Emergency Rescue

[wormster]

It might be nice to have the opportunity to show people that we're a responsible bunch who don't actually drain taxes and waste the time of emergency services by being perpetually rescued from the ends of the earth! I'm aware that people would never believe it though, it really doesn't matter how you explain it, to them caving must be daft, it's just common sense...

I have to agree with you on this point, the bbc thingy with Kate Humble *almost* managed to do this. (watched it again the other night, its a bit sensationalist at times, but otherwise a well made tv program.)

 

[bubba]

The story must NOT involve any fatalities.
....
Please note it isn't necessary for the story to involve caving.

What is everyone's problem with the original post - how is trying to make cavers look bad?

 

[wormster]

The story must NOT involve any fatalities.
....
Please note it isn't necessary for the story to involve caving.

What is everyone's problem with the original post - how is trying to make cavers look bad?

Ok bubba, here goes:

had climbed to the top of ularu for the second time in two years as I was comming down the chains, an old fella was on his way up, looking v. doggy, I stopped and gave him a drink of water, whilst he drank he calmed down enough to carry on to the top and get back down.

does this qualify??  :tease:

 

[bubba]

It's not for me to say - i can't imagine anyone wanting to film you giving somebody a drink of water though.

 

[paul]

I know a lot of stuff written by journalists and made into TV programmes are sensationalist and sometimes downright incorrect, but how about playing Devil's Advocate:

There have been TV programmes concentrating on Cave Rescue (and Mountain Rescue) such as "999", "Cutting Edge - Cave Resue", to name a few.

As a result of these specific examples being broadcast, has there been any negative affects on caving? Have there been any positive affects?

 

[Jopo]

From wormster

Gerr

Another fe$king jurno type trying to make us look bad again,

when will "they" realize that we don't want or need anymore adverse publicity,

NACK OFF      

A couple of points.

Firstly we don't need to help with adverse publicity - caving is getting plenty of that right now.

We have just had a couple of tragedies and a coroners inquest. I do not read many papers, certainly not red top, but watch the tv news and listen to radio news. I might have missed some - but do not recall any sensational mis reporting, ( other than location in or name of cave - which reading some of the contributions here shows how easy it is for those who should be 'in the know' to be confused as well).

Secondly. I hope the type of comment made by wormster, ( and a couple of others), in a public forum, is not taken as the norm.
All we need is a pissed off journalist reporting the next incident.

I agree with Bubba & Christian Chourot comments.

It's worth reflecting that one paragraph in a red top will be read by more people in one day than a million comments on this forum.

Jopo

 

[Slug]

Lets also bear in mind that a rather high proportion of "Cave Rescue" call outs are NOT for Cavers. 
  There's the Idiot townie that's wandered up a mountain armed only with a carrier bag of butties and pop, dressed in jeans and a T-Shirt, with a pair of Trainers on His/Her feet, or the Sheep that's fallen into a sinkhole ( The Game Goes On p86 ) or the lost Kid that has wandered off from the campsite...........Oh the list goes on,

Lets give them the chance, after all, as them Greek fellas found out, You stand a better chance of success if You're on the inside.

 

[Chris Bower]

Thank you to all of those who have emailed me so far.

I realise that nothing I say will convince some of you that any publicity about caving rescues could be detrimental, but can assure that isn't our aim.

There were 2 incidents which prompted me to post on this forum. The first was a story about 3 climbers who had to be rescued from a cave in New Zealand after getting into difficulty. They were criticised by other cavers for being experienced climbers, but not cavers. Personally I'm ignorant about both sports and hadn't realised the difference could be so important and thought that might be interesting and helpful to the public. In case we couldn't afford to make the story in New Zealand I made my enquiry in case something similar came up in this country. The other incident was that I have news alerts set up for key words and one of them directed me to this forum.

I apologise if I've caused anyone offence or annoyance.

Once again thank you to those of you who have contacted me already and I hope to get back to you as soon as possible. If anyone else has any stories I'd still like to hear from you.

Chris

 

[aquamole jim]

Clive and myself rescued a sheep from beyond a sump a few years ago! :halo:

 

[graham]

Thank you to all of those who have emailed me so far.

I realise that nothing I say will convince some of you that any publicity about caving rescues could be detrimental, but can assure that isn't our aim.

