Incident 21. DSRT(Tavistock) was called at 21:50 on Saturday by DSRT(Ashburton), who’d been tasked to search for a missing walker in the Ryders Hill area. GPS data received from her 999 call to the Police suggested that the person was near Laughter Tor so Ashburton team deployed to Dunnabridge Pound, and after an unfruitful hasty search of the spot requested our assistance to widen the search area. Unfortunately the subject’s phone battery died, so she was unable to respond to a Sarloc.
We deployed teams from Combestone Tor, where the subject’s vehicle was parked, searching south through the low cloud, rain & tussocks as far as Ryders Hill. With no torch to look for, searchers were reliant on sound, using search horns and listening for a response, which was made very difficult by the wind. Mindful of the time and the fact we were providing safety support for the Abbots Way Walk on the Sunday morning, our teams were not retasked and DSRT Tavistock stood down at 0300 hours. Okehampton team arrived to continue the search, alongside Coastguard and Police assets.
As we arrived at Peat Cot at 09:00 to cover the Abbots Way Walk we learned that the lady had been found at 06:10 hours by Okehampton team members, cold and wet but otherwise OK, and was walked off the moor – a great result.
Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team (Tavistock). Registered Charity No 1201527. All Rights Reserved. 