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11th February 2007 BABY RESCUED FROM SNOW BY RESCUE TEAM
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team went to the aid of motorist stranded in heavy snow last night and rescued a young couple with their 8 week old baby.
The Team were called out at 7.30 on Saturday night by the police following 999 calls from motorists stranded in snow on the B6278 between Consett and Stanhope near Waskerely Fell in County Durham. Seven members of the team unused a Landrover to get as close as possible to the motorists then proceeded on foot. Four vehicles had become stuck in 2-3ft deep drifts and were unable to go any further. The first vehicles was located by one of our seach dogs Skye. This is her first "find" coming only a few weeks after she qualified as a search dog.
Team leader Dave Bartles-Smith said "It was dark at the time with mist and a strong wind which was causing the snow to drift. Our team members found a number of vehicles caught out by the conditions. One of the vehicle contained a couple with an 8 week old baby. We decided that the family would be safer if we carried the baby back to our Landrover and took the family to lower ground near Stanhope where they were left in the hands of the Police. We kept the other 9 people in their vehicles were it was warm until a JCB arrived to dig them out. Everyone was clear of the road by 10.30pm".
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team would give the following advice to motorists who may have to travel in winter conditions:
Take notice of local weather and road reports and plan your journey accordingly
The high level roads in County Durham can often be affected by snow when it may only be raining on lower level routes
Make sure you take warm clothing, food and drink and a shovel if travelling in snowy conditions
If you do become stuck in snow and can not free your vehicle it is often safer to stay inside the vehicle then attempt to walk to safety especially if you are in a remote location
If necessary contact the emergency services by mobile phone giving your location.
Notes For Editor Teesdale
& Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team are affiliated to the "Mountain
Rescue - England and Wales". We provide a Search and Rescue service throughout
County Durham and beyond primarily for the Police but also for the other emergency
services. All Team members are volunteers and we rely on monies raised by ourselves
as a registered charity to run the Team. Further details regarding our latest
callouts and Team information can be found on our website www.twsmrt.org.uk
