Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 16:41 on 17th February 2024, concerning a caver with equipment failure who was unable to exit Hunters Hole in Priddy. Two cavers had entered the cave earlier in the day, but one of them was unable to ascend the pitch. A small party of MCR members attended with some spare equipment, re-rigged the lower pitches and the caver was then able to make his way to the surface unaided. The SARCALL incident was closed at 18:19, with everyone and all the equipment back on the surface, and was attended by 7 MCR members in total. MCR are very grateful to Roger Dors, landlord of the Hunters Lodge Inn, for opening the pub earlier than usual to allow members of the caving party (and MCR members!) somewhere to warm up and shelter from the wet and windy weather.
At 21:14 on Saturday 9th December 2023, Mendip Cave Rescue were informed that an experienced mine explorer had suffered a fall in Brownes Folly Mine, Monkton Farleigh at about 20:30. Following this fall the casualty had a leg injury and was unable to bear any weight on the injured leg. A couple of Mendip Cave Rescue members were already at the Mine, and were joined by a couple of experienced MCR members and several South West Ambulance Service HART team members, who were escorted to the casualty where he was assessed and given pain relief. The casualty was placed in a stretcher and assisted to the surface, placed in a wheeled stretcher and escorted to an ambulance where he was handed over to SWAS team members. The incident was closed at 01:30 with the casualty safely in an ambulance and MCR team members were then stood down.
At 10:30 on Saturday 3rd December 2022, an experienced male caver slipped in Goatchurch Cavern, dislocating his shoulder. Mendip Cave Rescue members were already at Goatchurch Cavern, setting up for a training session. The training session was quickly cancelled, and the casualty was assessed, given pain relief and assisted to the surface and down to the car park where he was handed over to colleagues from South Western Ambulance Service. The incident was closed at 11:34 with the casualty safely on the surface and was attended by 25 MCR team members in total.
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police at 13:26 on 2nd March 2022, concerning a caver unable to exit Swildons Hole in Priddy. One caver from a party of two had been unable to climb the '20 foot' ladder pitch in the upper streamway, due to fatigue. His caving partner had exited the cave to initiate the rescue and, with the casualty left alone in the cave, two cave rescue members were quickly despatched to provide immediate assistance, whilst a further team of three cave rescue members followed with hauling equipment, leaving one member as surface control and liaison with the Fire Crews. The casualty was soon assisted up the ladder and out of the cave, from where he made his own way home. The incident was closed at 17:11, with everyone and all the equipment back on the surface, and was attended by 6 MCR members in total.
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 21:24 on 26th January 2022, concerning a caver physically stuck in Reads Cavern in Burrington Combe. A party of 7 had entered the cave, and one caver had attempted an awkward squeeze in Zed Alley and found that they were unable to pass a rock constriction, and had become jammed and were unable to move forwards or back out of the squeeze. MCR members attempted to move the casualty, but quickly found that the area around the casualty needed enlarging before he could be moved. Eventually the casualty was freed by using drills and 'plug and feathers' to remove some rock from around his torso which enabled him to be slowly extricated from the squeeze. He was then able to make his way to the surface unaided. The SARCALL incident was closed at 02:57 on the 27th January, with everyone and all the equipment back on the surface, and was attended by 14 MCR members in total.
Photographs taken by Estelle Sandford