North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation

10/03/2026

CALLOUT: 6th March 2026

At 12:32 on Friday, North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation was alerted by North Wales Police to a casualty underground in the Cwm Penmachno area following a significant fall.

Given the potential seriousness of the incident, the team was placed on a full call-out.

Once reached, the casualty was assessed underground by one of the team’s Remote Rescue Medical Technicians.

We were supported on the surface by South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team , while the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) of NHS Wales deployed a critical care team and air ambulance to Cwm Penmachno, alongside officers from North Wales Police.

A Search and Rescue helicopter with winch capability was also requested to assist with the evacuation.

The casualty was brought to the surface and transferred to a suitable winching site before being airlifted to Cwm Penmachno, where they were transferred to the air ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

This incident also marked the first operational deployment of the team’s new rescue vehicle, kindly donated by Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation.

The team was stood down at 16:47.

We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

02/02/2026

We’re delighted to share some fantastic news with our followers. Thanks to the generosity of our colleagues at Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation, we are now the proud custodians of a shiny red Mitsubishi L200.

DCRO have recently purchased a rescue converted Toyota Hilux and in the true spirit of cavers helping cavers, very kindly offered the L200 to us knowing it would be well used within our large operational area. Much of our patch covers challenging mountain terrain and this vehicle will be a valuable asset in helping us respond more effectively to callouts, which in turn will have a positive effect on casualty outcome.

The photos show the handover at DCRO’s Buxton base, with DCRO Controllers Pete and Lee and our newly co-opted Vehicle Officer Rob, who had the pleasure of driving the L200 back across the border to it's new home in North Wales.

Our sincere thanks go to everyone at DCRO for their generosity and continued support. We’re incredibly grateful and proud to be part of such a supportive rescue community.

You can donate to support North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation at https://www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/3130247

01/02/2026

Last weekend, 3 team members attended a Remote Rescue Medical Technician training weekend, delivered by SSSART at Trawsfynydd. Already competent first aiders, this course trained them in more advanced techniques such as administration of IM pain relief, use of airway adjuncts and a variety of other skills we never hope to use.

After two days of full on learning, all 3 then deployed to our Sunday afternoon callout.

Then Tuesday was our quarterly medical training at Ysbyty Gwynedd, where trainee and qualified RRMTs and the team Healthcare Professionals meet to keep skills up to date. We had a productive session reviewing what kit we carry when we deploy and how that affects our casualty outcomes.

Many thanks to South Snowdonia for organising the weekend and good luck to our trainees for their assessment in March!

You can donate to support North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation at:

https://www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/3130247

26/01/2026

CALLOUT: 25.01.26

Shortly before 15:00 on Sunday the team received a message from North Wales Police of a casualty in Croesor mine. The report indicated that they had sustained injuries following a fall onto rock after one of the in-situ zip wires snapped as they were setting off to traverse a pool. Part of the casualty’s group were out at the Croesor entrance having exited to make the call. The team was quickly put on stand-by whilst more information was gathered, with a full team callout being issued not long later. For this area we usually call on the assistance of Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team for surface support but they were already fully occupied covering for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. Consequently we called on the assistance of South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team to provide surface support.

As the expectation was for a full stretcher extraction via the Croesor entrance both teams rendezvoused at the Croesor carpark. A helicopter was requested to ferry some team members and kit up to the Croesor mine entrance, with the rest to then follow on foot.
Before the helicopter had chance to head back off to Caernarfon, we had a call from NWP that the casualty had managed to make their own way out and was now at the Rhosydd entrance to the mine but needed assistance to progress any further. The helicopter was duly dispatched to collect the casualty who was then flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. Meanwhile the two groups of NWCRO/SSSART team members who had been airlifted up the hill made their way to Rhosydd to collect the remainder of the casualty’s party. All then made their way down to Tanygrisiau where the groups cars were located. Team members were then ferried back round to their own cars at Croesor.

The team was stood down at 20:00.

You can donate to support North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation at https://www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/3130247

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=M8NQWGF2CFKA4

31/12/2025

Our thoughts are with our Cave Rescue family in Slovenia and everyone involved as they deal with a difficult on-going rescue.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MNmYVQ9At/

25/12/2025

Nadolig Llawen – Merry Christmas from North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation to all of our followers and supporters.

While Christmas is a time of joy for many, we also know that this time of year can be difficult, lonely, or overwhelming for others. If you’re finding things hard, please know you’re not alone, and support is available.

If you need someone to talk to:

• Mind - mind.org.uk
• Samaritans – Samaritans.org 116 123 (free, 24/7)
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - thecalmzone.net
• Papyrus – Prevention of Young Su***de - papyrus-uk.org
• NHS 111 – for urgent mental health support
• In an emergency, always call 999
Be kind to yourselves and to each other. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

09/12/2025

Met Office weather warnings for Wind and Rain in the hills across UK tomorrow (Tue 9 Dec). Check local forecasts if heading out, and latest weather warnings here: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings

26/11/2025

This week's training involved a casualty evacuation where the team had to negotiate an extremely "snug" vertical rift. So snug in fact that our full stretcher and CAS-BAG (a big warm sleeping bag to keep the casualty warm) simply wouldn't fit.

The photo shows the casualty being hauled up a pitch on our spinal board, with one of our medical experts overseeing the operation. Just as safe as using the full stretcher, but a little less comfortable for the casualty.

North Wales is just as stunning below ground as it is on the surface, however it's a lot muddier and a little less roomy in parts.

Now, whose turn is it to clean the kit?

North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation provides an underground search and rescue service across North Wales.

All team members are volunteers, and we depend on your financial donations for which we are very grateful.

You can contribute through:
https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3130247

25/10/2025

We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to the organisers of Hidden Earth national caving conference for their generous donation to NWCRO.

The proceeds came from the sale of raffle tickets where the prize was an incredible caving light donated by Scurion, beautifully mounted on a helmet kindly donated by Starless River. Thank you all for your kindness and thank you to everyone who bought tickets.

North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation provides an underground search and rescue service across North Wales.

All team members are volunteers, and we depend on your financial donations for which we are very grateful.

You can contribute through:
https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3130247

04/10/2025

10/09/2025

To celebrate National Emergency Services Day, we swapped last night's underground training session out for an above ground location with a beautiful view. The training was a refresher on rescuing a casualty who is suspended 'mid rope'.

North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation provides an underground search and rescue service across North Wales.

All team members are volunteers, and we depend on your financial donations for which we are very grateful.

You can contribute through:
https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3130247

22/08/2025

For this week's training, our Communications Officer ran a session on some of the different systems we can use to communicate with our underground team during a rescue.

We have a mixture of cutting-edge technology, allowing us to speak and send text messages through the ground, and circa 1950s ex-military equipment which we still often use, depending on the situation we are dealing with and the location.

The upkeep of this equipment costs us a lot of money, but our Comms equipment is just as important to us on a rescue, as our ropes and stretchers are.

North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation provides an underground search and rescue service across North Wales.

All team members are volunteers, and we depend on your financial donations for which we are very grateful.

You can contribute through:
https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3130247