Avon & Somerset Search & Rescue

01 ASC Call-out. @aspolice asked for us to go on standby first thing this morning, New Years Day, as they had concerns for a vulnerable missing female in North Bristol. The team stayed on standby for a couple of hours as various other checks were carried out resulting in her being found safe and well.

The team finished 2023 after carrying out 36 callouts. We’re an emergency service staffed by volunteers that rely on fundraising and donations to keep us going.

32 ASC Call-out. 6 – 8/9/23 Late in the afternoon on 6/9/23 the team was asked by the @aspolice to help search for a high risk missing male who had left his flat in Bristol and then been seen near Wick. The team searched the surrounding area over the next few days in very hot conditions with superb support from @wiltshiresearchandrescue and @severn_area_rescue_association . Nothing was found and the team has been stood down pending further police investigations. The team was operational for 30 hours across 3 days. We would all like to pass on our thanks to Tracy Park Golf And Country Hotel for their kind generosity.

31 ASC Call-out. 5/9/23 The team’s technical rope rescue element went on standby to assist with a climber in Avon Gorge. Avon Fire & Rescue Service rapidly dealt with the incident and the team were stood down after a few minutes.

30. ASC Call-out. 2/9/23 The team was asked to go on standby to assist the police in the search for a vulnerable, elderly female with dementia in South Bristol. The woman was located safe and well in a care setting. Team stood down after 1 hour on standby.

29 ASC Call-out. 22/8/23 Asked by Avon and Somerset Police to assist in the search for a missing, vulnerable elderly female in South Bristol. Rapidly stood down 15 minutes later as she had been located nearby by the police.

28 ASC Call-out. On Monday 14th August @aspolice requested our support in the ongoing search for a missing lady adjacent to the original Severn Bridge. @severn_area_rescue_association and the coastguard had been conducting searches along the estuary and the coastline and we were asked to search inland areas, joined by team members from Severn Area Rescue Association as well.

During the evening Severn Area Rescue Association reported, via HM Coastguard Chepstow and Gloucestershire Constabulary, that a body was on the shoreline near Newnham. This was later sadly confirmed as the missing lady.

This was a tragic outcome and the whole team send their condolences to the family and friends.

The team was operational for 8 hours.

26 ASC Call-out. The team were asked to help Avon and Somerset Police in the search for a high risk missing male in the Frome area on 4/8/23. The team searched steep wooded areas and river banks along with Wiltshire Search and Rescue for 7 hours until the police found him safe and well in Frome.

Incident 25. On 2/8/23 the team were called out to the Yeovil for a high risk missing person but rapidly stood down as they were located.

21 ASC Call-out. Saturday 10th until Monday 12th June. The team were initially asked by @aspolice on Saturday morning to assist in the search for a vulnerable missing male to the west of Frome. Search teams then worked for a total of 28 hours across the weekend and into Monday searching rivers, woods and countryside. We are pleased to report the missing male was located today (Monday), treated at the scene and moved from the difficult location by search and rescue team members to the waiting ambulance.

We were supported throughout the weekend by our highly skilled and professional colleagues from Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales @wiltshiresearchandrescue and @exmoorsrt Huge thanks to all of them.

We would also like to say a big thank you to @rapidreliefteam_uk for feeding and watering all the volunteers and police staff that took part in this large search and rescue.

20 ASC Call-out. During the evening of Friday 9th June the team were requested by @aspolice and @swas_ft to help move a lady with a broken ankle from difficult ground in the Charterhouse area of the Mendip Hills. The team were able to assist the paramedics on scene, while loading and carrying her with the use of our specially adapted stretcher with a wheel underneath to the ambulance. The team were operational for 1hr and 40 minutes. We wish the lady a speedy recovery and hope she’s back out walking again soon. 

17 ASC Call-out. During the evening of 30/5 @aspolice requested support in searching for vulnerable missing person in the Banwell area of North Somerset. Three search teams were deployed including Search Dog Griff from Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales to cover local woodlands surrounding the town. Nothing was found, as the team were being stood down and returning to control police reported the missing person had been located safely at a nearby property. The team was operational for 3 hours.

16 ASC Call-out. The team was requested to help with the major flooding incident in the Wincanton area of Somerset overnight along with Exmoor Search & Rescue Team and other emergency services.

Team members were operational for nearly 8 hours during the night undertaking a range of search and rescue roles; welfare checks were made on a number of locals in their properties, medical support was delivered to one member of the community, people were moved to safety using floating sleds and a taxi driver and their passenger were also helped.

15 ASC Log 138. The team was put on standby at 12.40 and called out at 13.08 to help @aspolice search for a high risk missing person in the Glastonbury area. As team members were arriving the police reported they had located him. Team members were deployed to the scene to administer first aid, a team medic arrived shortly afterwards and was able to deliver more advanced casualty care before he was taken to hospital. Team stood down at 16.26. Our thanks to @exmoorsrt for deploying as well.

14 ASC Log 849. 16/4 ASSARs technical rope rescue team was called out at 19.40 to support @aspolice with a high risk vulnerable young male in a quarry. Team members were able to assist officers and negotiators with making the area safe for all involved. The situation was resolved and the male was moved to a safe area in a team vehicle. The team was stood down at 22.11.

13 ASC Log 712. The team’s technical rescue element were called out to support Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Avon Fire & Rescue Service at 17.32 on 7/4. A young male was injured and stuck on a steep slope in Cheddar Gorge. He was successfully brought down and handed to South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for treatment and taken to hospital. Team stood down at 19.11.

11 ASC Log 928 2/4/23. Team put on standby at 10.43 today and then called out at 10.49 to assist @aspolice with a search for a vulnerable elderly male in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol. Search teams deployed into urban fringe areas and urban parks. No find was made and the team was stood down at 17.20. Shortly afterwards the police confirmed he had been found safe and well in an urban location. Our thanks to Hartcliffe City Farm for letting us base ourselves there. @hartcliffecityfarm 

10 ASC Log TBC. On 19/3 Exmoor Search & Rescue Team requested assistance with a callout via South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for a fallen horse rider in the Yeovil area. The team were called out at 15.40 and stood down at 16.55 as the casualty was en route to hospital.

09 ASC Log 856. On 16/3 the team were asked to go on standby at 20.28 and then called out at 20.40 to assist @aspolice search for a vulnerable missing person in Weston-super-Mare along with Weston-Super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team. The team were stood down en route at 21.09 due to the background of the missing person. He was subsequently found later safely by the coastguard.

08 ASC Log 067. We were contacted by @aspolice requesting help in finding a vulnerable missing person. The team was put on standby at 05.41 then called out at 05.55. As team members were arriving the missing person was located. Team members were able to assist @swas_ft with medical support. Team stood down at 07.34. 

07 ASC Log TBC. The team were called by @aspolice at 23.22 on 5/3 for a high risk missing person in the Axbridge area and immediately put on standby. A callout was sent at 00.09 hours and after a targeted search, a casualty was sadly found deceased in the early hours. The team were stood down at 04.58 hours. Our thoughts and condolences are with their family and friends.

06 ASC Log 333. On 28/2 Avon and Somerset Police made contact requesting support in the search for a vulnerable, high risk missing female in the North Bristol area around Stoke Park. The team were called out at 09.52 but then rapidly stood down at 10.07 as the female had been located and was receiving medical treatment.