Mendip Cave Rescue

Mendip Cave Rescue were called by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue service at 23:20 on Sunday 13th 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 3rd 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 wardens rely on other cavers to volunteer and assist during rescues and other incidents.  As such, we maintain a call-out list of those cavers who are happy to help out when required. If you would like to be included on this list, please either download and fill in the MCR Contact Details form or the complete the on-line form below.

MCR Call Out List

  • You are here:  
  • Home