2022 Callouts
DECEMBER 3RD
At 12:50 PM, the Police requested our team to gather at the Gutter Tor car park in order to search for a lost 16-year-old who was on an overnight trek with a wild camp. The team focused their search on areas east of the River Plym and successfully located the young lad relatively quickly, as he had the wisdom to stay in one place. Thankfully, he was found safe and in good health, albeit a bit cold. It was a great outcome, and the lad will surely have an interesting story to share in the future. The team was stood down at 14:35 PM.
DECEMBER 2ND
At 00:35 AM, the Police requested our team to assemble in the Derriford area to conduct a search for a high-risk missing person. Our team diligently searched the dense woodland areas surrounding the hospital. However, after receiving additional information from the Police, we stood down at 03:36 AM, as it was believed that the missing person had left the area.
DECEMBER 1ST
At 16:54 PM, our team received a request to gather in Ivybridge to locate a missing person who had sustained a broken ankle. However, Devon & Cornwall Police and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust were able to reach the individual before our team could fully mobilize. As a result, the team was stood down at 17:39 PM.
OCTOBER 18TH
At 14:30 PM, the team received a request to assist a Role 1 Medical Ltd ambulance crew, operating on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, in extracting a patient with an isolated ankle injury from a remote location near Harford, on the outskirts of Dartmoor. Collaborating with the crew and a SWAST HART team from Exeter, we successfully extracted the casualty using our titanium stretcher and off-road wheel. Subsequently, the HART team utilized their impressive 6-wheel Polaris vehicle to transport the casualty to the awaiting ambulance. The team was stood down at 17:03 PM. This incident exemplifies the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.
AUGUST 24TH
At 11:13 AM, we were called upon to assist Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton, along with search dogs from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock, in searching for a missing 71-year-old female in the Kingsbridge area. Tragically, shortly after the search commenced, the body of a female was discovered. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends during this difficult time.
AUGUST 10TH
At 20:30, Devon & Cornwall Police sought our assistance in Plymouth to search for a high-risk missing male. Twenty-one team members responded to the call. Extensive searches were initiated in the nearby woodland. Fortunately, the missing person was located safe and in good condition, resulting in the team being stood down.
JULY 6TH
At 8:48 AM, Devon & Cornwall Police requested our assistance in searching for a high-risk despondent male in an area near Shaugh Prior. Eleven team members, along with our control vehicle Dart 04 and Land Rovers Dart 54 and Dart 64, responded to the call. We collaborated with handlers from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, our sister team Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock, as well as Devon & Cornwall Police dogs and drones. The search efforts focused on farmland and fields; however, regrettably, the individual was not located. As a result, the team was stood down at 11:45 AM pending further police investigations. UPDATE: The missing person was found safe and in good condition outside of the search area.
JUNE 30TH
At 08:20 AM, our team was called upon to assist Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Ashburton in a multi-agency operation to locate a high-risk despondent female. Twelve team members, along with handlers from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock, Urban Search & Rescue, Devon & Cornwall Police dogs, drones, and helicopter, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service water team, East Cornwall Search & Rescue Team, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency, responded to the callout. The search efforts encompassed water, woodland, and areas surrounding Newbridge. Regrettably, the person was not located, and the team was stood down at 4:00 PM. However, the missing person was later found alive outside of the search area.
JUNE 29TH
At 12:07 PM, our team was called upon by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to assist with a fallen climber at the Dewerstone. Eleven team members promptly responded, accompanied by Cornwall Air Ambulance, SWAST, HART (Hazardous Area Response Team), and Devon & Cornwall Police. To facilitate the evacuation of the casualty, our team utilized a titanium stretcher and a large off-road wheel. We send our best wishes to the injured individual and hope for their swift and full recovery.
