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 surface 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.

endip 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.