The hoax calls led to four hours on the hill for Ogwen Valley team members. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Rescuers in Snowdonia spent more than four hours searching in heavy rain after a series of hoax calls were made to police.
The first call was made about 7.15am on Saturday, with Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation responding to the call for help.
Chris Lloyd of the team said: “The 999 call had gone to the nearest provider’s mast which was not the caller’s provider. This meant the number could not be traced.
“The man reported that he needed help and that he was in the Cwm Idwal area. The line then went dead. This call was repeated a couple more times with little more information.”
Two hasty parties from the Ogwen team made their way to the area and searched footpaths. As more team members arrived, areas above the cwm were searched in heavy rain and poor visibility. A total of 15 volunteers responded to the callout.
Mr Lloyd said: “At about 9.30am, North Wales Police contacted OVMRO with a report of a man needing help on Tryfan but no further information. At this stage, we had our suspicions and asked the police to check similarities between the calls.
“They confirmed our suspicions and as the areas of the highest probability had been searched around Cwm Idwal and with the prospect of numerous hillwalkers going into the area that day, it was decided to recall team members from the hill.
“On the plus side, there were no further calls for OVMRO that day, so team members had time to dry kit and spend weekend time with their families. Also, these hoax calls are rare in the mountain environment.
“On the negative side is the cost: fuel cost and family time cost for members, the cost of opening up Oggi Base and running team vehicles to deploy MRT members. And of course, police time.
“They are stretched enough with real police duties let alone dealing with a time-wasting, thoughtless and irresponsible prankster.”
Blodwyn
14 August 2017OVMRO had another frustrating call out last week, a family insisted on being helped from the foothills below Moel Siabod, despite being close to houses and farms and on a sunny and dry evening! The public should be made more aware of the fact MRTS are made up of volunteers and rely on fund raising events, as the team members and 333, the support group, did last week for the Oggi 8! Also donations to carry out their valuable work.
I wonder if this family would like to make a donation?
Sheepy
15 August 201718 months ago my wife slipped and fell more than 100ft down the side of a mountain. She was fairly well banged up and suffered injuries to her hand which eventually required plastic surgery. At the time I checked her for broken bones and potential internal injuries but all seemed to be in order apart from the obvious cuts, grazes and bruises.
As I always carry a First Aid kit I was able to clean her wound dress it and administer pain killers. We then discussed her ability to carry on or call Mountain Rescue. We considered that by the time help had arrived she would have been sat getting cold and even developing hypothermia and we decided to make the decision to get down the hill and walk the 4 1/2 Miles back to our car.
Preparation and perseverance can go a long way in avoiding unnecessary call outs. Some people these days are just so selfish and to be quite frank, thick. It's the world we live in i'm afraid.
phil
15 August 2017I think it may be time to create a list of local guides who are prepared to be 'on call', so that people who merely want assistance in getting off the hill can pay for their services.