Rigging Practice at Wookey Hole, 27th January 2025
On 27th of January 2025, members of the MCR rigging team held a rigging practice session at Wookey Hole, along with some members from our neighbouring cave rescue teams GCRG and MCRO. The scenario covered rigging a tyrolean traverse over Wookey chamber 9, and hauling a casualty in the new Petzl Nest stretcher across the chamber. Our thanks to the management and all the team at Wookey Hole, for allowing us access to the showcave for this practice scenario.
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Selection of photos taken at the rigging practice in Wookey Hole (photos taken by Andrew Atkinson)
Rescue Practice at Sludge Pit, 18th January 2025
On 18th of January 2025, 30 MCR members held a rescue practice at Sludge Pit in Priddy. The scenario covered all aspects of a complex cave rescue, with Command & Control (based at the nearby Wessex Cave Club headquarters), underground and surface communications, rigging and medical care provided by some of the members who had recently passed their RRMT qualification. This practice session allowed most of the team to see the new Petzl Nest stretcher in action.
Selection of photos taken at the rescue practice in Sludge Pit (photos taken by Martin Grass)
Incident 10th August 2024
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 16:34 on 10th August 2024, concerning a caver with an ankle injury who was unable to exit GB Cave near Charterhouse. A team had entered the cave earlier in the day, but one party member slipped on the climb into Great Chamber, falling 2-3 metres. A small team of MCR members initially went underground with medical equipment, followed by further teams with communications equipment and rigging equipment. The casualty's injured ankle was splinted, and she was kept warm whilst the Ladder Dig pitch was re-rigged. She was then lowered down the pitch and then supported and assisted on the climbs as she made her way out of the cave. Due to the location of the casualty and her injuries, the whole MCR team was put on stand by in case a stretcher carry was required, but fortunately she was able to slowly make her own way to the surface. The SARCALL incident was closed at 22:39, with everyone and all the equipment back on the surface, and was attended by 17 MCR members in total.
History of Cave Rescue On Mendip
Alan Gray, the Secretary of Mendip Cave Registry and Archive, has been collating reports of all caving rescue and incidents located in the Mendip Cave Rescue region, from early reports of an incident in Pen Park Hole in 1669 through to the current day. All these reports, plus newspaper articles and extracts from log books, have been compiled into a book giving a thorough history of the cave rescue incidents that have taken place over the last 350 years, along with some information about how cave rescue equipment has evolved over the years. All of Alan's hard work has resulted in a 750+ page PDF book, that is available as a free download from the MCRA website.
