TAVISTOCK’S Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team assisted in a rescue of an injured man last week, who had called for help via a text message to a friend in London.

On Friday, July 24, the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, based in Okehampton, was first called by police to assist a 40-year-old male walker in the Steeperton Tor area, who had slipped and was unable to walk.

Being in an area of poor reception, he was unable to phone for help, but did manage to text a friend in London explaining his situation, who then notified Devon and Cornwall Police.

The NDSRT search manager was given an approximate grid reference and deployed the first hill party to search around that area.

The north team called Tavistock at 4.50pm to assist in the search for the injured man, who was lost in thick mist.

This enabled a wider area to be searched around the initial grid reference and resulted in the man being found on the north side of Steeperton Tor at 5.30pm.

He had slipped on steep ground with a heavy rucksack and injured his ankle as well as knocking his head.

Paul Hudson, team leader for Tavistock, said: ‘Our members worked closely with DSRT Okehampton and once he was found on the slopes of Steeperton Tor, first aid equipment and a stretcher were carried to his location, which was inaccessible by vehicle.

‘As the visibility was so poor, down to 20 metres at times, evacuation by helicopter was not possible, so once treated by a casualty carer, the wet and very cold casualty was put onto a wheeled stretcher and carried over rough moorland for two kilometres where he was transferred to our Land Rover Ambulance.  

‘He was then driven off the moor to an ambulance waiting at the roadhead.’

Tavistock team members did not return to base until around 9.30pm, satisfied with a successful outcome to the incident.