The big plan was to have a major rescue exercise which would involve several Mountain Rescue teams. As a sting in the tail, once they had that exercise under control or so they thought, we would initiate our own emergency that would task them with reallocating personnel & equipment to deal with an additional and unexpected incident – all quite possible scenarios when you think about it.
There were some good reasons to pick us, firstly nobody up there would know us (except Harry) so even if they saw us milling around near the pub they wouldn’t know what we were about to do. Secondly we’re a plausible family group and thirdly I was bound to take a heap of photos
So, we were presented with this type of script for the day....
“Scenario 2 – A grand day out (spoiled)
“Team Muz have decided to have a ‘grand day out’ at Tan Hill.
“Muz, a keen photographer of industrial archaeology, Muz Jr (17) his son who is training for his Duke of Edinburgh and young Muzette (9) have gone off to do some exploring around some old mine workings whilst Mrs Muz takes time to chill out at the pub before the family return for lunch at 12.00 noon.
“By 12.15 Mrs Muz is becoming anxious that the family have not returned for their booked 12.00 lunch table. Muz had said that they would be back by 11.30 and is rarely late for meals.
“Meanwhile, Muz had parked up his vehicle and gone off exploring some old mine workings with Jr and Muzette.
“At around 11.00 whilst making their way back to their vehicle Muzette took a tumble and fell into one of the many old pits in the area. Muz & Jr went to help her but she had hurt her right leg and couldn’t put any weight on it. Jr, using his first aid training diagnosed a possible fractured ankle.
“Unable to get a mobile phone signal Muz decided that he would stay and comfort Muzette whilst Jr went for help.
“Jr headed in the general direction of the road arriving on the tarmac at about 11.45 and, unable to drive, then headed back to Tan Hill to raise the alarm.
“He arrives at Tan Hill at about 12.15, he cannot identify the exact location of his father & sister, just the general direction / area and the fact that it took him about 15 minutes to reach the road.
“12.15, worried Mrs Muz has made contact with a police officer at Tan Hill and is escorted to the control room of an ongoing mountain rescue exercise. Jr also turns up around this time.
“The Mountain Rescue controller will want to know where the vehicle is parked, Muzette’s age, possible injuries / medical conditions, clothing etc and should despatch a search team to the area immediately.
“When the search team find Muz & Muzette they will call for the appropriate equipment.
“A medic and stretcher party will then be sent to evacuate them to the roadside for onward transmission to Tan Hill.”
Right then, let’s do it. “See you later dear, we’re just off to photograph some old mine workings, see you for lunch in a couple of hours”
Ok, this seems to be a good spot in the middle of nowhere
“Muzette – come here!!”
She’s in there somewhere, in a makeshift shelter....
....because the weather was, erm, the kind of weather you expect in North Yorkshire
It’s actually quite toasty in here! – but my ankle doesn’t half hurt
I’ll just wait here while Jr goes to get help. At least I’m keeping dry in here
Some considerable time later, Jr arrives back at the pub to raise the alarm....
....and is quizzed at length by the RAF controller to get the best fix on our position
Jr’s information must have been pretty comprehensive because the search party located us quickly....
....and made an assessment of Muzette’s condition....
....called for a medic and stretcher party and deployed a further shelter.
Nothing to do now but await the extraction team
As they were in the middle of a separate exercise, reinforcements took a while to assemble....
....but as soon as they arrived they started getting proper medical equipment in place....
....assembling the stretcher....
....splinting the injured leg....
....and getting ready with thermal blankets.
Stretcher nearly ready to rock & roll
Ready to lift....
One, two, three, LIFT!!
Not easy to lift her out of the ‘hole’ she’d fallen into
Ah, bliss, just lie down and wait to be transported to civilisation
Make sure everything is secure....
....and with that gas stuff they give to pregnant ladies, as Muzette recounted
Ready to go....
....let’s roll!!
Because of the inconvenient place we’d chosen to have our little incident, she had to be lifted over a fence
....and then the stretcher needed adjusting back to a sledge....
By this time Jr was anxious. Even in a drill he was worried about his little sister
....Forward!!
Back to the road where ordinarily she would be loaded into an ambulance....
....but job done and she can put her soggy boots back on
The scene back at the pub
Many thanks to the participants from these organisations:
....in these splendid vehicles
