation equipment required.

“Or, believe it or not, they don’t carry a torch.

“We see many people out to enjoy a sunset who don’t factor in the fact that once the sun sets and it is time to come down the mountain, it will be dark.

“We rescue a good number of these people, who find it is just too dark for them to find their way down the mountainside, in any one year.”

He believes it would be a good idea to introduce map reading and navigation skills for hill walkers at school so that they are aware of the both the joys and the dangers of it through school and into adulthood.

“I was taught how to read maps and how to use a compass in the Scouts which is how I got interested in the outdoors, which is a good way for young people to keep healthy,” he said.

“The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme includes some map reading and I think the basics could be taught through our education system.

“We see people setting out from the car parks, heading for the Beacons, wearing T-shirts, shorts and trainers, carrying nothing or just a small bag, with children who are wearing the same.

“These families can appear to be complacent and sometimes we will go over and offer them some advice, whether they ask for it or not.

“The trouble is they cannot see the pockets of snow lying on the hill from the car park.

“I think it is great for children to get up on the hills and to enjoy walking with their parents, provided they have the correct equipment and they are prepared for a change in the weather. Weather fronts sweep straight onto the Beacons from the Atlantic and conditions can change very quickly.

“We want to protect our rescuers and each incident is risk assessed.

“If the weather gets serious and there are deemed to be significant risks involved for them we will tend to hold off until we can gather together a cohesive large group that can carry the equipment where it is needed and form a proper rescue party.

“Other times we would send in a party of two people with radio equipment to assess the situation.”

Mr Howells, who is a retired electrical engineer, said the rescuers hold down regular day jobs with understanding employers.

He added, “We have to consider our 50 members’ welfare issues, their leave and working hours.

“We have civil servants, factory workers, engineers and builders.

“And they all come together, day or night, for one intention; they want to help.”

We have civil servants, factory workers, engineers and builders. And they all come together, day or night, for one intention; they want to help

Be prepared – and remember it’s no disgrace to turn back

Welsh mountains can be killers, so take the correct equipment, even if the sun is shining in the car park.

Planning and preparation

Consider the equipment, experience, capabilities and enthusiasm of the party members.

Check the weather forecast and local conditions; night encroaches early in the winter and the further north you go

Learn first aid.

Many accidents occur towards the latter part of the day when both your energy levels and those of your phone battery will be run down. Did you remember to charge your battery?

Footwear and clothing

Wear suitable boots with a treaded sole which provide support for ankles.

Clothing should be colourful, warm, windproof and waterproof.

Take spare warm clothing and perhaps a hat and gloves; it is always colder on the tops.

Food and drink

In addition to the usual sandwiches take chocolate, dates, or similar sweet things, which restore energy quickly. You may not need them yourself, but someone else may.

Streams on hills are drinkable if fast-running over stony beds.

Equipment and its use

A map, compass (and the ability to use them), and at least one reliable watch in the party should always be carried.

If you carry a GPS, at least know how to read your current position. It could save a lot of hassle in an emergency when speaking to the rescue team.

In all conditions, it is wise to carry a whistle, torch, spare batteries and bulbs; but in winter conditions, an ice-axe, crampons and survival bag are essential.

Climbers and mountain bikers are urged to wear helmets at all times.

Party size

If in groups, make sure party leaders are experienced; do not let party members get separated.

Take special care of the youngest and weakest in dangerous places.

If you prefer to go alone, be aware of the additional risk. Let people know your route before you start, stick to it as far as you can and notify them of any changes.

Dangers

Precipices

Slopes of ice or steep snow

Very steep grass slopes, especially if frozen or wet

Unstable boulders

Gullies, gorges and stream beds

Streams in spate

Snow cornices on ridges or gully tops

Exceeding your experience and abilities

Loss of concentration, especially toward the end of a long day

Weather changes – these can be sudden and more extreme than forecast

Excessive cold or heat (dress appropriately)

Incipient exhaustion (know the signs; rest and keep warm)

Pride

It is no disgrace to turn back if you are not certain. A party must be governed by the capabilities of the weakest member.

Mountain Rescue factfile

There are 61 teams with 3,500 team members covering England and Wales

Team members are on call 24 hours a day every day of the year

All team members are volunteers and do not get paid

Majority of team members have day jobs

Both men and women are actively involved in mountain rescue

Training and rescuing demands a very high commitment from the team members

Tremendous support and understanding is necessary from partners, wives, husbands, family and employers

Teams are self sufficient but are charities will hardly any external funding

Teams need to raise £20,000 to £30,000 each year to keep going

Funding comes from donations and fundraising activities

There are over 700 rescues each year

A typical rescue may involve up to 20 team members for around six hours on average

Rescues are split 75%/ 25% between trauma and medical searches

Helicopters do assist, but are only called for a relatively small percentage of rescues

Helping the helpers

UK Mountain Rescue celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and to commemorate this landmark, the newly launched right-hand drive Hummer H3 will support the charity's busiest teams in Wales and England across the year.

The hardy on/off road vehicle will carry both equipment and personnel as Mountain Rescue goes about saving hundreds of lives annually.

Hummer says the H3 is the only vehicle of its size that can climb a 407mm vertical wall or 60% slope, traverse a 40% side slope and operate in up to 610mm of water, making it a sure-footed choice for Mountain Rescue.

Hummer has enhanced the vehicle with a number of specialist features including grill and roof mounted spotlights to aid visibility in treacherous conditions and rocker panel protection, which give added protection to the lower body and door panels against rock strikes and other strong blows.

700 rescues a year

Mountain Rescue (England & Wales), whose patron is Prince William, is made up of dedicated volunteers whose selfless and courageous work provides assistance to anyone lost or injured in the UK mountains, fells or moorland.

The service is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and operates in all weather conditions.

There are 53 teams with 3,500 team members covering England and Wales who undertake well over 700 rescues every year and the service is free of charge.

Mountain Rescue are also called to help at major incidents such as air crashes, both civilian and military, train crashes and floods and were instrumental in assisting the victims of the recent flooding in South Yorkshire, Gloucester and Wiltshire.