British Cave Rescue Council

The representative body for voluntary underground rescue in the British Isles

Incident Report for Period

1 January 2019 - 31st December 2019
st

Cave Rescue Organisation(4)

Swaledale Mountain Rescue

Cornwall Search & Rescue

South & Mid Wales CRT

Upper Wharfedale FRA

Cumbria Ore Mines RU

Gloucestershire CRG

Mendip Cave Rescue

North Wales CRO

Derbyshire CRO

South East CRO

Midlands CRO

Scottish CRO
Devon CRO

Irish CRO

TOTALS
Caving Incidents 11 - 1 8 - - - 1 - 1 - - 2 - - 24
(1)
Assisting Authorities 1 2 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - - - - - 9

Persons Assisted 7 - - 6 - - - 1 - 1 - - 2 - - 17

Fatalities 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

Persons Injured (2) 5 - - 3 - - - 1 - 1 - - 2 - - 12

(3)
Helicopter assistance 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2

Animal Incidents 2 - - 2 - - - 1 1 1 - - 3 1 - 11

Reported Standbys - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1

Assistance to other teams - - 2 - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 3 7

Totals Underground Incidents 14 2 1 13 0 1 0 3 1 3 0 0 5 1 0 44

‘Surface Incidents’ include fell/moorland rescues and searches. Teams, chiefly although not exclusively in the north, carry out these duties as part
of their normal workload.

These incidents are usually recorded in the Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) Incident Report for 2019.

Surface Incidents 90 30 1 - 1 9 - - 4 - - - 1 ? 9 145

Persons Assisted 96 12 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 ? 6 116

Fatalities 6 6 1 - - - - 1 1 - - - - ? 1 16

Persons Injured 59 8 - - - - - - - - - - 1 ? 5 73

Surface Animal Incidents 5 1 - - - - - - - - - - - ? 1 7

Reported Standbys 15 5 - - - - - 1 - - - - ? 1 22

Assistance to other teams - - - - - - - - - - - - - ? - 0

Totals Surface Incident 95 31 1 0 1 9 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 ? 10 152

Notes:
1. This row records incidents where assistance is requested by the authorities for non-caver incidents. These
are identified on page 2 of the report.
2. Injuries include those assisted for a medical condition, but exclude cavers assisted through exhaustion.
3. This row records use of helicopter to evacuate a caving casualty.
4. The Cave Rescue Organisation is based in Clapham, North Yorkshire.
5. ‘?’ indicates that no report was received from the team.

Further details relating to this incident report or about the BCRC and its membership can be obtained from the Hon Secretary,
Emma Porter via [email protected]

Incident report for 2019 Page 1 of 5

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 British Cave Rescue Council
The representative body for voluntary underground rescue in the British Isles

Summary of Incident Report, 2019

1. There was one underground fatality in 2019
 A caver died after injuries sustained in a fall (incident 16)
Additionally, there were two surface fatalities in incidents where teams were assisting the authorities in the
search for missing people – incidents 27 and 31.

2. There were 9 incidents where teams assisted the authorities in the execution of their duties – incidents 1, 7,
8, 10, 22, 23, 25, 27, and 31.

3. The main causes and injuries sustained over recent years are recorded here. The Injuries Incurred table
includes fatalities and exposure/hypothermia incidents.

Table 1: Incident causes Table 2: Injuries incurred

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Total 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Total
Assist authorities 2 2 - 4 9 17 Arm/shoulder 1 2 1 1 2 7
Exposure/exhausted - - - 1 1 2 Chest injuries 2 - - - - 2
Fall 5 5 6 3 4 23 Exhaustion/hypothermia 1 2 1 2 4 10
Flooding - - - - 1 1 Femur/pelvis 1 - 2 - 1 4
Hung up - - - - 1 1 Head injuries 1 1 1 - - 3
Lost/overdue 15 3 15 8 7 48 Knee injuries 1 1 - 1 - 3
Marooned - 1 - - - 1 Lower leg/ankle - 3 1 1 2 7
Medical emergency 4 - 3 - 2 9 Lower arm/hand - - - - - 0
Missing person - - 3 - - 3 Medical condition 2 - 2 - 2 6
Other 2 1 - 1 1 5 Multiple 1 - 1 - - 2
Physically stuck - 3 5 2 3 13 Other - - - 1 1 2
Rock fall 1 1 - - - 2 Spine/back 2 - - - 1 3
Self marooning 1 - - 2 - 3 Total 12 9 9 6 13 49
Slip/trip - - - - 2 2
Unable to climb 1 2 1 2 2 8
Total 31 19 33 23 33 138

