UPPER WHARFEDALE FELL RESCUE ASSOCIATION Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (U.W.F.R.A.) handles mountain and cave rescue in the eastern part of the Yorkshire Dales. Formed in 1948, it is the third oldest cave rescue team in the U.K. It's patch covers the eastern part of the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale, the eastern part of North Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire and West Yorkshire and includes some of the most challenging caves in the United Kingdom such as the notorious Dowbergill Passage, scene of many rescues are cavers get lost in the 3D maze which links Dow Cave and Providence Pot. In 1967 they were involved in the rescue attempt at Mossdale Caverns when six cavers were killed by flooding. In 1992 they rescued two cavers from Sleets Gill Cave who had to be dived out after becoming trapped by rising water. This was the first major use of diving gear to rescue non-divers in the U.K. Sid Perou's film, "Hard Decisions at Sleets Gill" which was shown on Tyne Tees Television the following year documents this difficult rescue and is available on D.V.D., the proceeds of which go to U.W.F.R.A. U.W.F.R.A. will assist in other areas during major rescues or seek help from other cave rescue groups during serious incidents on their patch. In March 2012 they attended their 1000th callout. |