Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team

17/06/2026

🚨 Call out in Marsden- 14/06/26

On Sunday the team were in Wessenden Valley wrapping up our regular monthly training (a scenario based on a mountain biker requiring helicopter evacuation) when we were contacted by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to request our help further down the valley near Butterley Reservoir. Little did we know this was to be one of our most complex and demanding rescues to date.

A mountain biker had taken an enormous fall of around 80 feet down a cliff above the reservoir. We mobilised immediately, switching from a training scenario into a real job.

A Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter arrived on scene quickly and landed on a footpath at the edge of the reservoir, around the corner from where the casualty was located. HART (paramedics who specialise in hazardous locations) also arrived rapidly.

This was a very complex situation with a casualty with potentially life-threatening injuries, in a very challenging location for extraction, with water on one side and very steep ground on the other. As a clearer picture of the situation formed, we called in the fire and rescue service and the coastguard in the event that we needed their assistance.

The casualty was assessed by medics on scene, including our team doctor, the air ambulance doctor, and HART paramedics, who were assessing for potentially multiple serious injuries, including pelvic, chest and C-spine injury.

While this took place, we coordinated with the other emergency services to formulate three plans to get the casualty out:

👉 Plan A: Transport them over water on a raft to the air ambulance further around the reservoir.

👉 Plan B: Use a rigging system and stretcher to bring the casualty back up the cliff and carry the stretcher to the air ambulance.

👉 Plan C: Using the coastguard helicopter, winch the casualty from the bank of the reservoir.

By this point we had resources in place for all three scenarios, with the HVMRT water team kitted up and ready to go, a rigging system set up by our crag team, and a coastguard helicopter taking circuits of the area in the event that they were needed.

Thankfully we were able to undertake our preferred option of extraction by raft around the reservoir, with a safe landing area located to get the casualty off the water and into the air ambulance for transport to a major trauma centre.

Given the seriousness of the casualty's condition and difficulty of extraction, this is amongst the most significant rescues we've ever been involved in. In total it involved two double-crewed ambulances, multiple HART incident control vehicles that transport specialist equipment, fire and rescue, the police, an air ambulance, the coastguard, over 30 mountain rescue volunteers and all three of our response vehicles.

With permission from their family, we are really pleased to share that the casualty is doing remarkably well and is being treated in hospital for several broken ribs and a punctured lung. Given the nature of their fall, it is nothing short of miraculous that they avoided further major traumatic injury.

We know that for those in Wessenden Valley and around Marsden on Sunday, it must have been quite alarming to witness such a big emergency services response. We hope this post helps explain the scale of that presence, and we'd like to thank everyone who was in the area who gave us space to undertake this complex operation. Thank you also to a local runner who first came across the casualty and stayed with them until emergency services arrived.

On behalf of the team, we'd like to offer our very best wishes to the casualty and their family. We hope they make a good recovery and are back out in the outdoors before long.

As a voluntary service, we rely on donations from the public to fund what we do. If you'd like to support our work, you can donate at: https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/141084

Yorkshire Air Ambulance
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
West Yorkshire Police

12/06/2026

ONE LAST CHALLENGE! 🏃‍♂️💨

Team Member Matt is taking on the Montane Summer Challenger this weekend—a non-stop, 108-mile race along the iconic Pennine Way, starting at Edale and finishing at Hardraw. He’s promised himself this will be the last time!

After winning the race last year, Matt is back for more! He says he caught the bug after cheering on his friends from the HVMRT team during the winter race and wanted another goal to train for. While he would have loved to tackle the full-length race, he’s opting for the shorter course to make sure he’s back at work on Monday.

Even better, Matt is raising funds for the team as he runs. Please show your support for his incredible journey here: Donate to Matt’s Challenge.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/matthew-kilner-hvmrt?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Help Matthew Kilner raise money to support Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team

12/06/2026

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL

11/06/2026

NO MAN WALKS ALONE
As a rescue team, we know exactly what it takes to navigate rough terrain.

We map the route, pack the right gear, If someone is or struggling on a steep climb, we don't leave them to figure it out alone.

