At approximately 1800 on Saturday evening, we were alerted by Devon & Cornwall Police to a walker and their dog who had become trapped in dense undergrowth near footpaths on the edge of St Ives.

Our Search Manager liaised by phone with the emergency services already on scene, assisting with identifying the walker’s possible location.

At around 1900, the team was requested to attend to help clear vegetation and free the walker. Volunteer Call-out Members began arriving from 1930 onwards and, working alongside St Ives Coastguard Rescue Team and guided by the Devon & Cornwall Police drone, were able to locate and reach the walker. Using hand saws, the team cut through dense vegetation and successfully freed both the walker and their dog at approximately 2100.

The walker and dog were then guided to the nearest road before the team vehicle transported them to the incident meeting point where our team medic checked they were uninjured.

Team members then drove the walker back to their car so they could return to their holiday accommodation. The team stood down and returned home at approximately 2200.

Following Storm Goretti, which has caused significant damage across Cornwall, it is reassuring to note that team members were available to respond. The walker was appropriately prepared and equipped for January conditions, was warm, and remained in good spirits throughout the incident.

We wish them many more happy and safe walking days in Cornwall before they return home.

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Image taken by on of our Volunteer Call-out Members

All of our team members are volunteers. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year to assist the emergency services in searching for missing, vulnerable, and injured people across West Cornwall.

We rely entirely on public donations to continue our work.

To support us, please consider making a donation: https://westcornwallsar.co.uk/support-us/

We are proud members of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and the British Cave Rescue Council – BCRC.

We have recently received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service Service.