Macclesfield MP David Rutley is supporting Mountain Rescue Teams and highlighting the need for walkers to be more aware of greater risks in the hills as the nights draw in.
David met volunteers from Mountain and Cave Rescue in Parliament to help promote the important work they do. The Macclesfield constituency is served by both the Kinder and Buxton Mountain Rescue Teams. Members of the teams are often called on to assist injured climbers, hikers, bikers, fell runners and even the occasional wayward sheep!
As part of their invaluable work, the volunteers also assist the police in non-mountain searches in the North West and Midlands. This may include: water rescue, missing person searches and ambulance support in severe weather, including patient transport and emergency food drops.
David is a keen mountaineer and vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mountain Rescue. He is particularly keen to highlight the teams’ work, which is especially important at this time of year. As the clocks have recently gone back, it is easy for hill walkers to forget that the evenings have drawn in, leading some to find themselves stranded in upland areas.
The Macclesfield MP said, “Mountaineering, climbing and hill walking are great activities that can all be enjoyed safely with appropriate care. At this time of year, it is important to remember that the days are shorter and to prepare accordingly. Mountain Rescue teams are run by volunteers and it is important that resources are focussed on real emergencies, so we must do all we can to avoid preventable accidents.”