Call Out [13] 13:00hrs 30/03/2022
On Wednesday afternoon, Exmoor Search & Rescue Team were tasked by Devon & Cornwall Police to Combe Martin, in North Devon, to assist with an ongoing multi-agency search for a high-risk missing person.
Team Members, supported by Search Dog Lottie, and Handler Nick, from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England responded and searched alongside colleagues from the Police, the local Coastguard Search & Rescue Teams, and the National Police Air Service HQ. Due to the scale of the search, mutual aid was kindly provided by Team Members from North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.
Call Out [14] 09:30hrs 31/03/2022
The Team redeployed to Combe Martin as part of a continuing large-scale multi-agency missing person search. Exmoor Search & Rescue Team were tasked alongside colleagues from Devon & Cornwall Police, local Coastguard Search & Rescue Teams, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Urban Search & Rescue and with mutual aid provided by our colleagues from North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales.
Ground Teams from Exmoor SRT and North Dartmoor SRT searched open farmland, supported by Search Dog Team Rory and Griff from Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue on their first deployment since grading. The excellent flying conditions saw the Exmoor SRT Drone Team co-deploy alongside the USAR Drone Team to support the Coastguard Search & Rescue Teams with coastal searches and the Mountain Rescue Search Teams within inland open-area searches.
Call Out [15] 09:030hrs 02/04/2022
Yesterday, the Team was re-tasked to Combe Martin in support of the continued search efforts for the high-risk missing person. Search Teams from Exmoor SRT were supported by our Drone Team and by two Search Dog Teams from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England. Exmoor SRT Dog Team Nick and Lottie were supported by Handler Jenny and Search Dog Angus from North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team on their first operational deployment since grading.
A special thank you to Search Dog Handler Goo from North Dartmoor SRT who stepped up to support Handlers Rory and Jenny during their first deployments whilst Search Dog Jack is non-operational due to illness.
Whilst returning home after being stood down, a Team Member from North Dartmoor SRT was first on scene at an RTC. Supported by Team Members from Exmoor SRT, they provided immediate medical care until Devon Air Ambulance Trust were able to land, provide extended medical care and fly the injured motorcyclist to hospital. We wish the motorcyclist a swift recovery.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the residents of Combe Martin and the surrounding area for their support and willingness to assist with the search efforts – it really is appreciated! A special mention to the Combe Martin Fire Station for their hospitality, and for going above and beyond by providing the search Teams with refreshments. Thank You!
Sadly, the search remains inconclusive and Police inquiries are ongoing.