MAY 18TH
In Looe, on Wednesday evening, our team received a call from East Cornwall SRT to aid Devon & Cornwall Police in the search for a high-risk 81-year-old woman with dementia who had not returned from her walk as expected. Given the urgency of the situation, search dogs from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England were brought in, while HM Coastguard (Looe Coastguard) teams covered the coastal areas. Fortunately, just as our teams were preparing to deploy, we received information that the woman had been located in the Tencreek area, thanks to sightings reported by members of the public. Although she had a minor head injury and was cold, she was otherwise in good health. We extend our gratitude to the East Cornwall team, the region's search dogs, and the observant members of the public whose timely reports assisted in locating and providing help to the lady.
APRIL 3RD
The team was called upon by Devon & Cornwall Police to assist in a multi-agency search near Combe Martin in North Devon for a high-risk missing individual. Alongside the Police, local Maritime and Coastguard Agency teams, Police Drones, Devon Cave Rescue Organisation, Surf Life Saving Devon, and the Police Operational Support Group, our team members joined the search efforts. We conducted searches in open farmland, steep woodland, tracks, and footpaths, while the Coastguard Search & Rescue Teams focused on coastal areas in and around Combe Martin. Additionally, Devon Cave Rescue Organisation explored a nearby cave. Despite the collective efforts of all involved in today's search and the preceding days, the outcome remains inconclusive, and Police inquiries are ongoing.
FEBRUARY 24TH
At 07:17, Devon & Cornwall Police requested our assistance in locating a 14-year-old female who went missing from the Landrake area in Cornwall. Swiftly, 11 team members gathered in Landrake, accompanied by East Cornwall SRT. One large DSRTP team conducted searches in the vicinity of the village, while Dart 54 and 64 were dispatched to explore more distant areas. Two teams from ECSRT searched the remaining locations assigned by D&CP, braving intermittent hail showers. Searching operations were suspended at 11:25 AM, pending further inquiries. D&CP received a report suggesting that the missing girl had been sighted in Plymouth City Centre, which was soon confirmed, ensuring her safety and well-being. Consequently, the team was stood down.
FEBRUARY 18TH
With the departure of StormEunice, our team has returned to its regular state of operational readiness. We were on standby from midnight and present at our Rescue Centre from 5:00 until 17:00 today, as part of the multi-agency response to the Major Incident. Equipped with two 4x4 vehicles, drivers, casualty carers, radio operators, and water team members, we were prepared to swiftly respond to any developing incidents. Fortunately, it has been a relatively quiet day, with only one tasking for Dart 54. This downtime has allowed us to conduct essential equipment checks, ensuring our continued service to Plymouth and the surrounding region. Our thoughts go out to those affected by StormEunice, and we sincerely hope that the storm's impact has been minimal.
FEBRUARY 16TH
At 03:00, Devon & Cornwall Police requested our assistance in locating a high-risk missing individual in Newton Ferrers. Sixteen team members swiftly gathered in the town center, accompanied by teams from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and D&C Police. Two large teams from DSRTP conducted searches in woodland near the village, while Rescue 924 helicopter from Newquay searched along the River Yealm and coastal areas. RNLI Plymouth Lifeboat Station searched the water, and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bigbury, Yealm, and Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team scoured the Yealm and Noss Mayo regions. Unfortunately, the searches yielded no results, and all DSRTP members were stood down at 08:15 pending further inquiries. However, we later received notification that the missing individual had been located by Rescue 924 and the Coastguard Rescue teams.
FEBRUARY 12TH
On the second day, 16 members returned and recommenced the search at 08:45. They were joined by members of DSRT Tavistock, DSRT - Ashburton, and later by East Cornwall SRT. Extensive searches were conducted over a larger area, but, unfortunately, the male was not located. At 18:15, all search operations were halted. Subsequently, we received information that the missing male has been found safe and in good condition.
FEBRUARY 11TH
Devon & Cornwall Police sought our assistance at 18:00 in locating a high-risk missing male. A total of 18 team members, along with DSRT - Tavistock and Urban Search & Rescue, participated in extensive searches of dense woodland and the vicinity of Bickleigh Barracks. Active search operations were halted at approximately 01:00.