4. The underground animal incidents included 8 dogs, 2 lambs. 1 sheep, 1 goat and 1 calf.

5. In 2019, there was a total of 4195 hours spent on callouts by teams, with an average of 12 team members
and 93.5 man-hours per incident. These figures do not include resulting equipment maintenance and re-
equipping of rescue vehicles. In this report, incidents are recorded where personnel have been deployed to
the site; other problems or alerts are not included.

Incident report for 2019 Page 2 of 5

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 British Cave Rescue Council
The representative body for voluntary underground rescue in the British Isles

Summary of Incidents for 2019

1. Tuesday 1st January at 14:30 by CSRT: 2t, 3h 45m dispatched. One of the 'cavers' managed to climb Garlands, but a
Unnamed mineshafts (Porthtowan), assist authorities ladder was rigged for the other 2 who swiftly exited, unhurt but
CSRT were called by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service for embarrassed. They were given some suggestions about safer
assistance. A member of the public had reported two dogs on methods of trying caving. This was DCRO’s 400th callout.
leads running loose on old mining waste land and acting
aggressively, along with a seemingly abandoned car at the 7. Wednesday 27th February at 15:28 by NWCRO: 5t, 4h 50m
nearest roadhead. The area is known to have several mineshafts Great Orme (Llandudno), assist authorities
and after discussions the team was deployed to conduct surface NWCRO were called out to investigate a mine/cave entrance as
searches and investigate the shafts. No indication was found of part of an on-going search for a missing person on the Orme.
anyone (or thing) having been down the shafts in the area, and Two small mines were investigated, and a short pitch descended,
surface searches were also negative. Subsequent investigations but nothing of interest was found.
by the police found the dog’s owners alive and well at home.
The dogs belonged to a local resident, c. 1 mile away from the 8. Saturday 9th March at 09:00 by DCRO: 21t, 2h 19m
search area and have a history of escaping Alderley Edge Mines (Alderley Edge), assist authorities
Cheshire Police tasked DCRO with searching the cave and mine
2. Tuesday 8th January at 16:50 by COMRU: 22t, 5h entrances on Alderley Edge as part of an on-going search for an
Rampgill Mine (Nenthead), lost/overdue adult male who had been missing for a number of weeks. The
COMRU received a report of a rucksack found at a main man was a ‘rough sleeper’ and had been identified as someone
junction inside the mine containing clothing, as well as a with an interest in the cave/mine entrances around Alderely
direction indicator with initials and the previous day’s date at the Edge. DCRO searched over 30 entrances without success,
next junction. Team members undertook a fast search of the although did find some potentially useful surface information.
mine. They located and photographed the marker, but not the The search process was made considerably easier with the
rucksack, and no cavers were found. The direction indicator had detailed local knowledge and pre-prepared search plan of the
been left in error by a group who had explored the mine the Derbyshire Caving Club (DCC).
previous day – confirmed by a quick phone-call to the person
whose initials were on the indicator. Local knowledge also 9. Saturday 9th March at 22:14 by CRO: 1t, 2h
identified the possible owner of the rucksack - a known local Wretched Rabbit (Easegill, lost/overdue
explorer! Northumberland police contacted the person in A party of cavers were reported overdue on a Lancaster Hole –
