Avon & Somerset Search & Rescue

05 ASC Log No. 830. The Mendip based CRO was alerted to a large cloud of black smoke coming from the Priddy Mineries area near to the Stock Hill plantation at approximately 15:15 hours. The CRO self deployed and discovered a large heath land fire surrounding the upper pond at Priddy Mineries.  The Fire brigade and other emergency services were alerted, and a quick sweep was made around the edge of the pond to ensure that there were no anglers or other tourists trapped by the advancing fire.  There appeared to be no immediate threat to human life or stock animals. The CRO remained on scene, providing medical back up to the fire fighters, until the incident was stood down at 18:30.

04 ASC Log No. 997. The CRO was contacted initially by the A&S police and then by the Wiltshire police who were involved searching for a missing female in the Swindon area. The Wiltshire Polsa made contact and the SAR team was put on an informal stand-by in case our services were required to assist in the search.

The team was never formally called, but several contacts took place between the CRO and the Polsa, during 23/24 March. The body of a female was found and the search was stood down.

03 ASC Log No. 612 The CRO was called by the police control room at about 15:30 advising of female stuck and injured in a cave in Burringtion Combe. The CRO notified the relevant Cave Rescue services including the MCRO. It was established that an 18 year old female had a lower limb injury in Goatchurch Cavern. The rescue services were on hand and the MCRO was assisted by HART, GWAS, SWAST ambulance teams and teams of fire fighters from Weston Super Mare, Blagdon and Winscombe. The incident was co-ordinated by the A&S Police. Fortunately the 60 or so rescue personnel who were present at the scene were able to recover the woman who was only a few feet inside the cave.

02 ASC Log No. 941 Chief Rescue Officer was contacted by the Police FIM at 20:02. Incident: red flares sighted in the vicinity of Cheddar Gorge; requested attendance by the team member for advice on scene. Member deployed to liaise with Police and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue. After general search and deployment of police helicopter, incident was stood down at 21:20.

01 ASC log No. 568 The FIM (Force Incident Manager) called the CRO at 12:03 to notify of a caving incident in Sidcot Swallet, on the Mendip Hills. The police were unable to contact the cave rescue team, so the CRO responded on behalf of A&S SAR, and with the assistance of some caving instructors, entered the cave. The male caver had a knee injury, and was extricated to the surface, with the assistance of HART paramedics and some cave rescue personnel who arrived later. The incident was completed at 15:30. The casualty was taken to Weston hospital by GWAS ambulance.

40 ASC Log No. 0032 (20/12/10). 22/23/24 December 2010. The search and technical rescue team were called to assist the police with an ongoing search for a missing female in Clifton, Bristol. The persons house was very close to the Avon Gorge, so a thorough search of the woods, cliffs and other steep ground was required. The search and rescue team was on call for 72 hours, but unfortunately nothing of significance was found. The search was hampered by heavy snow fall and extremely low temperatures. Ice axes were issued to team members as a safety precaution. The team was stood down on 24th December at 14:00.

39 ASC Log No. 586. The CRO was called by police control at 23:05 alerting the team to a missing 48 year old female in Keynsham. This person was known to be vulnerable and the snowy weather and extreme temperatures (-7 degrees of frost), made the case urgent. The team was called out at 23:21. The RV point was Keynsham Police Station. The CRO arrived and directed the police to search down towards the River Chew, where the casualty was quickly located. The team first responders provided on scene medical care until the paramedics arrived at 00:15 and the casualty was transferred to hospital suffering with hypothermia. The team was stood down at 00:12.

38 ASC Log No. 955. The CRO was called by police control at 20:10 alerting the team to a vulnerable missing person in the vicinity of Chew Valley Lake. A 68 year old male had gone missing from the visitor centre, on the lake shore at 13:30. The Water and Search teams were called at 20:22. The search teams worked with the available police resources, including search dogs and police helicopter. The male was located at his home address at 22:45 and the team was stood down at 23:00.

37 ASC Log No. 516. The CRO was called by police control at 15:15 to alert the team to a climber who was in difficulties in Cheddar Gorge. The Technical Rescue team was called out, and discovered two climbers, stranded at about 300 feet above the road. A technical rescue was made, in the dark, and the climbers were returned, uninjured to a place of safety. The A&S SAR team was assisted by D&S FRS and AFRS (Line rescue). They assisted with lighting and vehicle logistics. The team was stood down at 20:48.

