Grassington-based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association has just completed a record-breaking year. Lindsey Moore looks at the figures.

THE number of incidents attended by Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue has been increasing year on year.

In fact, 2014 was the third consecutive year that records had been broken.

But there was good news as well - the number of deaths fell to one and there was also a significant reduction in the number of callouts to assist vulnerable people who were missing from home.

The team's 70 volunteers attended 50 incidents across Wharfedale, Littondale and Nidderdale as well as parts of Airedale, beating the previous year’s record of 44 and the 2012 record of 42.

And the association expects the record-breaking trend to continue, with more and more people enjoying Craven's hills and caves in the wake of last year's successful Tour de France event.

Surface controller Phill Nelson, from Skyreholme, said that last year's callouts were spread across a wide range of incidents rather than a specific type.

He added: "In fact, we had some very pleasing reductions. Fatalities, which had reached on average of six a year, were reduced to two in 2013 and one last year.

"Searching for vulnerable people missing from the community was down to six callouts having reached a record 14 in 2013 and this year was the second year in succession when the team was spared a Christmas Day rescue, much to the relief of our families."

The record callouts involved 1,514 man hours from the team, a significant reduction from the 1,915 man hours of the previous year. Phill attributed this to a number of factors, but mainly the use of advanced technology.

"We strive to use the best available technology and these new lifesaving aids are always on the top of our wish list We raised funds for a state-of-the-art control vehicle and we now also have technology that can help locate missing people as well as instantly pinpointing and, if need be, re-routing individual members out searching on the fells.

"In addition, we now have a most efficient mobile phone text system to call out members we simply key information onto a proforma and members can immediately inform us whether they are available, how long it will take them to arrive as well as providing other valuable information for the rescue planning."

The team also has two search and rescue dog.

The majority of rescues involved people with injuries or who had been reported missing. The youngest victim was an eight-year-old boy who suffered head and neck injuries after slipping on rocks at Brimham Rocks and the oldest was a 79-year-old man suffering from chest pains on the Pennine Way near Cowling.

One major rescue required 28 members and a total of 100 man hours to bring a female caver with a suspected broken femur to the surface of Goyden Pot in Nidderdale.

The team also provided cave diving specialists to an incident in Llangollen in North Wales where an injured cave diver was trapped by flooding in a disused mine system. One member together with diving equipment was collected by RAF helicopter and flown to the scene with three other members travelling by road. Sadly the caver’s body was discovered 300 metres from the entrance.

The Upper Wharfedale volunteers also gave a further 5,000 man hours to training and equipment maintenance.

The ever-increasing demands on the team will inevitably result in a rise in costs - which currently run at £40,000 a year - and, once again, the Wharfedale Three Peaks Challenge will be staged on Saturday, June 27, to boost the coffers.

Last year's inaugural event saw 419 participants take on one of three routes.

Phill said: "The feedback clearly showed how much they had enjoyed the challenge and the fraternity, with many already pledging a return this year.

"The team turned out in large numbers to control the course and it was also a great experience being able to mix and engage with the public in a non-emergency situation, to explain our work and chat about safety precautions when out enjoying the Dales."

Major and additional fundraising efforts will also be needed this year for the refurbishment and extension of the association’s headquarters to provide extra space for equipment storage and training facilities.

To donate to the team or for further information, visit uwfra.org.uk