Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock

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Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team - Tavistock

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We exist to help the police and other related rescue organisations to locate, render appropriate assistance, and evacuate missing persons to safety.

Our services are entirely voluntary and in particular demand in situations where weather conditions are poor and the location of the missing person is unknown. All team members are highly trained in a variety of skills ranging from First Aid through to Navigation, searching techniques and radio operation. Individual search teams are coordinated through a team leader who is in constant radio contact with the controller coordinating the search effort. We work closely with the police who initiate calls to us in situations where our services may be required. Tavistock is one of four teams which make up the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team group.

31/10/2026

THANK YOU ❤️

Thanks to your support, our second hand kit sale today raised a whopping £1265.50.

This has helped us to raise much needed funds to keep our team operational. As you know, we received no government funding, so your donations and time spent visiting our fundraising events really makes all the difference.

So, once again, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us

📸 A photo from our multi casualty training night this week

30/10/2026

Tomorrow is an exciting day for us.

1) ⏰ 10-12 at our Rescue Centre, we have our second hand kit sale to fundraise for the team 🧥🥾🧤

📌 Rescue Centre
Abbey Rise
Tavistock
(By the fire station 🚒)

2) 🎃 Tomorrow is the last day to get your application in to be part of our 2027 trainee intake!

26/10/2026

🚨Callout🚨 Incident #36, 25th October

We were called at 13:22 to assist South West Ambulance Service with a casualty who had sustained a lower leg injury near Devil’s Tor 🚑

A full team callout was initiated and within 15 minutes we had 5 team members at the Rescue Centre with the vehicles ready to go, 4 members at the RV point near Princetown, and 17 members on their way from other locations.

While members were en route, we were informed that a Devon Air Ambulance had reached the site and their personnel did not require additional help to load the casualty into the aircraft.

Members were stood down to return to their Sunday lunches and windy walks 🍽️ 🥾

📸 Photo from a previous event

▶️ Think this sounds appealing? You've still got time to apply to be in our next intake of trainees. You have until Halloween, see our previous posts for further info 🎃

25/10/2026

🍰 CAKE AND COFFEE ☕

That got your attention!

We've had some great kit coming in for our kit sale next Saturday (still happy to take more!), tea/coffee and cake also available, looking forward to seeing everyone.

Reminder of key details;
📌 Donations to Drake Vets in Yelverton or Tavistock
📨 [email protected] to arrange collection
🗓️ 31/10/26 🎃
⏰ 10:00 - 12:00
🏠 Rescue Centre, Abbey Rise, Tavistock

25/10/2026

⚠️Mountain Rescue Awareness Day – Be Prepared!⚠️

Autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors and it offers some of the moor's most spectacular scenery🍁

⭐Mountain Rescue Awareness Day⭐ coincides with the return to Greenwich Mean Time, and highlights the increased risks associated with reduced daylight. In partnership with Adventure Smart, it encourages anyone heading outdoors to ask themselves three simple questions;

1️⃣Do I have the knowledge and skills for the activity?💭

2️⃣Have I checked the weather forecast? 🌧️ ☀️ 🍃

3️⃣Do I have the right gear? 🧥 🥾 🧤

A little preparation can make all the difference.

🌙 Knowing when darkness will fall is essential. Most weather apps provide sunset times.

🔦 A head torch is one of the most important items to carry. Carrying a fully charged power bank is strongly recommended 🔋

🧣🧤As temperatures drop, warm layers and reliable waterproof clothing become increasingly important.

🆘Walkers should also carry a basic first aid kit and an emergency shelter, such as a survival bag or group shelter.

The message from Mountain Rescue England and Wales is simple: check the forecast, carry the right equipment, and allow plenty of time to complete your route before darkness falls.

🚨However, if things don’t go to plan and you need help, 📞 9️⃣9️⃣9️⃣➡️Police➡️Mountain Rescue

When we meet you out on the moor, don't worry. Our job is simply to help you get home safely. No lectures, no blame, just friendly help when you need it 🫂

📸 Two pictures from a Callout earlier in the year

20/10/2026

🚨 Callout 🚨 Incident #35, 20th October

We were called this morning at 9:37 to assist South West Ambulance Service with the recovery of an injured walker from alongside the River Lyd 🏞️

We deployed a 4×4 Team vehicle to transport members, kit and Ambulance personnel to above the casualty site, which was then accessed on foot down a steep track.

🚑 Ambulance staff assessed the injury as a fracture dislocation of the right ankle and following analgesia it was splinted. Our members then packaged the casualty into one of our stretchers and carried her up the slope and back to High Down car park, where she was handed over to the Ambulance crew for onward transport to hospital.

It was another example of good interagency co-operation involving ourselves, SWASfT ambulance and SWASfT HART.

We wish the casualty a quick recovery 🩼

📸 Our team vehicles from today

🫵🫵How can you help us? 🫵🫵

🥾 We need your help! We have our pre loved kit sale on October 31st 🎃 and we need your donations! If you have any outdoor kit that you're looking to send off to a new home, please consider dropping it off at Drake Vets in Yelverton or Tavistock, or 📨 [email protected] and we can arrange collection 🫂

18/10/2026

🗣️ Donations of good quality pre-loved outdoor kit are required for our forthcoming kit sale. All funds raised will go towards the ongoing costs of running the team.

If you have any kit you no longer use - or just want to have a bit of a clear out - we would be very grateful.

If you have donations, you can do one of the following;

📌 please drop off kit donations to Drakes Vets in either Tavistock or Yelverton.
📨 [email protected] and we will endeavour to arrange collection from you.

Ideal for D of E and 10 Tors participants, and people who are after some pre-loved kit. We hope our kit sale will have something for everyone (we've previously had ruck sacks, ground mats, compasses, clothing, waterproofs and a variety of other camping items).

📌 Rescue Centre, Abbey Rise, Tavistock
🗓️ October 31st 🎃
⏰ 10:00 - 14:00

11/10/2026

We need your help!

Donations of good quality pre-loved outdoor kit are required for our forthcoming kit sale to be successful. All funds raised will go towards the ongoing costs of running the team.

If you have any kit you no longer use - or just want to have a bit of a clear out - please drop off kit donations to Drakes Vets in either Tavistock or Yelverton.

Should you be unable to get to Drakes Vets please email [email protected] and we will endeavour to arrange collection from you.

===Kit Sale Details===

Ideal for D of E and 10 Tors participants, we hope our kit sale will have something for everyone (we've previously had ruck sacks, ground mats, compasses, clothing, waterproofs and a variety of other camping items).

Come along to the Rescue Centre (Abbey Rise, Tavistock) on October 31st and see for yourself. Doors will be open between 10am and 2pm.

10/10/2026

Just 3️⃣ weeks left to get your application in to be in our 2027 trainee intake.

Always thought you've got what it takes, but have any questions? We're on hand to answer any questions you may have 🙂

04/10/2026

♀️ 2026 WOMAN OF THE YEAR ♀️

We are so incredibly proud of our team member, Heather, who has been invited to this year's Women of the Year Lunch and Awards 2026, which is a celebration of women making a difference across the UK and beyond.

Heather is our current Ropes Lead in the team, and has recently undertaken the Breaking Boundaries: Women in Technical Rope Rescue course. She is an inspiration to team members, and we are so proud that she has been nominated for this award ❤️

ISAR3
Mountain Rescue England and Wales

Tavistock Times
The Moorlander

Address

The Rescue Centre, Abbey Rise
Tavistock
PL199FD

Website

https://www.dsrt-tavistock.org.uk/

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