“It is worth pointing out that Cornwall Search and Rescue Team have been approached and designated by the British Cave Rescue Organisation, as being THE primary organisation whom the Police, and Cornwall Fire Brigade call and liase with in the event of underground and mine rescue being needed.

In doing so, Cornwall Search and Rescue Team employ techniques that have been designated and approved by our governing body, and we remain confident that we are able to also call upon the extensive knowledge and experience of some of the mine exploration groups throughout the County.

Our appointment as lead organisation has put a few noses out of joint, and we remain keen to encourage others to join with us, and work with us to best achieve our common aims.

The comments effectively anonymously expressed above regarding our competence are at best unhelpful, and I would encourage individuals holding such views to engage with us towards the common good.

Tim Hughes
Chairman
Cornwall search and Rescue Team”

“It's a very good job that it didn't happen in Cornwall. The decent mine rescue organisation was obliterated by some muppets in the police. The upshot being that the Fire Brigade do it, as long as their risk assessments are met (most often not) and if they can't do it, the Rope Experts from the Cornwall Surface Rescue lot, which are likely to tangle themselves with their multiple ropes for starters and if that doesn't get them, they are likely to say "naaaa, the collar of that shaft is dodgy" or "gas meter says no". At some point someone's going to snuff it and some idiots on the council will probably say "seal it all up" in the name of elfansafety.

Well done to DCRO. Good job it hasn't happened in Cornwall. Put it this way, Cornish Cavers use members of the old rescue team as "call outs" as the new lot haven't got a clue. It's a fiasco and a disaster waiting to happen.”

“I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions clearly evident in some of these comments.

Firstly anyone trying any new activity that takes them out of their comfort zone should be congratulated. Caving is an exciting hobby that challenges the mind and the body. It is a sport where you depend and rely on each other for safety, working as a team. However as with any extreme activity accidents will occur or someone can be taken ill and the emergency services will be required.
Anyone who belongs to a club will be insured.
D.C.R.O. (Devon Cave Rescue Organisation) is a group of cavers set up by cavers for cavers and any other people that may require their assistance. Staffed entirely by volunteers from various caving clubs in Devon and relying more or less completely on donations. Not only do they have the standard skills and fitness required to pursue their hobby of caving but they also regularly train in the latest rescue techniques. They also train with other voluntary rescue organisations such as Dartmoor Rescue Group and the emergency services.

Apart from the obvious service of helping fellow cavers and outdoor enthusiasts trying the sport for the first time they also are vital in some search and rescue situations. These have included assisting in missing persons searches on Dartmoor for someone who may have fallen down a mineshaft to searches in confined or restricted spaces where roped access is required. Other callouts such as animal search and rescue would be considered less serious by some but the valuable assistance is certainly appreciated by the owners. In other parts of the UK both underground and surface volunteer rescue teams have assisted in major incidents such as plane and rail crashes.

The emergency services are excellent in what they do but they can't afford to specialise in everything so they call on the services of volunteers such as the RNLI, DRG or DCRO plus many others. The enthusiasm of all such volunteer organisations should be applauded. The so called big society has been around for many years well before the phrase was coined by a government.

For those that are interested check out the following links

DCRO (Devon Cave Rescue Organisation)
http://tinyurl.com/3z2obhe

DRG (Dartmoor Rescue Group)
http://tinyurl.com/3c2mefl

PCG (Plymouth Caving Group)
http://tinyurl.com/3o2q8j7

DSS (Devon Speleological Society)
http://tinyurl.com/43o4bqh”

“A man is trapped in a cave and the settee warriors get their podgy fingers typing (probably the most exercise they've had all week) to whine, undoubtedly they will cost the NHS hundreds of thousands in their obese lives.
Get some perspective; Devon had 7,633 road traffic collisions in the year to April 2011 with 44 fatalities and 504 seriously injured, perhaps we should make the driver (or their family) at fault pay the full cost of the collision. The HSE puts the total cost of a RTC fatality at £1.5 million. Of course that figure assumes they would have actually contributed to society in their lives, you know had a job, paid taxes etc.
In reality this incident is insignificant cost wise and if we go down the insurance paying for the incident route car insurance is going to increases considerably.”

“So define "particularly dangerous activities". Stepping out of your house to go to a flower arranging night school increases your risk compared with staying in and watching X Factor.

What about smokers, should they be made to take out insurance against cancer care? How about drinkers? People who eat fast food? Overweight people?

So who decides? A big highly paid Government quango perhaps?”

“There is a case for saying people who partake in particularly dangerous activities should take out insurance against such eventualities.”

“Isn't it pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcaniconiosis :P”

“Smarty C, hear hear!! Completely agree!”

“Ok, so where do you draw the line? You're at an art class and trip over your easel, should you be made to pay for any treatment as you chose to be there? You go for a walk and fall off the kerb and twist you ankle and can't walk, ambulance called, you going to foot (ahem) the bill because it wouldn't have happened if you had stayed home? What if you smoke, should you pay for related treatment? What if you drink alcohol and fall over, pay? How can they prove you wouldn't have fallen over anyway?

We have a national health service and resue services which we all pay for and which no one should have to pay for as we've already contributed (other than insurance companies perhaps, but that's still paid for by us).

Lets throw in another question for the couch potatoes. If the cave accident man has been paying taxes for the last ten years and needs rescuing, and you've been sat on benefits watching Jeremy Kyle for ten years, and you're both in need of rescuing for different reasons, which of the two of you is really more deserving of free assistance..?”

“If people want to partake in dangerous activities like caving, they should pay for it out of their own pockets and that includes rescue, if that's needed! The fire service is already suffering with budget cuts and can ill afford helping people who have put themselves into dangerous situations by choice! New Zealand has the right idea...the coastal rescue services, send you a bill, if you or your boat needs rescuing...so there isn't a drain on the tax payer. That should be the same if you do caving.

....and yes mcspredder miners have stumbled upon things underground...they are called Pneumoconiosis and Emphysema!”