Catch up TV

Series 2: 7. Specialist Skills

Building connections with casualties of all ages and backgrounds is vital for Eryri’s rescue agencies. Those skills really come into play when a family of six get lost in the mist. Doctors Mike and Laura had planned a hike with their twin eight-year-old girls and Laura’s parents, climbing Cnicht - nicknamed ‘the Welsh Matterhorn’ for its distinctive shape. But when bad weather closes in, they become hopelessly lost trying to find the path back down and realise they need to call mountain rescue for help. The children, parents and grandparents are wet, tired and starting to get very cold, so the rescue team needs to get all three generations to safety as soon as possible. And when they get there, they discover the family has come up with an ingenious way of taking shelter. \n\nMaintaining close bonds with the local community is also incredibly important for the volunteers. Local farmers will often allow teams access to their farm tracks and fields, which can be a lifesaver. So when a call for help comes from a farmer whose overenthusiastic sheepdog has gone over a cliff, the team doesn’t hesitate. Despite it being pitch black, the team must set up a rope system to abseil down the quarry to the ledge where the dog is stuck. But reaching stranded pup Gale is only part of the challenge. Can team member Esther coax her four-legged casualty close enough to get her into the animal rescue bag? \n\nWith rescue teams busier than ever before, being able to call on other agencies can make all the difference. Heavy snowfall on Crib Goch brings people who are out for an adventure - but not everyone comes equipped for the hazardous conditions, putting pressure on an already-stretched mountain rescue team. Thankfully, a team from the RAF mountain rescue are on a training exercise and happy to pitch in. Which is just as well, as they seem to be collecting more and more casualties as this rescue goes on.\n\n

Source: BBC 2