AN injured man on Dartmoor called for help via text message to a friend in London — leading to his rescue by the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.

On Friday, July 24, the rescue team based in Okehampton was called by police to assist a male walker in the Steeperton Tor area. The man had slipped and was unable to walk off the moor. Being in an area of poor reception he was unable to phone for help, but he did manage to send a text to 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 visibility was poor — often less than 50 metres and the rain was torrential at times. During the initial search the team did not locate the walker so Tavistock Search and Rescue Team was called in to assist with extra manpower and vehicles.

This enabled a wider area to be searched. The missing man was eventually found on the north side of Steeperton at 5.30pm. He was cold, wet and had slipped on steep ground with a heavy rucksack, injured his ankle as well as knocking his head. He was quickly assessed, put into a shelter and given some food and a hot drink.

Rescue team members had to carry equipment quite some distance across rough terrain to get to the casualty site. Once the man was well wrapped and loaded onto the stretcher, a long walk off began. He was finally handed over to the ambulance service near Okehampton Camp just after 8pm.