There were 2 incidents which prompted me to post on this forum. The first was a story about 3 climbers who had to be rescued from a cave in New Zealand after getting into difficulty. They were criticised by other cavers for being experienced climbers, but not cavers. Personally I'm ignorant about both sports and hadn't realised the difference could be so important and thought that might be interesting and helpful to the public. In case we couldn't afford to make the story in New Zealand I made my enquiry in case something similar came up in this country. The other incident was that I have news alerts set up for key words and one of them directed me to this forum.

I apologise if I've caused anyone offence or annoyance.

Once again thank you to those of you who have contacted me already and I hope to get back to you as soon as possible. If anyone else has any stories I'd still like to hear from you.

Chris

Chris, I don't doubt that your motives are completely honourable, however, as you are not a caver, you need to understand the defensive mindset of the average committed caver. The fact is that no group likes being judged and minority occupations will always suffer from the fact that most media stories about them will be sensationalist in one way or another. You have caused no-one any offence but have merely confirmed in the minds of many of us that we will continue to be misunderstood by the world at large.

 

[DARBY]

Well said Graham. Chris no offence to yourself but as Graham says Cavers tend to keep themseleves to themselves especially concerning media involvment. This is not because we have anything to hide it just usually gets blown out of all preportion or the totally wrong message goes out to the general public, has as happened recently which in return causes sometimes unrepairable damage to our sport which believe it or not we all are still trying to premote as a good and safe sport to which it mainly is. I feel the same as others, rescue is something i dont feel any of us want to talk about, if anybody does then fair play but i feel it will be for totally selfish reasons and not productive to yourself.

 

[kay]

One message that doesn't seem to get out is that the average cave rescue organisation seems to rescue an awful lot of sheep and a lot of walkers and relatively few cavers. So that, far from being a drain on the public purse by calling upon the rescue services, cavers not only rescue themselves (since cave rescue organisations are made up of caver volunteers) but also increase the rescue services available to the non-caving community.

Whethere anyone has a television-worthy rescue of a cow I don't know 

 

[Slug]

One message that doesn't seem to get out is that the average cave rescue organisation seems to rescue an awful lot of sheep and a lot of walkers and relatively few cavers. So that, far from being a drain on the public purse by calling upon the rescue services, cavers not only rescue themselves (since cave rescue organisations are made up of caver volunteers) but also increase the rescue services available to the non-caving community.

Whethere anyone has a television-worthy rescue of a cow I don't know 

I think I saw one a few years ago in Cheddar Gorge, a cow got stuck by the cafe (who's name escapes Me) near the end of the village, perhaps Cap'n Chris or one of the other locals can fill in the blanks here.

 

[Cookie]

Ermintrude?

 

[Hunter]

I pulled a sheep out of a cave somewhere in Yorkshire once and it's mum was very apreciative!!!!

 

[Slug]

Ermintrude?

The cafe You numpty , not the cow  :spank:

 

[CaversLass]

The Cosy Kettle
or Teapot

 

[Hughie]

Whethere anyone has a television-worthy rescue of a cow I don't know 

We're rescuing  cows quite often in the summer months when they're wandering the fields. Usually from a ditch on the Somerset Levels (peat moors - very deep ditches, about 4 inches of water and several feet of liquid peat).
Application of telehandler and rope does the trick - although we have used boats when a cow has found herself in larger water courses........sorry rambling well off topic!

I think I saw one a few years ago in Cheddar Gorge, a cow got stuck by the cafe (who's name escapes Me) near the end of the village, perhaps Cap'n Chris or one of the other locals can fill in the blanks here.

Golly - that was more than a few years ago - more like 15 or 16! Unless there has been another one since. My friend RC and I got there just as they'd finished hoisting it out strapped to a gate. IIRC it had been sedated by a vet (might be wrong about that though).

 

[hoehlenforscher]

I rescued a goose from the end of the Little Neath entrance series once. It was a week before Christmas and for some reason he was not happy to be returned to the farmer! 

 

[kay]

I pulled a sheep out of a cave somewhere in Yorkshire once and it's mum was very appreciative!!!!

We pulled one out of Gillgarth entrance, and it just tried to go straight back down.