| | Latest Incident: 04/05/24 Team called by the police to assist with the search for a vulnerable male last seen entering an area of woodland near Towlaw. 10 team members and two ... More details | | | | |
BODY FOUND AFTER MAJOR SEARCH
Mountain Rescue Teams from across the North of England have been involved today
(Sunday) in a major search to locate a man missing from home for over a week.
Michael Bell, 40 has been missing from his home in Barnard Castle, County Durham
since Friday 6th Oct. His car was located on a lonely road high in the Pennines
on the Durham, Cumbria, North Yorkshire border near the famous Tan Hill Inn
(the highest inn in England)
Rescue Teams from the North East Search and Rescue Association where attending
a training weekend in nearby Teesdale. This turned into a real incident when
they were asked by Durham Police to search an area of dense plantation near
to were Mr Bells car was found. Eight rescue teams took part in the search from
Cumbria, Co Durham, North Yorkshire and Northumberland. More than 80 mountain
rescue volunteers and 3 search dogs spent 7 hours searching the 1 square mile
of plantation.
Inspector Kevin Tuck from Durham Police said " I must thank all members
of the rescue teams who turned out today to assist us in our enquiries. The
task was very difficult due to the density of the woodland. At times they had
to crawl on their hands and knees to make progress"
At approximately 2.30pm a body was located within the plantation and was recovered
the half mile back to the road by Kirby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team. At this
stage the body has not been positively identified.
Postscript
During the search a 999 call reported a young lady suffering from possible hypothermia
whilst taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition close to the search
area. Mountain rescue control requested the Durham Police helicopter which was
assisting in the original search to proceed to the scene. The young lady was
helicoptered back to the Tan Hill Inn and given medical assistance by Swaledale
Rescue Team personnel. Other team members escorted the remaining members of
the group back on foot.
Steve Owers
Press Officer
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Rescue Team
15/10/06 2000hrs
Notes For Editor
Teesdale & Weardale Search & Rescue Team are affiliated to the Mountain
Rescue England and Wales. We provide a Search and Rescue service throughout
County Durham and beyond primarily for the Police but also for the other emergency
services. All Team members are volunteers and we rely on monies raised by ourselves
as a registered charity to run the Team. Further details regarding our latest
callouts and Team information can be found on our website www.twsmrt.org.uk
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