2010 Incidents, Call Outs and Other Events

Numbered Incidents are reported to Mountain Rescue - England & Wales

'S' Numbers indicate a Standby  and 'D' indicates our SARDA Dog Unit only was used. 

17. 4^th March Spot Pickup 14:30 Hrs Brennand, Trough of Bowland. Team paged by NW Ambulance Service to assist with a female who had fallen and sustained a leg injury on the Ouster Rake Track in the Brennand Valley. Stood down responding, with two vehicles mobile and 14 persons attending, when it was determined that the female had made it to Brennand Farm and received treatment from paramedics from the NW Air Ambulance which had also been dispatched. (14 Rescue Person Hours)

16. 2^nd March Search 20:00 Hrs Broughton, Preston. Team requested by Lancashire Police to search for a missing 80-year-old male. Missing since 05:00 hrs but not reported until 18:00 hrs and some concern due to the falling temperatures. The Place Last Seen (the PLS) was at the back of the Marriott Hotel, Broughton. Team members requested to arrive by 21:00 hrs having collected vehicles from our Penwortham & Garstang vehicle bases. An immediate response direct to the RV by our dog handlers meant that by 20:45 hrs area search dog Floss and handler had been deployed into woods close to the PLS. Also, a scent article had been obtained ready for trailing dog Mij and handler to see if they could determine a direction of travel. However, we were then informed that the person had been located by a Police search team on a muddy track about 1Km away. Team vehicles immediately diverted straight to the scene where the, now very cold, person was recovered by Landrover to the road and a waiting ambulance. (32 Rescue Person Hours)

15. 28^th February Spot Pickup 14:55 Hrs Hilldale Quarry, Parbold. Team paged by NW Ambulance Service to urgently attend an incident where a male was reported to have fallen from a rope swing into deep water and could not be located. Despite efforts from Police, the Fire & Rescue Service and ourselves the search was suspended when it got dark due to safety concerns. During this incident the Team provided rope safety lines for police officers, used our vehicles to transport boats and other heavy equipment for the other Emergency Services and provided wide area lighting. Unfortunately, the Police Underwater Unit recovered a body the following day. The Team’s thoughts are with the young persons family and friends at this time.   (48 Rescue Person Hours)

14. 24^th February Spot Pickup 15:53 Hrs Anglezarke. Team requested to assist NW Ambulance service with a 55 year-old male who had sustained lower leg injuries near Manor House. Suspected broken tib and fib. Casualty on steep, wet & very slippery ground. Person packaged onto Bell stretcher and transported short distance to waiting NW Air Ambulance for onward transport to hospital.  (10 Rescue Person Hours)

13 (D). 9^th February Search 19:20 Hrs Blackburn. Search dogs and handlers requested to assist Rossendale & Pendle MRT in the search for a 26-year-old-male described as vulnerable. Search of woods & open areas required but stood own soon after arrival on scene when missing person found, safe, by Police.  (2 Rescue Person Hours)

Rossendale & Pendle MRT Incident 63/2010

S9.  6^th February Standby Search / Advice 21:53 Hrs Ormskirk.  Team requested to assist with a search for a vulnerable 76 year-old-male, missing since 10:00 hrs but only reported at 19:00 hrs. Missing in the Edge Hill University / Westhead area of Ormskirk. As a full Team page was about to be initiated Police informed us that the person had been located, safe and we did not deploy.   (0.5 Rescue Person Hours)

S8.  3^rd February Standby Bad Weather Cover 17:23 Hrs East Lancashire. Following heavy snow fall during the day in some parts of Lancashire request from NW Ambulance Service as to our availability. They had immediate incidents in the Darwen area but we requested our neighbouring colleagues in Bolton MRT attend, as it is their operational area. One Team Landrover brought to standby but not used. 

12. 3rd February Spot Pickup 12:56 Hrs Grindleton near Clitheroe. Team paged by the NW Ambulance service to assist with a male fell walker with a suspected broken arm on Grindleton Fell. Stood down on arrival as the casualty had been transported the short distance to the North West Air Ambulance for the onward journey to Royal Preston Hospital. (6 Rescue Person Hours)

S7. 1^st February Standby Search 19:01 Hrs Kirkham.  Team paged to assist in a search in the Kirkham area. However, on contacting the Lancashire Police Force Incident Manager we were immediately stood down, as the person had just been located, safe.

S6. 22^nd January Standby Search 21:39 Hrs Lancaster.  Request by Lancashire Police to join a developing search in the centre of Lancaster. Two men had apparently tried to cross the River Lune at Greyhound Bridge! One had been recovered but the other was outstanding. RNLI, Coastguard SAR and Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service also responding plus Police helicopter.  We were soon stood down, as the second person was located, safe.  

S5. 21^st January Standby Search 13:42    Hrs Scorton near Garstang.  A second request to assist in the search for the missing male in the Scorton area. This time for the following day (Friday). Rossendale Pendle & Bolton MRT’s also requested.  It was decided that Police resources (Air, Horse, Dog & Underwater) would undertake the search with MR completing any unfinished tasks the following day (being a Saturday). However, Police completed all tasks and MR was not used.

