A TAVISTOCK wheelchair user has said she will be eternally grateful to the town’s Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team after they rescued her from the moors last Thursday evening (October 25) — and added that it was a lesson to always be prepared.

Caroline Furze, who has MS (multiple sclerosis), was enjoying an afternoon trip with her friend on the Lych Way walk when her all-terrain wheelchair was surrounded by a waist-high bog and the pair of them were unable to make it back to their vehicle at Powder Mills, between Two Bridges and Postbridge.

They left in the afternoon and were enjoying the scenery so much that they spent longer outdoors than they had intended and, on their return, lost the path and became stranded.

‘We followed the path out to Lych Way from the back of Powder Mills and it was fine but coming back we missed the path and by the time we realised, it was getting dark,’ said Caroline.

Her friend, who visits the area each week to enjoy Dartmoor, went on ahead to find a safe way back to the vehicle but fell chest deep in the bog.

Caroline said: ‘When it became apparent that we were stuck and we could end up spending the night out on Dartmoor we contacted the police who then got hold of Dartmoor Rescue. If we had to have spent the night on Dartmoor I don’t know if my friend would have been OK as he was soaked and we only had one survival blanket.

‘I was well dressed and had a map but it was a useful lesson to know where you are and to make sure you are dressed appropriately for Dartmoor.

‘I am hugely grateful to Dartmoor Rescue and the police — we are so lucky to have them. Without the rescue team we would have definitely been out there all night. They saved us from a night out on the moor, and, especially for one of us, it could have ended very badly.’

A Facebook post from the Tavistock rescue team last Friday said: ‘The male trekker was chilled and wet but otherwise able to walk off with assistance.

‘The female trekker and wheelchair were extracted using floating throw lines and muscle!

‘The ropes were tied to the front of the electric wheelchair which was driven by the owner whilst stabilised behind by a team member. Other team members then pulled on the ropes and assisted its progress through the mire. Careful route-finding allowed all to return safely to the rescue vehicle.

‘That particular area of the Lych Path [Lych Way bridlepath] is renowned for poor ground but was considerably worse than normal, evidenced by the number of team members who also sank well above knee level.

‘Thank you to the residents of the cottage at Powder Mills who kindly provided a hot drink for the cold and wet trekker while waiting for his companion.’