Posted: Mon 8th May 2023

Clwydian Range: Overnight multi-agency rescue operation locates seriously injured mountain biker

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

A multi-agency rescue operation took place overnight after a mountain biker went missing in woodland near the Flintshire border. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The North East Wales Search and Rescue Team (NEWSAR) were scrambled just before 10 pm on Sunday night to assist the police with the search at Mynydd y Cwm in the Clwydian Range. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As NEWSAR team members arrived, they received news that family members of the casualty had located him deep in the woodland on steep ground. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The biker, who had sustained serious injuries following a crash, was found thanks to live tracking software on his phone. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Two team members were quickly dispatched to assess the situation and provide initial casualty care. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Further team members, along with a land ambulance crew, were driven by Land Rover close to the accident site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Due to the inaccessible location and the nature of the injuries, a Coastguard helicopter was called to the scene. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A Welsh Air Ambulance from Cardiff was also dispatched to assist; it was spotted landing on open ground near Cwm Road, north of Rhuallt. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

[Photo Credit: NEWSAR] ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Air Ambulance team were transported from their helicopter to the casualty site by a NEWSAR Land Rover. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A NEWSAR spokesperson said: “The Air Ambulance team were transported from their Helicopter to the casualty site by team Land Rover and carried out a detailed patient assessment.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It was decided to carry the casualty on a stretcher back up the very awkward and steep bike track to our Land Rover, as a winch out of the trees to the helicopter would have been particularly hazardous.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The casualty was then driven to the waiting Coastguard helicopter for transport to the hospital, and the casualty’s family members were returned to their vehicle.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Team members arrived back at base shortly before 3 am after this significant and complex multi-agency response.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This incident highlights the value of cooperation between emergency service teams, technology and the swift response of the casualty’s family. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

NEWSAR is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The team primarily operates in North East Wales, covering the counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham, and parts of Conwy and Powys. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In addition to their local work, NEWSAR regularly assists other Mountain Rescue teams in North Wales, as well as Lowland Search and Rescue teams in Cheshire and Shropshire. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The team is comprised entirely of volunteers who dedicate their time to search for vulnerable people missing from home or those in need of rescue. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It costs approximately £30,000 per year to run the team, covering fuel and repairs for vehicles, protective equipment, training courses, and essential team equipment such as ropes and stretchers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As a registered charity, NEWSAR relies primarily on grants, individual donations, legacies, street collections, and collection tins to fund its vital operations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Find out more here: https://www.newsar.org.uk/donate ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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