Over the course of the weekend a paddler got into difficulty on the Kisdon Force section of the River Swale, resulting in a need for medical help and helicopter extraction.

Thankfully here in the UK we have volunteers and paid professionals who can help us get out of sticky situations.

Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), the ambulance service and the UK Coastguard rescue helicopter team were on hand.

Image courtesy of Richard Barker.

I think it’s important to recognise that Mountain Rescue Teams in the UK operate on a charitable basis and need our support to ensure that the provision remains in place. Please support them if you can. Most if not all have links on the websites with ways in which you can help.