This is an archive site. For up to date information on Cave Rescue in South Wales, please visit South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team


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BACKGROUND MATERIAL
The British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC) is the co-ordinating body for volunteer rescue in caves, pot holes and disused former mines. Operations are carried out by affiliated Teams. Both BCRC and the Teams are made up entirely of volunteers from the caving community who give their services free. The service is not part of the NHS, nor is it government funded (although some assistance in both money and equipment is provided). The bulk of the funding comes from charitable donations and fundraising. The rescue service is provided 24 hours a day, 365 (or 366!) days a year, whenever needed, without any charge.
In addition, many cave rescue teams also have a mountain rescue capability. Ancillary tasks that cave rescue teams can undertake include rescue of animals and underground searches on behalf of the police. Each Police Force in the United Kingdom has a Team declared to it as available to assist if required. Further details about the British Cave Rescue Council and its member teams can be found on the web at www.caverescue.org.uk


A Video of Cave Rescue Practices can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwGSDHkFkQE


2008 Incidents

Date

Cave or Mine

Type of
Operation

Team Members

Duration (Hours)

Narrative

04.01.08

None

Missing person Search

5

15

Deceased found on golf course.

08.02.08

Porth-yr-Ogof

Cave Rescue

13

4 ¾

Female from Outdoor Pursuits Centre dislocated
knee cap in tight awkward place, walking wounded after
relocation

17.02.08

Agen Allwedd

Cave Search

50

6 ½

Party of 6 lost on Grand Circle trip, one party member
had pulled a muscle. Located on their way out 1 ½
hours into cave

15.03.08

Dan-yr-Ogof

Trapped by Cave Flooding

17

23 ½

Party of 2 trapped by flood water. Supplies dived
through. Exited when waters fell

21.05.08

Herberts Quarry

Animal Rescue

5

3

Sheep stuck in shakehole, successfully removed

10.06.08

Mine on Blaen Cwm Rhonnda

Animal Rescue

9

10

2 terriers trapped down disused Mine for 5 days
before recovery by Team

15.07.08

Llygad Llwchr

Cave Rescue

9

6

Army cadet dislocated kneecap relocated and exited
with some help from Team

01.09.08

Hospital Cave

Trapped by Cave Flooding

15

11

Severe short storm trapped cavers in cave. Supplies
dived in and eventually each caver dived out.

11.09.08

Sychrhyd gorge, Dinas

Gorge Rescue

9

4 ½

Surface incident, male in outdoor activity group fell in
gorge needed to be stretchered. WBCRT provided
technical assistance to the mountain rescue teams

12.10.08

Cwm Dwr to OFD2

Cave Search

12

2 ¾

2 cavers quickly found in Salubrious Passage,
unfamiliar with route and with no survey

1.11.08

Gelli Mountainside, Rhondda

Dog rescue

10

7

Dog fell into rift 24 hours before team called.
Successful recovery.

6.12.08

OFD2 to Cwm Dwr

Cave Search

35

4 ¼

Agreed search method was employed party of 4 were
found in Cwm Dwr unable to find their way to the boulder
choke




































































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