North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team members in training for the Merlin helicopters. Photo: North Dartmoor SRT

A major search for a missing man added to the workload of rescuers covering the annual Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor.

North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team was among those called into action to look for an 85-year-old man reported missing in the Meldon Reservoir area on Friday.

Team members had been in position at Okehampton Camp at 9am on Friday as preparations began for the challenge event, during which thousands of young people take to the hills of the national park in a two-day event.

A North Dartmoor SRT spokesperson said: “At about 8pm, when the team was about to relax for a few hours, we received a call from the police to search for a missing 85-year-old male in the Meldon Reservoir area.

“Twenty-six North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team members, supported by 22 members from the Ashburton, Tavistock, and Exmoor Search and Rescue Teams and three search dogs, searched the area until the middle of the night.

“The night search was unsuccessful and plans were made for some rescue team members to continue the search in the morning while others supported the Ten Tors event.”

The North Dartmoor team, supported by members from Exmoor Search and Rescue Team, was in action again by 6am on Saturday, split into four, seven-person hill teams, heading out to some of the first tors visited by the Ten Tors participants.

The spokesperson said: “It was great to see so many young people in such good form and the weather was being kind.

“We go out to the first tors because there are often issues in the first few miles: asthma and old injuries playing up. There’s also often a bit of a crowd at the first tor so we help the military personnel check in teams. 52 teams passed through Dinger Tor in 20 minutes.

“Before finishing at the first tors and before the search at Meldon had resumed, the police received a call from the public with information about the missing person. Some rescue team members went to the location and assisted the gentleman to safety. Fortunately he was in pretty good form if a bit chilly and hungry.”

The North Dartmoor hill teams returned to the camp to be on-call for incidents.

“Our team of search managers was working alongside the military in the operations centre deciding if a casualty needed immediate helicopter assistance or whether assistance from us or any of the other Dartmoor search and rescue teams would be more appropriate,” the spokesperson said.

“Four hill teams maintained a rota of cover until about 11.30pm when the operations centre, including our search managers, confirmed all Ten Tors teams were bedded down and safe for the night or were receiving assistance from the other Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams, they were busy until 2am.”

The team also managed to participate in some training during the day. The spokesperson said: “The introduction of Merlin helicopters has brought additional training needs.

“Before rescue team members fly on a Merlin we have to watch a training video and undertake basic ground training. This is just one example of the training we undertake and why we’re trying really hard to raise the funds to create a training room at our base.

“The moors were still fog-bound first thing Sunday morning and the helicopters couldn’t fly so a hill team was sent out on to the moors in readiness. Just before midday all four hill teams were deployed to some of the last tors in readiness to assist as required.

“It’s amazing to see the young people on the last stage of their journey: the 14-year-old girl who was carrying two tents, a stove and an extra sleeping bag to help her team complete.”

North Dartmoor SRT members then acted as sweep teams following participants in.

The spokesperson said: “Not long after the event closed at 5pm and over 1,500 volunteer hours later North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team was back in camp packing up.

“Over the Ten Tors event collectively the Dartmoor search and rescue teams had assisted with 28 incidents and that’s not including the incidents attended by a helicopter with a rescue team medic on board and a callout not connected with Ten Tors.”