S4 (D). 21^st January Search Advice Scarisbrick. Search Dog handlers gave advice to Police Officers involved in an incident in the Scarisbrick area. 

S3. 19^th January Standby Search 14:25 Hrs Scorton near Garstang.  Team paged to search for a missing male. Missing for over 3 days.  Very little information to go on and as no suitable search areas for mountain rescue could be determined we did not deploy. 

11. 15th January Spot Pickup 15:54 Hrs Fulwood, Preston.  Team paged by North West Ambulance Service. Ambulance crew needed assistance with the extraction of an elderly male who had fallen on a very steep icy track. The team placed the man on a bell stretcher and extracted him to the waiting ambulance (some Team members wearing crampons to effect this rescue).   (10 Rescue Person Hours)

10. 11th January Spot Pickup 14:06 Hrs Chorley. Team paged by NW Ambulance Service. Ambulance, with a female patient on board, who was experiencing difficulties breathing, had got stuck on an icy and snowy road. Team attended with 4-wheel drive vehicles to tow the ambulance to the main road where it could continue its journey to hospital. (6 Rescue Person Hours)

9(D). 10^th January Search 07:45 Hrs Settle, North Yorkshire. Teams trailing dog and handler deployed to assist the Cave Rescue Organisation in a search for a 62-year-old male.  Assumed missing at 03:00 hrs when Fire Service attended a fire at his home. Unfortunately, a body was located by RAF Sea King helicopter on a nearby railway line.  (4 Rescue Person Hours)

S2.  7^th January Standby Spot Pick-Up 21:14 Hrs Lancaster. Team paged by NW Ambulance Service. Ambulance trying to access patient in steep ice bound street. However, on contacting Ambulance Control it was determined that they had been able to get in and we stood down. We rang back a short time later to confirm the ambulance had been able to get out!

8. 7^th January Standby Bad Weather Cover 00:00 – 07:30 Hrs All Lancashire A third day of support for the NW Ambulance Service. The Team runs a 3 shift system when providing this type of cover – usually 07:00 – 18:00 hrs, 18:00 hrs – midnight, midnight to 07:00 hrs – with two persons on each vehicle. Some incidents are backed up by requesting other Team members who live close by to respond as well in support of the vehicle crews.  Brief details of two further incidents as follows:

i) Burnley, 02:30 hrs, Recovered Paramedic Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) stuck in cul-de-sac and returned it to operational use.

ii) Whitechapel, 06:45 hrs, Transport of Ambulance Control member of staff into work due to car stuck in snow & ice.

(36.5 Rescue Person Hours)

7(D). 6^th January Search 18:44 Hrs Townley Park, Rossendale. With Team members still on Incident 6 we were contacted by the Team Leader of Rossendale & Pendle MRT requesting the use of our search dogs. Our SARDA (Wales) trailing search dog and handler plus one team member to act as a navigator / support dispatched to join the search for a missing male. (4 Rescue Person Hours)

Rossendale & Pendle MRT Incident ?/2010

6.  6^th January Standby Bad Weather Cover 00:00 – 23:59 Hrs All Lancashire. Continuing Incident 5 into a second day of support for the NW Ambulance Service. Again, three 4 x 4 Landrover Ambulances made available. A further eleven incidents to report, brief details follow:

i) Padiham, 00:05 hrs, Patient Transfer. Re-tasked to following incident on route.

ii) Burnley, 00:45 hrs, Female, Elderly, medication taken inappropriately, ambulance unable to access. Transported patient short distance from home in team vehicle to waiting ambulance.

iii) Whitworth, 03:30 hrs, Male, Elderly, Chest pains, ambulance stuck in snow, recovered ambulance and transported patient short distance to the recovered ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

iv) Blackburn, Female, Child, Vomiting / Collapsed. Patient on board ambulance in difficulties on steep snow icy road. Recovered ambulance and escorted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Thanks to neighbours & passing milkman for getting involved in the pushing and shoving!

v) Darwen, Male, Elderly,? Kidney condition, Stood down on scene. Transported by NWAS staff in hired 4 x 4.

vi) Hodgson Moor, Waddington, Female, 71,? Two broken legs. Stretchered to waiting ambulance. Ambulance escorted to Blackburn Hospital due to state of roads.

vii) Tockholes, Darwen, Male, 65+, Fallen, knee injury. NWAS unable to access due to road condition. Team accessed and evacuated casualty in team vehicle to waiting ambulance.

viii) St. Michael’s on Wyre, Male, 76, Chest pains. Access difficult due to snow. Stood down responding as ambulance crew managed to gain access.

ix) Morecambe, Female, Elderly, Constipated and in severe pain. Transferred to hospital in team vehicle.

x) Lancaster, 20:30 hrs, Female, 83, ? Broken ankle. Had been waiting some hours for transport to Royal Lancaster Infirmary for x-Ray. Team obliged.

xi) Cockerham, 22:30 hrs, Male, 76, Dislocated left hip. Two Team vehicles in attendance with paramedic (former Team member). Long slippery track to farm. Casualty placed in vac mat and onto Bell stretcher, then sledged to end of track where met by ambulance for transport to Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

