Four hour mountain search drama ends successfully

A scene from yesterday's dramatic mountain rescue operation

A dramatic, combined mountain rescue team operation saw a missing person search last more than four hours in heavy rain and low cloud yesterday (Thursday).

Oldham Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation Duty Controller and made aware of a search for a missing person by Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team and Glossop Mountain Rescue Team. 

The person was believed to be in the area of Black Hill, but heavy rain and low cloud was making feature identification difficult, coupled with poor phone signal, which meant PhoneFind and other location services could not be used.

While WMRT and GMRT deployed from their respective areas, and Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team were put on standby, the Oldham team set out to search the routes and features west of the Pennine Way up to the A635.

Said a OMRT spokesperson: “After approximately three-and-a-half hours of searching we received welcome news that the casualty had managed to make their way off the hill to safety and all sections returned to base to sort and dry out their kit.”

In all, 23 OMRT personnel, 22 Woodhead team members and approximately 20 from Glossop and four search dogs were involved in the incident.

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