MEMBERS of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Tavistock had their training interrupted on Wednesday (November 11) by a call from police asking for assistance in locating a missing Royal Marine.

The team was called at 7.45pm to help search for a 25-year-old Royal Marine who had not completed a navigation exercise on Dartmoor and there were concerns regarding his welfare.

Following discussion with the police and the rescue team from Plymouth, the Tavistock team based its search at Norsworthy Bridge, Burrator and DSRT Plymouth operated from near Gutter Tor.

Initially the search of a large area was conducted by walking teams, hasty runners and three search dog teams in rain and poor visibility but at around midnight conditions improved and a SAR helicopter carried out an extensive air search. The teams suspended operations at around 1.30am without having located the missing man.

At 6.35am the following morning, the Tavistock team resumed its search. As well as DSRT members from Tavistock and Plymouth, there were also more than 100 troops available along with rangers from Dartmoor National Park. As teams began searching new areas and the visibility improved the Royal Marine was located on the Eylesbarrow track, making his way back to base, having spent the night bedded down near Nun’s Cross Farm.

A spokesperson for DSRT Tavistock said: ’During our night search members would have been within 400 metres of that location, but the combination of darkness, mist and camouflage clothing did not make it easy to spot someone!’