Seven school boys had to be rescued from Dartmoor by the police helicopter on Sunday, after becoming disorientated during Ten Tors training.
At 16:30 on Sunday afternoon the Police were contacted by a team of walkers practicing for the Ten Tors competition. The 7, 14-year-old boys from a school in Wiltshire had become disorientated in low cloud.
The boys, who were overdue in meeting up with their teachers, realised that they needed assistance and stopped walking in the worsening conditions. Local officers in a landrover commenced a search for the boys and later requested assistance from the Police Helicopter based at Exeter.
The helicopter crew searched the moor in the area of 'Hangingstone Hill' and located the boys safe and well near 'Great Kneeset'. As the conditions were deteriorating fast the helicopter lifted the boys and their kit from the moor, making 2 flights to and from Okehampton military camp, where they were reunited with their teachers.
Police have said that the incident is a timely reminder of the risks on Dartmoor,A representative said:
"With the annual Ten Tors event fastly approaching, this is a timely reminder that conditions on the moor can change very quickly. It is important that any walkers take appropriate precautions with regard to the kit they are carrying and ensuring their route card is left with a responsible person. In the event of getting lost, disorientated or injured, always remain together as a group."
Brigadier Piers Hankinson – Commander 43 (Wessex) Brigade & Director of Ten Tors said:
"I can confirm that an incident involving a team training for The Ten Tors Challenge 2013 occurred on Dartmoor Training Area at approximately 1500hrs yesterday (Sun 21st April 2013).
"The training weekend was an entirely appropriate school-led activity within the guidelines and procedures for Ten Tors training, which is the responsibility of schools and their team managers. With three weeks to go before the event on the weekend 11-12 May I would fully expect team managers to be encouraging greater self sufficiency to teams, provided they have achieved the required levels of competency. This is judgement for the school's team manager."
"In this case the team followed the correct safety procedures as laid down by the Army and local agencies such as the Police and Dartmoor Rescue Group. The team members made the correct decision to seek assistance from the civilian emergency services due to poor visibility."
"None of the team suffered any adverse affects."
"I am very pleased that our ethos of 'safety' was upheld."