But some of the heaviest packs aren't worn on the back. They’re carried on the inside.

This is Men's Mental Health Week. In our line of work, we are trained to spot the subtle signs of physical exhaustion or injury. But mental struggles don't always leave an obvious trail.

You don't need a search light or a rescue helicopter to help a mate who is lost in the dark. It starts with the basics:
🏔️ Check the perimeter: Don't just ask "Are you alright?" Ask twice. "How are you really doing?"
🏔️ Clear the path: Let’s break the old stigma that says men have to be silent and stoic. True strength is having the courage to say, "I’m struggling a bit here."
🏔️ Walk shoulder-to-shoulder: You don't have to sit down for a formal, heavy chat.

Take a walk out across Marsden Moor, clear the head, and just talk while you walk.

If your mental weather is turning bad and you feel overwhelmed, please don't try to navigate it solo.

📞 Samaritans: 116 123
📞 Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): 0800 58 58 58
📱 Shout Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258

07/06/2026

Meet Harsharn 👋

This Volunteers Week we're sharing insights from our team members about what it's like to be a mountain rescue volunteer, and why they do it.

"I've always had a huge respect for mountain rescue and the volunteers that help run it. After spending many years hiking, running and having adventures in the hills, I felt I had built up some relevant experience and wanted to use that to help others who also enjoy the outdoors. Mountain Rescue was always a cause I felt drawn to and felt like the natural choice to devote my time to.

During the day, I help run a small business selling electric vehicles and exporting cars to dealers abroad. Outside of work, most of my time is spent with my 4-year-old daughter, who I’m trying my best to introduce to the outdoors. So far, she’s completed 4 Wainwrights with a little help from Dad! In whatever spare time I can find, I am steadily working my way round the Wainwrights and Munros, with the odd bothy adventure chucked in for good measure.

I’m currently an active call-out team member. Later this year, I hope to qualify as a Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT), which will allow me to focus more on casualty care. I'm also a keen photographer, and from time to time those skills come in handy with some of the team events.

I love the team camaraderie, team spirit and the fact that everyone is there for a common cause, and has common values in wanting to help others and learn new skills in doing that. It's a huge privilege being part of my local MRT and a badge I wear with pride.

Time is definitely the biggest challenge. Balancing a busy work and family life with training nights and call-outs as and when they happen. It never ceases to amaze me how much time some team members give while managing demanding jobs and family commitments. It makes me continually assess how I can do more for the team."

06/06/2026

This Volunteer's Week we're celebrating the contribution of some of our wonderful team members, who all give their time voluntarily to make mountain rescue happen.

Team member, Trustee and Building Officer Richard tells us a little about the many hats he wears (usually hard hats), as we celebrate our team members this .

"I joined the team last year because I wanted to give back to the outdoor community by becoming part of a group of volunteers who provide a safety net for all of us who use or find themselves in the outdoors. I also wanted to learn new skills that would make a difference in all aspects of my life.

I've always loved the outdoors- skiing being my sport of choice- but closer to home I enjoy going for walks with my wife and our dog Flo, road cycling and parkruns, and the occasional bigger travel adventure (I'm heading to Peru this week to walk the Inca Trail).

For work, I'm an architect and Managing Director of an architects practice with offices across the UK, so I'm often travelling up and down the country.

As well as being an operational call out member, I'm part of the water rescue team, which requires an additional level of training. Behind the scenes, I support the running of HVMRT as a Trustee and member of the team's Council, and recently became Company Secretary, which means I'm responsible for filing our reports with Companies House and The Charity Commission.

Just to make sure I never run out of things to do, I've also taken on the role of Building Officer, which involves coordinating all the repairs and improvements needed at our HQ, as well as more forward-looking tasks like maximising energy efficency and reducing our environmental impact. Last year we installed solar panels which have made a huge difference to our environmental footprint and our energy bills, helping us to be both more environmentally and financially sustainable into the future.