question and confirmed they had been underground the previous Wretched Rabbit through trip. The trip had been delayed due to
day. A false alarm with good intent. two novices who were too exhausted to climb out. The party as
assisted by cavers at Bull Pot Farm, including members of other
3. Tuesday 29th January at 14:00 by DCRO: 21t, 3h 30m cave rescue teams, and a full callout for CRO was not required.
Carlswark Cavern (Stoney Middleton), slip/trip
A competent caver (m43) dislocated his right shoulder following 10. Thursday 18th April at 18:14 by CSRT: 2t, 1h
a slip/trip beyond the squeeze at the end of Cockle Passage. The Unnamed mineshaft (Chacewater), assist authorities
casualty was attended by an EMAS doctor and paramedic, and CSRT were contacted by Devon and Cornwall Police to check
his shoulder relocated before being evacuated to the surface by out a newly opened mineshaft close to public areas. A small
DCRO via Eyam Dale Shaft team attended, inspected the mineshaft and provided advice to
the police and landowner.
4. Saturday 16th February at 15:07 by CRO: 1t, 30m
Roaring Hole (Chapel le Dale), lost/overdue 11. Saturday 20th April at 11:14 by CRO: 15t, 2h
Two cavers (2m) were reported ‘trapped’ two hours after White Scar Caves (Ingleborough), medical emergency
entering Roaring Hole. A short time later they were reported to A visitor (f82) lost consciousness whilst going through the lower
be on the surface, and no further action was required. cave section past the steps. Paramedics from Yorkshire
Ambulance Service attended the casualty, before CRO members
5. Saturday 16th February at 18:05 by SMWCRT: 15t, 2h helped with a stretcher evacuation to an ambulance at the cave
Daren Cilau (Llangattock), physically stuck entrance.
A caver (f23) slipped into a rift in the floor known as "The
Vice" around 80 metres into the entrance of Daren Cilau. 12. Sunday 12 May at 15:51 by DCRO: 3t, 18m
SMWCRT were alerted, and two other cavers (not SMWCRT Giant’s Hole (Castleton), fall
members) who had been at Whitewalls went into the cave to try The team was contacted by Derbyshire Police with a report of a
to release her. When the team arrived, they found that the caver sustaining an injured, possibly broken, arm somewhere
casualty had been extricated from The Vice by the on-site cavers down Giants Hole. A callout was initiated, but when the DCRO
and she was making her way out slowly, having hurt her controller made contact with the initial caller it was reported the
shoulder in getting released. Once back at Whitewalls, the casualty had self-extricated and the team was stood down.
casualty was checked over by a SMWCRT Advanced First
Aider. 13. Sunday 12th May at 20:23 by CRO: 25t, 2h
Simpson Pot (West Kingsdale), physically stuck
6. Sunday 24th February at 15:46 by DCRO: 9t, 2h 45m A party of cavers (m47, 50, 52, 56) were reported overdue on
Giant’s Hole (Castleton), unable to climb trip through Simpson Pot. The cavers had been underground for
A small group (3m, 20’s) were seen entering Giants Hole by a 8 hours, and were now 3 hours overdue. CRO were met by 2 of
local caving instructor. They had new climbing equipment but the missing cavers who had managed to exit the cave via Valley
no caving clothing/PPE. Despite the instructor's advice they Entrance. One of their party had become physically stuck in Slit
headed underground, so he called DCRO. The team were just Pot. A CRO team abseiled through and assisted the stuck caver,
finishing a training session elsewhere so a controller went to before escorting them out via Valley Entrance
Giants to assess the situation. Garlands pitch was poorly rigged
on 9mm dynamic rope, and the party were seemingly unable to
climb. A small DCRO team who were cleaning kit at base were

