MCR wardens received a callout from the emergency services via SARCALL system at 01:52 on Thursday 11th February 2016 that a caver was believed to have fallen down a shaft and had sustained injuries. Whilst the MCR wardens were being mobilised, there was some confusion about the location of the casualty but this was clarified by a subsequent SARCALL message that the caver has fallen down the "twenty", a short pitch in Swildons Hole, Priddy.
An initial party of four MCR personnel went underground at 03:00, carrying a "first strike kit" with the purpose of locating and attending to the injured caver. Further information came to the surface that necessitated further cavers going underground with more equipment. It was confirmed that a 27 year old male caver had fallen down the "twenty" and although initial rumours that he had broken his leg was unfounded, he was found to have a probable broken arm. First aid was administered by an MCR medic, and after appropriate treatment, the injured caver was brought to the surface and placed in an ambulance at 05:18.
MCR were assisted throughout this operation by members of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue service, Avon & Somerset Police and South Western Ambulance
On Sunday 20th December, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 16:30 that there was an overdue party of 4 cavers in Eastwater Cavern. Whilst MCR wardens were initially responding, a further report was received at 16:45 that the party had surfaced, having taken longer than anticipated to complete their trip, and the wardens were immediately stood down.
On Sunday 13th December, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 20:20 that there was an overdue party of 6 cavers in Eastwater Cavern. Whilst MCR wardens were on their way to Priddy to undertake an initial search of the cave further reports were received that the party had surfaced, having had some trouble route finding in this complex system and taken longer than anticipated to complete their trip, and the wardens were stood down.
On Tuesday 22nd September, Mendip Cave Rescue received a report from the police at 18:30 that there was an overdue party of 4 cavers in Swildons Hole. Whilst MCR wardens were on their way to Priddy to undertake an initial check of the cave, further reports were received that the party had surfaced at 18:50, having had some trouble negotiating one of the squeezes and the wardens were stood down.
On Wednesday 5th August, reports were received at 20:15 that an experienced caver had fallen almost 50 feet down Echo Pot, a recently found shaft at the bottom of Templeton, sustaining several serious injuries. On arrival, Mendip Cave Rescue wardens quickly administered first aid and placed the casualty in a stretcher and carefully hauled him to the surface at 01:10 where he was handed over to the waiting paramedics for further treatment and transfer to hospital.
Mendip Cave Rescue were assisted throughout this difficult operation by members of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue service, Avon & Somerset Police, South Western Ambulance service and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.