Mendip Cave Rescue were called by the police at 03:14 on Wednesday 5th July 2017 for an incident at Box stone mine. A small team of experienced local cavers who know the mines well attended the scene and found a group of 7 explorers aged 17 to 20 who were unable to exit from Jacks Entrance due to a new gate that the owners had erected recently. Having entered the mine via the Back Door entrance and being inadequately equipped and clothed they were lucky to be able to obtain a phone signal and call 999. The Mendip Cave Rescue team quickly escorted them out via an alternative nearby entrance, and apart from being cold and tired, they were unharmed and the incident was closed at 05:43. Our friends from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service attended and supplied lighting to the scene and passed blankets through the gate to help keep the waiting explorers warm whilst they were waiting for assistance.
This second incident within a week at the same site has prompted Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue service to issue the attached safety notice and has been reported in the local press.
On Sunday 2nd July 2017 Mendip Cave Rescue were contacted by Corsham Fire & Rescue to assist with an incident in Box stone mine. A group of three explorers had entered the mines via the Back Door entrance and made their way through the system to Jacks entrance, where their exit was blocked by a large gate recently installed by the landowners. They were unable to retrace their steps, but instead were able to get mobile phone reception through the bars of the gate and ask for assistance. Mendip Cave Rescue have a small team of experienced local cavers who were called to the scene and they were able to enter the mine via a nearby obscure entrance and escort the three explorers to safety.
On Sunday 20th November, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 18:37 that a male caver had sustained ankle injuries in Swildons Hole, Priddy and was unable to exit the cave. A group of MCR wardens collected some first aid and hauling equipment from the MCR store and made their way to the entrance, and located the casualty just below the '20', a short ladder pitch in the entrance series of the cave. First aid was administered, and the casualty was assisted out of the cave and across the fields to his waiting transport. After a successful rescue, the wardens were stood down at 21:28 and returned all the equipment to the MCR store.
On Tuesday 26th July, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 11:58 that a visitor had fallen and sustained injuries in Gough's Cave, a show cave in Cheddar Gorge. A small group of MCR wardens collected some equipment from the MCR store and made their way to the entrance, where a further report was received that the injured person had been stretchered out of the cave by members of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue service. The wardens were then stood down at 13:07 and returned to the MCR store.
On Saturday 5th March, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 15:43 that there was a caver physically stuck in GB cave. Five MCR wardens were already at the MCR store following a rescue practice with Southern CHECC, so were able to respond rapidly. Whilst the wardens were travelling to the cave, a further report was received at 16:01 that the stuck caver had been freed and the party had surfaced, and the wardens were stood down.
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