For 75 years UWFRA has been rescuing people and animals from the caves, mineshafts, fells and crags of Wharfedale, Nidderdale, Littondale and Mid-Airedale. Our rescue services remain free to all who need us, day or night and are financed entirely by fundraising events and donations.
To call the rescue Team
Call 999, ask for the Police,
Ask the Police for Cave or Fell rescue,
Say where you are, give description and grid reference
Describe the problem
Stay near a phone or where your mobile works.
<b>The Wharfedale Three Peaks Challenge</b>
Thank you to all who took part in our annual Wharfedale Three Peaks challenge in 2024 . We look forward to seeing you again on the last Saturday of June 2025. Entries are now open. If you feel that you would like to donate to the team please go to the link, Support UWFRA, at the bottom of this page. Many thanks
13th Jan 2025: Buckden Gill Falls
The team was called to assist three females, one with a suspected twisted ankle, and all very cold at Buckden Pike next to the waterfall. As a small group of team members climbed above the first waterfall to try and locate the casualties, search dog Storm moved ahead of the group to conduct his own search under the guidance of his handler. Storm very quickly picked up a strong scent and signalled to his handler (by way of a bark) the start of his find sequence then ran back off to the casualties, returning again and barking excitedly to clearly indicate he had located the casualties. This is Storm's first operational find having been qualified for 14 months following grading in Wales in November 2023 and the search time was significantly reduced by virtue of Storm being able to cover significantly more ground and faster than his two-legged team members! Having located the casualties the team medics assessed their condition and all three casualties felt able to be walked off the hill with assistance and encouragement from team members. Conditions were challenging with snow and ice underfoot, steep sections of ground to negotiate and low visibility as night fell. Once reaching the safety of the car park the casualties conditions were reassessed and made warm before being handed over to the Ambulance Service. Following the assessment the casualties were able to make their onward journey home and we wish them a speedy recovery from their ordeal. The incident was concluded in just over 4 hours and involved 17 UWFRA team members supported by 6 Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team members and search dog...
