The team was called to a caver (f, 18) who was part of a student caving group and had become tired and cold and was unable to continue out of Wretched Rabbit Passage in Ease Gill without assistance. Initially some members of the South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team (SMWCRT) who were staying nearby at Bullpot Farm went down with some warm drinks to see if she could be warmed up and assisted out whilst the team were being called, but it soon became apparent that she was hyperthermic and more assistance was required so a full callout was initiated.
Team members entered the system and after an assessment from a team nurse she was placed in a casualty bag with a heated vest for further warming and loaded on to a stretcher for evacuation from the cave. Although we had a North West Ambulance Service ambulance waiting at Bullpot Farm, due to the condition of the casualty the team also requested Air support from HMCG, to enable faster transport to hospital in case her condition deteriorated, with Rescue 336 being tasked from Caernarvon. Once she was out of the cave she was stretchered across the fell to Bullpot Farm, with the assistance of some student cavers from CHECC (Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs) who were having a meet there, arriving just as Rescue 366 landed.
After an assessment by the NWAS Paramedics and the helicopter paramedic it was decided that she had warmed sufficiently to be transported by road to hospital for further assessment and treatment.
We wish our casualty a speedy recovery.
CRO would also like to thank Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club for the use of the facilities at Bullpot Farm, the crew of Rescue 336, NWAS, and members of CHECC, SMWCRT, Swaledale Mountain Rescue and Derbyshire CRO who were in the area and assisted with the rescue.
CRO Volunteer Hours: 145