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While on holiday in the Scottish Highlands, I saw the Assynt Mountain Rescue team taking part in a training exercise which sparked my curiosity to have a closer look into their operations and rescue efforts in rural areas of Scotland.
Even during annual leave, it’s impossible to not see the world of blue lights everywhere I go. Whether noticing small disparities between Scottish and English ambulances and police cars, stumbling upon an Ordnance Survey map in the lodge we were staying in, or spotting Police Scotland Mountain Rescue trucks and Assynt Mountain Rescue vans near Quinag mountain, there’s always something happening in emergency services.
Naturally, I insisted on stopping the car to take some photographs, not just because the vehicles looked impressive against the mountain backdrop, but also because, can a journalist ever truly switch off from a potential story? Unfortunately, I couldn’t speak with any team members at the time, but later got the opportunity to speak with Ben Dyson, Medical Officer at Assynt Mountain Rescue.
In Scotland, there are 27 Mountain Rescue teams, divided by regions due to the country’s size. Assynt Mountain Rescue team is the most northerly on the mainland, while another team covers the Outer Hebrides. Currently, Assynt Mountain Rescue has 36 members, including six probationers in their first year. Ben has been with the team for almost six years, serving as medical officer for two years.
Fortunately, all the vehicles I saw that day weren’t there for an incident but for the team’s monthly training session which is held at different locations to hone their skills and address different aspects of their operations. The session that I drove past was focused on understanding the anatomy of a call-out.
Ben explained that the team looked at the intricate process of how a call-out is initiated, including the behind-the-scenes activities that occur in the back office beforehand. In collaboration with the Police Scotland Highlands and Islands team, a simulated real-time call-out scenario was conducted on Quinag.
“This exercise involved the placement of three simulated casualties on the hill, which the team had to locate and rescue. Through this hands-on experience, the team was able to reinforce their understanding of the call-out process and enhance their operational readiness.”
Collaborating with Police Scotland
Like all Scottish mountain rescue teams, Assynt operate under the authority of Police Scotland. When a 999 call is made, it goes to Police Scotland, who then deploy mountain rescue as needed. Ben explained that in recent years, especially in the Borders area, there’s been a development of police teams with a specific interest in mountain rescue. The Police Highlands and Islands team was formed about 18 months ago, drawing mostly from police officers with a passion for mountain rescue. They have assembled their own vehicles and resources, which adds to the overall capabilities in the Assynt region.
“During the recent training session, we had the opportunity to collaborate with them for the first time. We ran an exercise on Quinag to familiarise ourselves with their resources and capabilities while allowing them to get to know us better.
“One significant difference between us is that they cover the entire Highlands and Islands region, a huge portion of North and West Scotland. This area encompasses six or seven mountain rescue teams, but with fewer officers available due to their primary duties, their availability can sometimes be limited. However, in large-scale search operations, having more boots on the ground greatly enhances our capabilities.”
Volunteering to save lives
Everyone involved with the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, as well as the majority of mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers who dedicate their time freely to this important work. In his day job, Ben is self-employed as an environmental consultant, primarily focusing on waste management. Additionally, he also works as a first aid instructor and mountain guide during the summer months, providing local guiding services.
Fortunately, Ben told me that Assynt Mountain Rescue team tends to experience relatively few incidents, a fact acknowledged cautiously. This is partly because of its geographical location in the far north and the limited number of significant peaks in their jurisdiction, known as Munros. There are 282 Munros in Scotland that tower over 3,000 feat and only four fall into the Assynt area.
Popular among hikers in the Scottish highlands, these peaks attract less mountain traffic compared to renowned areas like Ben Nevis, Ben Lomond or the Cairngorms, which often keep rescue teams occupied. However, Assynt Mountain Rescue has its own challenges, being located on the North Coast 500 tourist route draws a number of visitors to the region during the summer months.
The team cover an area of around 7,500 sqkm. To put that into perspective, it’s 4.5 times the area of Skye or Greater London, and about 10 per cent the total area of Scotland. It’s also extremely rural and rugged as you’d expect in the Scottish Highlands.
“We’ve had instances where they’ve had to mobilise teams from all over Scotland, along with dogs and helicopters, but even then, it can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. There was a recent case in the Glencoe area, which despite being a smaller area, presented difficulties due to heavy traffic. In such cases, drones and AI technology have proven invaluable, though it’s still a massive task, especially given the vastness of the region.”
