Split topic - Rescue Stories

[psychocrawler]

[Mod comment - Split from the Re: CRO 75th Anniversary 2010 thread as its not really on the same topic. ]

Ever been 'rescued' but felt in better shape on the way out than the rescuers on the way in?
Indeed, ever been 'rescued' from somewhere that the rescuers are never/unlikely to be able 'to boldly go'?

There's a Buzzcocks song title here somewhere!

Tell us your most horrific stories.

 

[Alex]

Hammer pot, the rescuers would not have had a good time if they had to go through that rift, glad for both there and my sakes I extracted my self before they got to me. Phew. NFTFH says an accident beyond the rift (which was not the case, as I was in it) could have serious consequences. I cant it was really an accident more of a cock up involving me being such a skinny bugger and low energy levels. Full trip report is on our clubs website pm if you want the link.

 

[Matt]

Response to both the post above:

In the spirit of supporting the cavers' 'self help' ethos that underpins our rescue teams, maybe you should join a team, then you would be able to get to those unfortunate enough to be beyond help.

 

[JB]

Ever been 'rescued' but felt in better shape on the way out than the rescuers on the way in?
Indeed, ever been 'rescued' from somewhere that the rescuers are never/unlikely to be able 'to boldly go'?

I should have thought that some members of the local cave rescue team will get to you. Hopefully they won't have to!

 

[Jams]

[Mod comment - Split from the Re: CRO 75th Anniversary 2010 thread as its not really on the same topic. ]

Ever been 'rescued' but felt in better shape on the way out than the rescuers on the way in?
Indeed, ever been 'rescued' from somewhere that the rescuers are never/unlikely to be able 'to boldly go'?

There's a Buzzcocks song title here somewhere!

Tell us your most horrific stories.

Not worth talking about

 

[Dickie]

"Not worth talking about" - Oh I dunno.

A seriously long time ago we got trapped in Strans Gill by a flood (entrance apparently a whirlpool in the beck!). After 24 hours or so, the water was low enough so we set off out, and met the Cave Rescue coming in. All OK, just overdue etc.

However, the really tight bit at the top of the second pitch was causing some problems for one of the rescue team, so I had to climb up the ladder and clip myself to it so he could stand on my shoulders (and head) to push up through it!

Emerged after 28 hours with a bunch of worried looking people around (apart from Toogood and Pete Lord who were pissing themselves!!!!!)

 

[al]

The fact that, in this and most other countries, cave rescue is performed by cavers for cavers should come as no surprise to anybody on this forum.

Cavers come in all shapes, sizes and abilities and a difficult passage in a cave will be more difficult for some cavers than others - whether they are members of a rescue team is irrelevant.

If you thought there was some kind of super slick service which dealt with cavers' problems, think again ... or, better still, brush up on your self rescue techniques ... or even better still join your local cave rescue team.

 

[Matt]

What continues to stagger me, is that for some reason, some cavers seem to think that those involved in rescue are driven by a belief that they are better cavers than the people they are rescuing (whatever 'better' means).

I can assure you that this is not true - nor do we get much of a kick (most of the time)  from doing it.

The novelty wears off pretty quickly! Particularly when you stack all of the jobs required to run a rescue team on top of actual shouts.  As above, I would genuinely urge people to get involved to share the work. 

Claiming to be 'harder' than rescuers is completely missing the point!

You should however be proud of the heritage of cave rescue in the UK and Eire, it has been built on a huge amount of work by a huge number of very committed volunteers.  Compared to some of the US rescue footage viewable on Youtube - I think we should consider ourselves bloody lucky!

You have your opportunity in this 75th Anniversary year to show your support.

 

[Chocolate fireguard]

Dickie, you lack style.

 

[Dickie]

"Dickie, you lack style." - me, lacking in style!!

I could re-write it in the Queen's English if you like?

Maybe not.

I was just responding to Psychocrawler's thread - you are entitled not to like it of course, as I am equally entitled to my opinion about CF's comment, which is - bollocks!  :icon_321:

 

[Chocolate fireguard]

Devastating! Obviously I was completely wrong.

 

[Dickie]

OK - to put things straight -

There was never any intention on my part to denigrate the CRO or any of it's members - I was in the DCRO for 10 years so I do have some idea of what it's all about.

I just don't appreciate being slagged off for having the crack like you would do in the pub.

Are we done now?

 

[Chocolate fireguard]

OK Dickie. Sorry I went over the top.

 

[langcliffe]

The novelty wears off pretty quickly! Particularly when you stack all of the jobs required to run a rescue team on top of actual shouts.  As above, I would genuinely urge people to get involved to share the work.

The situation has vastly improved over the last forty years, primarily because people are willing to spend a lot of time and energy on organization, equipment acquisition and maintenance, learning how to use the equipment, training themselves and others, and so on.

Jack Pickup reminds us on the BCA Audio Archives how in the late sixties the only way of manning a rescue was to pull drunken cavers out of the pubs. Many of us were confronted with stretcher hauling and such like for the first time on the actual rescues. Goodness knows how we ever managed to get people out.

http://caving-library.org.uk/audio/selected.php?id=140

 

[Alex]

But you guys did pull people out anyway; it just goes to show we don’t need this namby pampby red tape that goes on in ANY modern organisation.

Look at me talking like it was the good old days and I was not even around then I was born in the 80s lol.