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The representative body for voluntary underground rescue in the British Isles

14. Tuesday 14th May at 22:50 by DCRO: 20t, 2h 25m 20. Sunday 4th August at 11:42 by CRO: 6t, 5h
West Mine (Alderley Edge), fall Curtain Pot (Fountains Fell), lost/overdue
At around 21:00 a member of an organised party (f30) injured A party of four cavers were reported overdue from Curtain Pot.
her ankle while walking through West Mine. The exit involved The informant was concerned due to expected onset of a
multiple short ladder climbs that she could not manage with her thunderstorm with heavy rain. While a team were assembling,
injury. A 999 call was made, and a variety of emergency there was information that four figures had been seen heading
services attended, including the Ambulance Service, the Fire down from the cave. Further investigation confirmed that the
Service, and a HART team. After some time it was realised that party had left the cave safely.
DCRO should also be contacted. A team attended, and offered
technical advice and assistance. The casualty was evacuated by a 21. Saturday 10th August at 13;55 by CRO: 6t, 6h
combined effort of multiple services, and handed over to the Flood Entrance Pot (Ingleborough), hung up on rope
ambulance service for ongoing care. A caver (m20) was reported to be "hung up" on SE Pot, after
going too low on a rebelay. He was rescued from the rope by
15. Wednesday 29th May at 15:00 by CRO:14t, 2h CPC members who were running the Gaping Ghyll winch meet.
Gaping Ghyll (Ingleborough), medical emergency The casualty had mild hypothermia, so was assessed by CRO
A caver (m52) was brought to the surface via the winch after casualty carers after exiting the cave.
complaining of heart palpitations and a racing pulse. The Air
Ambulance was unable to land due to low cloud, so the casualty 22. Tuesday 13th August at 11:00 by DCRO: 8t, 5h
was taken down to Clapham in a CRO vehicle and transferred to Land near Brassington, assist authorities
a waiting ambulance. DCRO were asked to support Buxton CID in a search for a
possible body down a mineshaft. A small team searched a
16. Saturday 1st June at 12:57 by CRO: 94t, 17h 30 specific surface area, identifying potential locations and
Curtain Pot (Fountains Fell), fall investigating one shaft that was accessible. Nothing of interest
An experienced caver (m74) fell approximately 6m down the was found.
final pitch of a newly explored cave, sustaining a fractured
femur. The cave was unsurveyed, and the passages were too 23. Friday 16th August at 20:00 by GCRG: 4t, 40h
narrow to allow extraction of an immobile casualty without Bream (Forest of Dean), assist authorities
significant modification. As a result, neighbouring teams and GCRG were asked to assist in the search for a missing person
CRO's extended "cavers list" were deployed to modify the (f71). Initially this was a surface search, but by the 17/08/19 a
passages and allow access and egress. The casualty was attended request came from the Police for a full callout of GCRG to
by a team doctor, assisted by advanced casualty carers. undertake searches of underground mine and cave locations
Unfortunately, due to the nature of his injuries, and the extended within the search area. As the callout was being initiated, the
time needed to create a navigable way out, the casualty missing person was located on the surface, and the team was
succumbed to his injuries and died just prior to the beginning of stood down.
extrication. His body was brought to the surface, although this
was extremely challenging due to the tight and arduous nature of 24. Wednesday 21st August at 12:20 by MCR: 4t, 1h 27m
the passages. Assisted by members of UWFRA, COMRU and Wookey Hole Caves (Wookey), slip/trip
SMRT. FATAL MCR were called out after a visitor (f30’s) slipped and fell
during the in chamber 2 during the show cave tour, landing on
17. Saturday 1st June at 15:52 by CRO: 24t, 5h her hip/shoulders. She was complaining of neck pain, couldn’t
County Pot (Easegill), fall move, and was feeling very cold. South Western Ambulance
A caver (f36) fell down the 6m entrance pitch whilst derigging, Service and HART were also called, although the HART team
sustaining and open fracture of her ankle. This incident occurred were stood down when MCR arrived. A small team attended,
at the same time as the Curtain Pot incident (no 16) and a and in conjunction with the ambulance service, stabilised the
surface incident, so CRO were assisted by UWFRA and casualty before a stretcher evacuation to a waiting ambulance.
COMRU. The casualty was evacuated, before being winched
aboard a coastguard helicopter for transfer to hospital. The team 25. Friday 23rd August at 09:00 by DCRO: 13t, 3h
then deployed to assist the incident at Curtain Pot. Bickerton Hill (Cheshire), assist authorities
DCRO were asked to assist Cheshire SAR in the search for a
18. Saturday 22nd June at 16:00 by SMWCRT missing person (m50). There were concerns for his welfare, and
Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (Penwylt), other he was known to have an interest in the caves of the Bickerton
Whilst underground a novice caver (f18) had a sudden inset of Hill area. A small DCRO contingent assisted in searching
dizziness, combined with no recognition of her location or the underground locations as part of a large multi-agency search,
people around her. One of her group exited to alert SMWCRT, which was unfortunately unsuccessful. DCRO were assisted by
and she was assisted out by her party. Team members picked her NWCRO due to the location.
up in the SMWCRT vehicle and returned her to SWCC to assess
her further. Her episode of memory loss lasted ~ 2 hours, before 26. Thursday 12th September at 16:30 by DCRO: 3t, 15m
spontaneously recovering. P8 (Perryfoot), lost/overdue
A party of 3 cavers were reported overdue from a trip down P8.
19. Sunday 21st July at 15:00 by DCRO: 17t, 2h 30 DCRO were mobilised, but shortly afterwards the party
Higger Tor (Burbage Valley), physically stuck emerged, and the team was stood down
A young person (m15) was out weaseling, when he slipped and
became trapped by his knee. The initial call went out to Edale 27. Thursday 19th September at 11:38 by MCR: 4t, 5h 24m
MRT, who asked DCRO for assistance. He was only just below Ebbor Gorge, assist authorities
the surface, but access was somewhat restricted. Some of the MCR were called by Avon and Somerset Police to assist with a
constricting rock was chiselled away, before a combination of search on Ebbor Gorge for a high risk missing person. Ebbor
hauling and physical manipulation freed him. He was Gorge contains a number of small, short caves where it would be
stretchered to the roadhead, where he was checked over before possible to be out of sight of a surface search, so MCR were
making his own way home. tasked with searching the underground sites. The MCR team
systematically searched all the viable underground sites without
finding the missing person. The body of the missing person was

