Twenty-five Midlands Cave Rescue volunteers have been awarded the Jubilee Medal in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The medals were presented by the Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, Simon Hardiman, on the iconic bridge at Ironbridge Gorge.
Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation is made up of local, experienced cavers and mine explorers who voluntarily help others who may be lost or injured in the caves and mines of the West Midlands, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Thames Valley.
The team’s remit for rescue extends to any underground void, excluding coal mines, and also covers crag rescue and land search. Team members are all volunteers, on call around the clock and the organisation is funded entirely by donations.
In the last few years, as well as rescuing people and animals locally, team members played a key part in the cave rescue of the young football team in Thailand and the 54-hour cave rescue in South Wales last year, the longest recorded underground stretcher carry in the UK.
Picture courtesy of Giga Images.
