Midnight rescue on Cleveland Way near Staithes
A multi-agency operation was launched in the early hours of bank holiday Monday (May 25), after a vulnerable person was reported missing in the coastal area between Staithes and Runswick Bay.
Staithes Coastguard joined Whitby Coastguard, Redcar Coastguard Rescue Team, Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, North Yorkshire Police and NPAS 73 (Police Helicopter) to search for the missing person shortly after midnight.
Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team deployed both Land Rovers and the Control Vehicle to Runswick Bay Bank Top Car Park and were joined by other members of the team in their own vehicles.
The first members to arrive were quickly deployed to do a hasty search of the Runswick Bay area with personnel from HM Coastguard.
Another party was tasked to search the Cleveland Way from Runswick Bay towards Staithes.
The team was also preparing the drone for its first operational flight when they were informed that the Police helicopter (NPAS) would be on scene.
As the team were deploying a further party to Port Mulgrave in a Land Rover, information came from NPAS that a heat source had been detected on the Cleveland Way.
The four person party on the Cleveland Way were soon on scene to confirm they had found the person.
The Land Rover was redeployed to get as close as possible to the incident site.
The required kit from the Land Rover was walked approximately 400m to the site.
The person was assessed and treated by the team, and then loaded onto the stretcher in the casualty bag and wheeled back to the Rover with assistance from HM Coastguard and North Yorkshire Police.
The stretcher was loaded into the stripped out Rover and transferred approximately 850m to the waiting ambulance in Hinderwell.
A spokesperson for Clevelan Mountain Rescue Team said: “This incident was a great example of multiple agencies working together to achieve the best possible outcome, finding the person alive.
“We wish the casualty all the best.”
All services were stood down at 4.10am, just as the sun began to rise.
If you see somebody in difficulty along the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.