THE NORTH East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) team has revealed that it carried out a record number of rescues in 2021.

NEWSAR says it was asked to assist with a total of 94 incidents during last year.

These can be broken down to:

  • 56 Casualty rescues
  • 2 Animals
  • 27 Searches
  • 9 Water rescues

The NEWSAR team's latest rescue came on Monday, January 3 when they helped a woman who had sustained a leg injury on a hill above the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen.

Team members quickly reached the site and provided pain relief and splinting, before using a rope system to protect the stretcher on the steeper parts of the journey down to the road. The woman was then conveyed to hospital by private car.

NEWSAR provides the Police, Ambulance Service and local communities with a highly competent search and rescue capability that can be deployed swiftly, safely and effectively 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The volunteer team primarily covers the counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys.

It was originally formed in 1981 under the name Clwyd Rescue Team, changing to North East Wales Search And Rescue in 1994.

It costs approximately £25,000 a year to run the team – this covers fuel and repairs for its vehicles, protective equipment for team members, training courses and team equipment such as ropes, stretchers and more.

As NEWSAR is a Registered Charity the vast majority of that money is raised through grants, individual donations, legacies, street collections and collection tins.