Joint Search and Rescue Exercise

The team participate in Inter-agency Training

Search & Rescue Exercise with other local agencies in the Quantock Hills.

On Sunday 27th March, Exmoor Search & Rescue Team (SRT) met with Avon & Somerset Police and The British Red Cross to take part in a large scale inter-agency training exercise in the Quantock Hills.  Casualties for the exercise were supplied by willing volunteers from Devon & Cornwall Police Cadets.

At 1000 hrs, the teams descended onto Staple Plantation and were briefed on the exercise.  Four groups of young people had set out from Great Wood Camp after breakfast, yet only one team had so far been located - albeit missing one of their team members. 

Working together, Avon & Somerset Police and Exmoor Search and Rescue Team formulated the search plan for the coming hours and teams were dispatched into the Quantock Hills to assist with locating the missing persons.  The British Red Cross were on hand to assist with both the recovery and the treatment of casualties.

It subsequently transpired that foul play could have been involved, which added a twist to the day and added the complications of operating an effective and constructive search whilst also managing a potential crime scene.

By the end of the day, all casualties had been rescued and treated as necessary.  All that was left to do was to reflect on a highly useful and effective training exercise.