36 ASC Log No. 0578 At 14:16 the CRO was contacted by the crew of ‘Helimed 64’ the Bristol air ambulance, alerting the team to a fallen climber in Avon Gorge. The technical rescue team was put on standby. The team was not called by the police, and the climber sustained a broken wrist. The incident was dealt with swiftly by the HEMS crew (air ambulance), HART- USAR team, with attending officers and tactical support officers, AFRS line rescue team and support officers, and a double crewed GWAS ambulance. The police were also on scene. The team was stood down at 17:11.

35 ASC Log No. 1035. The Avon FRS control notified the CRO of an incident occurring on the Bristol end of the Clifton Bridge at 16:45. The A&S police and GWAS ambulance confirmed the callout. The incident involved a young male who was acting suspiciously on the structure of the bridge. The technical rescue team was deployed to the bottom of the bridge onto the Portway. The incident was successfully resolved and the team was stood down at 19:33.

34 ASC Log No 993. The CRO was called by South West Ambulance Control At about 17:15, asking for assistance in locating a female with extreme abdominal pains and bleeding somewhere in the Cheddar Gorge area. The CRO made an assumption, from the description that the female was on the High Rock side of the gorge. This turned out to be incorrect and the woman was actually on the National Trust side, not far from Lion Rock. The team had been put on standby the police helicopter (Q99) and Rescue 169, the RAF Seaking at Chivenor. In the event the air ambulance, landed and conveyed the woman to hospital. Communications in the gorge were very poor, and this hampered the efficiency of the rescue. The team was stood down at 18:25.

33 ASC Log No? Whilst driving home from the previous incident in Clifton the CRO was on the A38 near Felton at Bristol Airport. A vehicle a few cars in front, burst into flames, and the driver had to be removed to a place of safety very quickly. Other team members rendered assistance. The ambulance and fire services were called. The patient was transferred to the BRI with burns.

32 ASC Log No 1210 The CRO was called by the PolSA at 09:42, to ask for assistance with a search on the Clifton Downs for a male who had been missing since Friday. The search and technical teams were called to the Sea Walls area of the Downs. The search quickly produced a find, near the observatory, and the casualty was reported as being alive. The medical team was dispatched and ambulance was called. The patient was transferred to the BRI. The team was stood down at 13:50.

31 ASC Log No? Avon FRS control called the CRO at 16:37 to report a male reported to in difficulty on the cliffs below Circular Road, Avon Gorge, Bristol. The call was confirmed by ambulance control (EOC) and the police. The Bristol based CRO was dispatched to the scene, and confirmed that the male was a rock climber who was resting on a ledge. No further action was required.

30 ASC Log No 1161. The CRO was called by ambulance control (EOC Avon), requesting assistance with a patient carryout from Troopers Hill, St George in Bristol at 18:33. The air ambulance (Helimed 64) was in attendance but was unable to access the patient because of difficult terrain. The incident was resolved, and the team stood down at 19:28

29 ASC Log No 967. The CRO received a call in the first instance from the Avon FRS at 16:34. The police control room was informed and the Technical Rescue team was called to a despondent male acting suspiciously on the parapet of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The incident was successfully resolved and the police stood the team down at 17:43. The AFRS passed the incident ‘stop’ at 18:00.

28  ASC Log No 779. The CRO was contacted by the duty PolSA to discuss an incident concerning a vulnerable missing male in the Leigh Woods area at 15:20. The search team was put on standby.  Because of the close proximity of many quarries and rock faces, the search team was called out with assistance from the Technical rescue team at 15:54.  Searching continued in the Leigh Woods and Ashton Court area until 22:30.  Nothing was found.

27 ASC Log No? The CRO was called by police control at 12:13 and asked to speak to the duty PolSA. The incident concerned a missing vulnerable male in the Farmbough/Paulton area of Somerset. The search team was put on standby. Following further discussions with the PolSA the and CID the male was located and the services of the team was not required. Stand down was at 13:38.

26 ASC Log 545. The CRO was contacted by ambulance control (EOC) at 11:20 requesting assistance with a job in Avon Gorge. The CRO contacted the police and alerted the teachnical rescue team that were exercising on the cliffs nearby. The police and ambulance described what may have been reported as a body on the cliffs at Black Rock Quarry off the Portway.  The incident was resolved and the team was stood down by phone, at 12:10.