Team members stretcher a casualty from Jail Hole. Photo: CVSRT

Team members stretcher a casualty from Jail Hole. Photo: CVSRT

A West Yorkshire rescue team had the busiest day in its history on the hottest day of the year so far.

Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team was called out four times on Thursday as temperatures hit the high 20s.

The team’s volunteers had to don full personal protective equipment during the callouts to incidents at Black Carr Wood, Pudsey; Lumb Falls, Pecket Well, Hebden Bridge; Jail Hole, near Gaddings Dam, Todmorden, and Wood Head, Hipperholme, near Halifax.

The four incidents within 12 hours represented the busiest period for the team since its formation in 1966, apart from callouts during major floods and adverse winter weather.

Highest recorded temperatures in the area were 26C.

Team leader Jonathan Cole said: “As with all incidents, the casualty’s safety and efficient evacuation is paramount and I’m very proud of all CVSRT members who coped admirably with all four incidents and worked seamlessly with fellow mountain rescue team members and the statutory emergency services to achieve this.

“It’s worth remembering that we are a charity and all members are volunteers who drop what they are doing, whether at work or home, to help those in distress.

“Yesterday proved especially challenging given the intense heat and the personal protection equipment that we need to wear to remain safe.

“Certain factors make the task harder than it needs to be though. May we remind everyone to be more respectful to landowners, local residents and the countryside?

“Have the appropriate clothing and equipment with you for the terrain and keep the activity within your capabilities. We are also seeing many incidents where visitors are trespassing or parking cars irresponsibly, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to access the scene.

“Discarded alcohol cans, broken bottles and used barbecues littering beauty spots is becoming a huge problem. It is really sad to see the lack of respect from some people of all ages, although, as we see on the daily news, our region isn’t unique.

“Finally, I would like to thank all our team members who continue to turn out when asked, without question, no matter what time of day. Many thanks to their families and employers who support the team members and allow them the flexibility to respond at a moment’s notice.

“We’d be lost without everyone’s support.”

Thursday’s callouts represented a total of 284 volunteer hours.

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