Shropshire Star

Mountain rescue tally revealed

Volunteer search and rescue teams helped 39 people - and two dogs - off the mountains of north Wales in the first seven days of August.

Published
From left, mountain rescue volunteer, Martin Green, Bjarya and his owner with the walker who found the dog and rescue volunteer, Geoff Brittain

The latest rescue of a dog, Bjarya, who belonged to a Belgian couple, caught the imagination of the public with 60,000 people sharing appeals on social media.

Now the Aberdyfi search and rescue team, involved in the rescue and several others, is asking those who followed the rescue to consider donating to search and rescue funds.

The team was told the dog was stuck in a precarious position on the southern ridge of Cader Idris on Sunday afternoon and a rescue party made its way up the mountain.

Graham O'Hanlon, one of the volunteers, said: "Barking and howling could be heard from above and within the Cwm around Llyn Cau, but with visibility down to 50m at times, and with very poor conditions of wind and rain, the team was unable to pinpoint the dog's location. The team left the mountain by 9pm but returned the next day.

"A social media appeal on the Team pages to raise awareness of the missing dog reached more than 60,000 people overnight.

"Through the success of the social media campaign, along with the efforts of Bjarya's owners asking walkers to look out for him and that of Team volunteers on the hill, there were few people on the mountain who did not know of the missing dog.

"At lunchtime a dog matching the description was spotted running loose near the summit, and was secured by a member of the public. The dog, a bit bumped and bruised but otherwise lively, was handed over to team members who brought her off the mountain, and reunited her with her relieved owners.

"Everyone is relieved that once again we have a dog rescue with a happy outcome, but it also provides a timely reminder that for the safety of your pet, and that of livestock grazing in the mountains, dogs need to be kept under control in the countryside."

"In the first seven days of August alone, Mountain Rescue Teams in North Wales have attended 21 incidents and have assisted, rescued or recovered 39 people and two dogs. And all this provided by volunteers, and funded entirely by donations.

"If all of the now 60k people who helped with the Facebook appeal to look out for Bjarya donated £1, it would provide a massive boost to the resources the team would be able to draw on in their rescue work."