Medical training at Goughs Cave, 28th September 2024
On 29th of September 2024, 13 MCR members passed their MREW Remote Rescue Medical Technician (previously known as "Cas Care") course, which allows them to provide advanced first aid to people in remote environments. This course has been running since the start of the year, with several training sessions to cover all the skills that are required. The final series of training sessions was held on the 28th of September in Goughs Cave, where the management of the Cheddar Gorge show caves kindly allowed us to use their excellent showcase and adventure caving route to recreate realistic underground scenarios.
MCR trainees and volunteer casualties outside Goughs Cave (photo taken by Fenia Vitali, General Manager at Cheddar Gorge)
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.
