Incident 7th February 2026
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 14:24 on 7th February 2026 requesting assistance for three cavers who were cold and exhausted, but uninjured, beneath the 20 foot pitch in Swildon's Hole, Priddy. They were appropriately equipped but too tired to climb the ladder pitch safely with the very wet conditions underground following recent persistent rainfall. Fifteen team members attended the rescue, with six being deployed underground, further team members were put on standby should the incident have needed to be escalated to a full team response. The six cave rescuers from MCR entered the cave with extra rigging equipment for the pitch, warming equipment, group shelter & high energy food. The team assisted the group up the 20 foot pitch and out of the cave, and other team members were stood down at 17:24. MCR would like to thank the group for recognising the early signs of cold and exhaustion and calling the team out at the earliest opportunity, hence avoiding what could have been a much more serious rescue.
MCR Quiz Night 17th January 2026
Following on from the enjoyable quiz held in January in previous years, Mendip Cave Rescue will be running another Cavers Quiz Night at the Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy on Saturday 17th January 2025, starting at 19:30. As usual, all questions will be (vaguely) caving related, and entries are welcomed from teams of up to six people per team, with a cost of £2 per team member. Any proceeds from the evening will go to MCR.
MCR Quiz Night, 17th January 2026 at the Hunters Lodge Inn
Incident 4th October 2025
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 14:36 on 4th October 2025, following a report that a Scout caver was stuck in a passage in Eastwater Cavern, Priddy. With the location and condition of the casualty initially unknown, the whole MCR team was put on standby in case there was a need to transport an injured caver through the cave. A small team of 6 MCR members performed an initial search of the cave and found that the caver had been freed by other members of his party, and they were slowly making their own way back to the surface. The cavers were escorted back to the surface, and the SARCALL incident was closed at 16:31 with everyone safe and well.
Incident 27th September 2025
Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Avon and Somerset Police via SARCALL at 23:39 on 27th September 2025, following a report that a solo caver was overdue and hadn't returned from a trip into Eastwater Cavern, Priddy. With a large number of MCR members attending Hidden Earth, the national caving conference held this year in Llangollen, North Wales, the whole MCR team was put on standby in case there was a need to transport an injured caver through the cave. A small team of 3 MCR members performed an initial search of the cave and found the missing caver at the Crossroads, lost and with a failing light. The caver was escorted back to the surface, and the SARCALL incident was closed at 01:41 with everyone safe and well and back on the surface.
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