Being part of the operational search and rescue side is the obvious part of our role but there's so much more to it and we all contribute to running the organisation, with all the roles you'd expect to find in any company. I've brought my professional skills as an architect to support the building management of HQ, and as Company Secretary I hope to be able to bring some of my business acumen to help with the running of the charity behind the scenes - never forgetting that we are only funded and exist due to people's kind donations.

The thing I find most rewarding about the team is the bond that exists between the team members who share similar values, and the new friendships I've formed.

At times seeing people who are in distress either physically or mentally, and probably at one of the worst moments of their lives, can be challenging. But it's rewarding at the same time when you can make a difference (however small) - seeing them safely ‘packaged’ into an ambulance or helicopter on their way to further medical help. I'm glad that is something I can contribute to".

06/06/2026

WE WILL BE THERE
Slaithwaite Duck Race 2026 - 33rd Scout Group
Spa Park, West Yorkshire, HD7 5QB
Saturday 13th June 2026

The Slaithwaite Duck Race will take place on Saturday 13th June 2026.

Numbered yellow ducks (main race) and blue ducks (corporate race) will be launched into the river behind The Little Bridge, by Salamander, and will race downstream to the finish line at Spa Park.

Main Duck Race Prizes (Yellow Ducks)
1st place: £500
2nd place: £300
3rd place: £200
Corporate Duck Race (Blue Ducks)

Tickets for the corporate race are not available online – email [email protected]

The winning corporate duck will receive a luxury hamper.
Both the Slaithwaite Duck Race and the Slaithwaite Corporate Duck Race will run as separate lotteries, although all ducks will be released together.

Good Duck

05/06/2026

This Volunteer's Week we're celebrating the contribution of some of our wonderful team members, who all give their time voluntarily to make mountain rescue happen.

First up is Kirsty, who joined in 2023 and has quickly progressed to be a Leader and the team's training officer. Here's what she had to say about being part of HVMRT:

"Having grown up hearing stories about various cave rescues and seeing friends and family give their time to help others on the hills, I knew this was something I would love to do one day. When we moved to the Holme Valley during the pandemic, my kids were out of nappies and I saw HMVRT were looking for new members- it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss!

Outside the team I have a busy work and family life, I’m a Mum of two young-ish kids and have a day job working with postgraduate students at the University of Manchester. We are an active family and take any opportunity to be out in the wilds, you’ll likely find us out cycling, caving or out on the hills, somewhere.

I am the team’s Training Officer and one of the team’s leaders. I coordinate the annual training programme, ensuring each of our volunteers have the opportunity to practice and refine the skills needed to remain effective and safe when responding to call-outs.

My values are rooted in community and adventure, so being part of HVMRT has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me - I get to do the things I love whilst helping people in a moment of need. There is also something quite special about my fellow teammates - people that think nothing of getting out of a cosy bed at 2am to search a wet and windy hillside, they are all brilliant!

There is much more to the team than responding to call-outs; the to-do-list never really ends and carving out time to make sure priorities are managed can be a challenge. From fundraising to equipment checks, it’s a big commitment but something I would absolutely recommend to anyone!"

03/06/2026

HELPING OUT
Three of the HVMRT water team gave a little bit back to the community in helping litter pick in the river in a recently.

In good old Mountain Rescue fashion the water team went big and removed a huge tree which was causing the risk of being a strainer to water users.

A strainer is a feature in the river that the water itself can pass through but traps objects, such as swimmers. If these are completely underwater they can capture and drown the unwary.

Photocredit: Pennine Canoe Club

31/05/2026

This week is Volunteers Week, a week to celebrate our Mountain Rescue Teams.

It’s quite simple, our volunteers are the heart of Mountain Rescue. It’s hard to comprehend the contribution and dedication by our team members from call outs, to team training, to fundraising, to the maintenance of team bases and equipment – these are just some of tasks they give time to on a weekly basis.

This week isn’t just about our volunteers, it’s about the families, friends, employers and support systems behind these volunteers. Without the support of these individuals our team members would not be able to do what they do.

This week, more than ever, we thank each and every one of our volunteers and the support behind them.

Thank you for volunteering to save lives any hour, any day, any weather.



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