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.

Mendip Cave Rescue were called by the police at 03:14 on Wednesday 5^th 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 2^nd 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.