I asked Ben if he could run me through a typical call-out and he explained that most incidents are usually either a search for a missing person or a response to someone injured on a hike.
“In the latter case, where someone is injured or lost, there’s often a need for a search to ensure we have accurate location information. We receive information about these incidents through a phone call from Police Scotland to one of our call-out managers. They start by gathering as much detail as possible, such as the nature of the problem, the person’s identity and their location.
“We use various tools to confirm their whereabouts, and if possible, we speak directly to the person involved to gather more information. Sometimes, the situation can be resolved over the phone, especially if the person is just lost. In these cases, we might provide them with directions to safely descend the hill. These incidents are diverse, but fortunately we don’t have many of them. For instance, in an average year, we handle fewer than 20 call-outs, unlike teams in the Lake District, which has had 30 incidents since January.”
Technology
Similar to most search and rescue teams, drones have proven to be an invaluable resource for Assynt Mountain Rescue, the team has six trained pilots within its ranks, which Ben told me is quite uncommon.
However, like many technological advancements, their rapid evolution presents challenges. While the Assynt team has been donated drones, Ben said that keeping up with the latest capabilities can be challenging.
“We’ve become keenly aware of their limitations, as we can’t fly them in rainy conditions or winds exceeding 25 knots. So we’re often restricted when we can deploy them which reduces the number of available days for their use. Despite these challenges, drones offer many benefits, their cameras and thermal imaging capabilities are only improving and continue to enhance our search and rescue efforts.
“While we haven’t yet achieved a successful find using drones in real-world scenarios, we’ve come close and there is a lot of potential. Drones have also proved great in technical rescues, particularly in assessing difficult-to-reach locations where traditional methods may not be practical.
“Another vital tool we utilise is a software package called SARCALL, which allows us to have seamless integration with other emergency services, particularly Police Scotland and HM Coastguard. This integration is particularly beneficial as we often collaborate closely with Coastguard helicopters during operations.”
Ben touched on how technology has advanced since he joined the team, the most notable change being the shift from analog to digital technology, particularly in how the team handle call-outs. Initially, it relied on analog radios and traditional methods like text messages or phone calls to initiate a call-out.
However, with the introduction of tools like WhatsApp and SARCALL, the need for a dedicated call-out officer has changed. These digital platforms streamline the coordination process, allowing the team to instantly communicate with team members, see their availability and ensure everyone is on the same page.
“Managing a call-out has become much more efficient with these digital tools. The best part is that these technological advancements haven’t come with extortionate costs, making them accessible and practical for our team.”
Another notable advancement Ben mentioned is the evolution of phone technology, particularly in navigation. While the team still utilise Garmin GPS units, the improvement of navigation apps like Outdoor Active and ViewRanger, along with general improvements in iOS maps, has revolutionised how it navigates during operations.
While not as precise as dedicated GPS devices, these apps are more than adequate for our needs, often providing accuracy within a 10-metre radius, which is sufficient for locating casualties in most scenarios.
Challenges
The financial aspect is undoubtedly one of the team’s biggest challenges, and it’s something Ben is increasingly focused on addressing.
“Unfortunately government funding for mountain rescue teams, like many public sector allocations, is dwindling rapidly. The funding we receive primarily comes from Police Scotland, who receive a lump sum that needs to be divided among all 26 mountain rescue teams in Scotland. This doesn’t leave us with much to cover our operational expenses, such as mileage reimbursements and base heating.
The team also receive some funding from Scottish Mountain Rescue, but these two sources are the team’s only resources for operational costs. Ben explained that it’s challenging to secure funding for ongoing expenses like these, as grant funding tends to prioritise capital items rather than day-to-day operational needs.
“We’ve been fortunate to receive generous donations from philanthropic individuals and wind farm initiatives, which have funded significant purchases like vehicles and drones. However, sustaining our day-to-day operations requires a more consistent income stream.”
Ben said Assynt Mountain Rescue is considering adopting a model similar to other emergency services, such as Air Ambulance and RNLI, by encouraging the public to contribute a small monthly donation.
Despite financial challenges, Assynt Mountain Rescue team has received support from the local community which Ben described as instrumental in enhancing the team’s capabilities.
To read similar articles, check out our Frontline channel.
For further related reading, check out our spotlight on what it takes to be a mountain rescue volunteer here.
Brendan O’Neill, National Drone Officer for Mountain Rescue England and Wales, also shared how they are a vital tool for locating people and improving operational response in remote places. Read the full article here.