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The representative body for voluntary underground rescue in the British Isles

found the following day by a surface Search and Rescue team. members. The group were experienced and well equipped, and
FATAL once the pitch was rigged they exited under their own steam.
Assisted by UWFRA
28. Saturday 21st September at 20:35 by DCRO: 3t, 11m
Maskhill Mine (Castleton), lost/overdue
Two cavers were reported overdue from a trip down Oxlow-
Maskhill. DCRO were alerted, and local team members checked
the entrance. The party had been located by some friends, and
were making slow progress out, so the team were stood down.

29. Sunday 29th September at 00:54 by NWCRO

Croesor-Rhosydd (Beddgelert), unable to climb
Two people attempting the Croesor-Rhosydd through trip
entered Croesor quarry but were unable to find the route out of
Rhosydd. They started to retrace their route, but on their return
one person (m26) became partially immersed in water while
crossing a flooded chamber and found himself unable to climb
the lower of the two 80' pitches to exit Croesor. His companion
left him and instigated a rescue. A combined group from
NWCRO, AMRT, and SSSART entered Croesor quarry as far as
the top of first pitch. NWCRO rigged and descended pitches and
the exhausted person was hauled up. The casualty was cold,
tired and hungry but otherwise OK. After some food and hot
drinks, he was escorted out of the quarry and down the hill on
foot.

30. Thursday 7th November at 18:45 by CRO: 1t, 1h

Jean Pot (Ingleborough), lost/overdue
A party of cavers were reported overdue from a trip down Jean
Pot. As the Duty Controller was contacting the informant the
cavers exited safely, and the callout was cancelled.

31. Thursday 7th November at 20:31 by CRO: 31t, 7h

Horton in Ribblesdale, assist authorities
North Yorkshire Police requested the assistance for CRO to
search for a missing person (m77). The base of operations was
the Village School in Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Team members
descended and searched Sell Gill Holes, Jackdaw Hole, Hunt
Pot, Hull Pot, and Calf Holes. As team members were nearing
the completion of the first phase of the search the Police were
notified by a farmer that the body of the casualty had been
located on the surface. Once death had been confirmed the team
assisted with the transportation of the deceased to a road
ambulance. FATAL

32. Saturday 14th December at 19:55 by DCRO: 31t, 7h 20m

Titan (Castleton), exposure/exhaustion
A university caving group had been attempting the through trip
from Titan to Peak Cavern, but turned back when the crawls
through to JH were flooded. Two cavers took longer than the
rest of the party, and when they had not surfaced after several
hours a callout was initiated. The missing pair were located at
the bottom of Titan, which was extremely cold and wet. One
caver (m26) had become exhausted while attempting to prussik
the bottom pitch of Titan, and they both retreated to shelter.
Once DCRO arrived, it was clear that one caver would require
hauling out, while the other was able to exit without assistance.
While the haul was set up, the team doctor assessed the
exhausted caver, and efforts were made to feed and rewarm
them. The haul was complicated by the distance (140m -
believed to be the longest single haul in a UK cave rescue), and
the amount of water within Titan which made communication
challenging. Surface conditions were also fairly unpleasant, with
snow, sleet, and sub-zero temperatures.

33. Thursday 19th December at 00:24 by CRO: 16t, 5h 30

Corky’s Pot (Gaping Ghyll), flooding
Two cavers (m21, 21) exploring the Gaping Ghyll system were
prevented from exiting by rising water in Corky’s Pot. They
returned to Bar Pot to discover that other members of their party
had de-rigged and exited. They waited at the foot of main Bar
Pot Pitch, where they were quickly found by CRO team

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