(120 Rescue Person Hours)

5.  5^th January Standby Bad Weather Cover 09:00 – 23:59 Hrs All Lancashire. Following Incident 4 it was decided to provide another period of cover for NW Ambulance Service as the roads had now become treacherous with ambulance crews experiencing some difficulties all over the region. Three Team 4 x 4 Landrover’s made available this time. Our normal two long wheel base vehicles complemented with our short wheel base support Landrover. This Landrover has no patient carrying capability being primarily used for crag, water & search incident support. A NWAS Paramedic was installed on board with a Team member as driver in a Rapid Response / difficult access role. A further seven incidents attended:

i) Chipping, Female, 84, Unconscious but good pulse & breathing. Placed on oxygen. Vacuum mattress used to evacuate from upstairs bedroom. Placed in cas bag and on stretcher then transported in team vehicle to Royal Preston Hospital.

ii) Great Harwood, 12:00 hrs. Male, 87, Urgent patient transfer. Overdue weekly dialysis due to access problems for normal transport, Transported to Accrington Hospital.

iii) Blackburn Town centre. Unsuccessful attempt to recover an ambulance. Due to position it needed something more powerful than a Landrover to drag it out!

iv) Padiham, 14:30 hrs. Ambulance had run into house. Car had run into ambulance. Attended but no injuries. Unable to recover ambulance.

v) Blackburn Area, Patient transfer. Stood down responding.

vi) Morecambe, 19:45 hrs, Female 60, Sore head. Patient had a recent history of a possible stroke. Carried from home (a caravan park) to waiting ambulance at gates to park due to very slippery track for transport to Lancaster Royal Infirmary for further checkups.

vii) Kirkham, 20:45 hrs, Female, 57, ? Fractured arm near wrist. Treated and transported in team vehicle to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

(75 Rescue Person Hours)

During this incident we were contacted by colleagues in Duddon Furness MRT in West Cumbria requesting the use of our radio network (to get comms into an outlying part of their area) as they had an incident which the NW Air Ambulance attended. We were happy to accommodate.

Duddon Furness MRT Incident ?/2010

4. 5^th January Spot Pick-Up 07:58 hrs Scotforth, Lancaster.  Team requested to attend an ambulance with a patient onboard with breathing difficulties within a housing estate in Scotforth, south of Lancaster. Team responded with two vehicles and three Team members who live locally. However, stood down on arrival as it was determined that a Police 4 x 4 had extracted the patient sometime previously.   (14 Rescue Person Hours)

S1.  2^nd January Standby Spot Pick-Up 17:21 hrs Cross of Greet, Bowland. Contacted by Lancashire Police as they had a report of a car, with four very cold persons on board, stranded in deep snow on the Catlow Road near the Cross of Greet. A police officer had been dispatched in a 4 x 4 to recover them. We were requested to standby in case things didn’t go to plan. In the end all went well and we were not required.

3.  2^nd January Standby Bad Weather Cover 11:20 Hrs All Lancashire. Due to bad weather, snow and very icy roads the NW Ambulance Service asked if we could assist. Two Landrover’s again made available. Team stood down at 17:00 hrs with 5 incidents undertaken as follows:

i) Dutton Area, Female, Suspected stroke. Paramedic on scene requested urgent transport to Royal Preston Hospital which was undertaken by team Landrover.

ii) Ribchester, Female. Pacemaker issues & difficulty breathing. Transported to Royal Preston Hospital in team Landrover.

iii) Preston, Female. Mild hypothermia. Person reported in River Ribble. Team made a two vehicle response. On arrival person was out of water but given extra clothing and warmed in team vehicle. Transferred by team to Royal Preston Hospital.

iv) Morecambe, Patient transfer. Re-tasked to following incident on route.

v) Overton, Female, Neurone Condition. Severe pain down right side of body. Patient suspected something not quite right. Carefully placed on Bell stretcher and into team Landrover. Quickly, transported to Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

2. 1^st January Spot Pick-Up 18:36 hrs Gisburn Forest near Slaidburn.  Team paged by Lancashire Police to support an officer escorting a NWAS Paramedic to a very cold and lost mountain biker in Gisburn Forest. One 4 x 4 Landrover with two persons dispatched to assist. He had found his way to Hesbert Hall where he had been given a hot drink. Police 4 x 4 with Paramedic were initially having difficulty locating person but eventually found him. We met up with the police 4 x 4 with the biker onboard on a very icy track deep within the forest. Person transferred to Team vehicle where given extra food & clothing. Police 4 x 4 set off to deliver Paramedic back too his ambulance some miles away in Gisburn. Bike recovered and person delivered to his car. Escorted from the area by Team vehicle. With sub zero temperatures we think this person has been very lucky. (2 Rescue Person Hours)

1. 1^st January Spot Pick-Up 12:15 hrs Troutbeck, Cumbria.  Two Team members assisted Langdale Ambleside MRT with a female who had slipped on ice and sustained a suspected wrist fracture.  (2 Rescue Person Hours)

Langdale Ambleside MRT Incident 1 / 2010