S12 & S13. 27^th December Standby Searches 17:36 Hrs Bowland.  Team Incident Controllers contacted with two search incidents in the Bowland area. The first (priority) incident was a report of a16-year-old female missing in the Dunsop Bridge area having apparently left home and run off into woods and farmland. As a full Team page was about to be sent for all Team members and vehicles to RV at our Smelt Mill Headquarters at Dunsop Bridge the good news was received that the girl has been located. safe. The second incident was of a mountain biker lost in Gisburn Forest, only just reported. Police were advised on access into Gisburn Forest and preparations made should we be required. However, this second person was also located safe at 18:25 hrs. (1 Rescue Person Hours)

44. 27^th December Search 08:00 Hrs Witherslack Area, South Cumbria.   Teams dogs & handlers requested to assist Kendal MSRT in the ongoing search for a missing 70 year-old male in the Witherslack area of South Cumbria. (10 Rescue Person Hours)

43. 22^nd December Search 19:13 Hrs Haskayne near Ormskirk.   Team requested to join the search for a 70 year old Polish male. Described as vulnerable and not speaking any English. Visiting relatives for Christmas and had only been in the country for less than 24 hours. Missing since approx. 13:00 hrs.  The missing person is a regular visitor to this country and has a set walk that he likes to take around the village but on this occasion had not returned.  Various sightings indicated a direction of travel south along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal or the A59. Missing person described as walking briskly. Team members searched the canal towpath for about 5 Km’s in both directions from the PLS (Place Last Seen) at Downholland Cross. Teams trailing and area dogs deployed at the locations of the various sightings and assisting with the search of the canal. Two police helicopters (ON99 & DD66) also assisting with the search of a vast area of farmland.  The search was suspended at 00:30 hrs with all identified tasks so far completed and consideration being given to a first light restart.    (105 Rescue Person Hours)

Post Script.  At 01:00 hrs the missing person was located some12 miles away, in a confused state but safe, at the entrance to the Wallasey Tunnel in Liverpool having apparently walked there.

42. 18^th December Spot Pickup 09:15 Hrs Dunsop Bridge, Bowland.  Team received a request for assistance from the crew of the North West Air Ambulance via the NW Ambulance Service Control room in Preston. An elderly person had fallen on ice at Dunsop Bridge. With very icy conditions under foot they were having difficulty extracting the casualty to the waiting helicopter in a nearby field. However, the Team was stood down responding with two vehicles mobile and with others going direct when it was confirmed that the crew and neighbours had carried the casualty to the aircraft. (4.5 Rescue Person Hours)

Happy Christmas From all at Bowland Pennine MRT