Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Wiltshire Police at 19:45 on Sunday 20^th August 2017 for an incident at Monkton Farleigh stone mine. One member of a party exploring the mine had become separated from the rest of the group underground and had not returned to their vehicle with the others. After a quick search for their missing person, the remaining members of the party called for help. On receiving the initial call from the police, MCR contacted a number of local cavers who knew the stone mines well, who quickly organised a more thorough search of the mine, whilst MCR wardens were put on standby in case a more protracted search was required. Happily, the missing person was found after a few minutes, a little lost but safe and unharmed, and escorted to the entrance. The stand down message was then sent to the MCR wardens to bring the incident to a close at 20:49.

Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue service at 23:20 on Sunday 13^th August 2017 for an incident at Box stone mine. Two young explorers had become lost whilst underground, and found themselves behind the newly erected gate at Lady Hamiltons entrance, unable to get out, but within signal range for their mobile phone so they were able to summon help. A small team of experienced local cavers who know the mines well attended the scene and quickly escorted the pair to the service via an alternative nearby entrance, and apart from being cold and tired, they were unharmed and the incident was closed at 00:15 on Monday morning.

Mendip Cave Rescue were called by the police at 16:40 on Thursday 3^rd August 2017 for an incident at Burrington Combe. A 16 year old male was stuck in 'Superman Squeeze' in Boulder Chamber, just inside Tradesmans Entrance to Goatchurch Cavern. This is a squeeze in a short passage that can be bypassed, and so it was possible to get people to either side of the casualty. Eventually the casualty was freed by moving a large boulder slightly and using drills and 'plug and feathers' to remove some rock from a boulder that was trapping him. Once he was freed the casualty was able to walk out from the cave, and he exited the cave unharmed and none the worse for his ordeal at 19:50.

Throughout this rescue operation, Mendip Cave Rescue worked with representatives from both Avon Fire & Rescue Service and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, South Western Ambulance Service HART Paramedics and Avon & Somerset Police, with the road through Burrington Combe closed for a few hours whilst the rescue operation was underway. This successful rescue has been reported in the local press.

Mendip Cave Rescue were called by the police at 20:18 on Saturday 22^nd July 2017 for an incident at Box stone mine. A small team of experienced local cavers who know the mines well attended the scene, along with representatives from the mine owners and UK Mines Rescue, and found that a group of 9 explorers had entered the mine workings, and 2 inexperienced members had become split from the rest of their party. Whilst the other 7 had exited the mine, the pair who had become separated managed to find Jacks Entrance where they could get a mobile phone signal from behind the newly installed bars and call for help. Mendip Cave Rescue and UK Mines Rescue quickly located the pair, provided them with helmets and more light and escorted them out via an alternative nearby entrance, and apart from being cold and tired, they were unharmed and the incident was closed at 22:15. Our friends from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service again attended and supplied lighting to the scene and passed blankets through the gate to help keep the pair warm whilst they were waiting for assistance.