POLICE, firefighters, a Dartmoor search and rescue team, paramedics and a helicopter from Exeter were all involved in dramatic rescues in the local area last weekend.

The incidents involved rescuing a man who had fallen 20ft in Tavistock and locating students who were hypothermic near Princetown.

Firefighters were called to Crowndale Road in Tavistock last Friday (January 19) after a man had fallen 20ft by the riverbank. Local crews, specialist rescue from Camels Head and an aerial ladder platform from Crownhill were all mobilised to the scene at around 8pm to rescue the gentleman.

On the arrival of Tavistock’s first appliance, the incident commander confirmed there was a man on the riverbank with no immediate signs of injury and a ladder was used to try and get access to him.

Crews succeeded in reaching the man and provided first aid but it soon became apparent that the man had suffered an injury to his left leg during the fall.

The following day, on January 20 at 1.45pm, police and ambulance staff received a call for help from a group of eight air training cadets students — not from the West Devon area — from a remote location near Princetown suffering the effects of the cold.

A police spokesperson said: ‘There was concern for the welfare of two teenage cadets who were thought to be suffering from hypothermia.

‘The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group attended along with the police helicopter.

‘The two cadets were potentially hypothermic but were warmed up and okay.’

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter from Exeter attended at 4pm and airlifted the group from the moor.

The North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (NDSRT) were called to help the students while they were already assisting a team of seven near Green Tor after one of them was deteriorating in the cold weather.

The team had stopped and put up a tent which resulted in the situation improving and they managed to walk off the moor. NDSRT stood down at 6.30pm.