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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. As you may have seen, on Wednesday evening, Andy Morgan - Mayor of Bolton - very graciously accepted an invitation to act as an exercise casualty for our weekly training session.
The scenario was, having tripped from a path, he’d suffered a painful leg injury and was unable to move. The informant, his walking companion, had gone for help but could not remember his precise location. With a vague description of the location, and after a brief search of some woodland, team members located the exercise casualty.
Following a thorough assessment, team members determined that the casualty had suffered a suspected break of the right tibia. The limb was immobilised, the casualty loaded on to a mountain rescue stretcher, then conveyed back to our control vehicle.
Our exercise ended with a debrief from our Team Leader and a message of thanks from the Mayor.
Andy, thanks for being a good sport and playing the part very convincingly, and all the best for your final few weeks as Mayor.
More than 12 years on, and Christine Baldwin from Asda’s Astley Bridge store is still supporting our team in her role as Community Champion.
A few weeks ago, she once again donated some much needed groceries and cleaning items to help keep the team going and keep our bases clean.
Thanks, Christine!
The team are at Tesco in Little Lever today. Why not come along, meet the team, and learn about the work that we do?
One of our Assistant Team Leaders, Paul, also serves as the Statistics Officer for Mountain Rescue England & Wales.
Recently he helped in the gathering and compilation of data that was used in a very interesting article in The Guardian about social media and inadequate mapping apps (street maps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps) leading to an increase in Mountain Rescue callouts. You can read the article by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.
It’s fantastic that ever more young people are enjoying the outdoors, and if you’re new to outdoor adventures (whatever your age) it’s important to think ‘What do I need to get the most from my day out and get home unscathed?’
Things to consider are:
. Appropriate footwear and clothing - carry waterproofs and warm clothing in your rucksack, even if the weather looks fine;
. have good mapping software on your fully-charged phone (OS, Outdooractive, etc.), and a fully-charged power-bank for emergencies;
. learn to use, and carry, a paper map and compass;
. take food and water sufficient for your day, and some extra in case of emergency;
. carry a head torch with spare batteries (even in summer) in case you end up out longer than expected.
. learn and build the skills before you go - a grade 3 scramble shouldn’t be your first foray into the hills!
For more information, there is a link to our website. www.boltonmrt.org.uk/advice/
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/16/record-high-british-mountain-rescue-callouts-social-media-m...
Social media and map apps blamed for record rise in mountain rescue callouts
www.theguardian.com
Exclusive: Number of 18- to 24-year-olds needing help in England and Wales doubles in five years as services take calls every day in 2024 We will have a post to follow, but below is a great insight from the point of view of last night’s exercise casualty.
Our exercise casualty for tonight!Dress down mayor tonight! Apparently I am going to be rescued from the moors by our amazing Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, more to follow!!
#TeamBolton
#togetherstronger
Mayor of Bolton
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. Did you catch Mountain Rescue England & Wales’ Chief Executive, Mike Park, on BBC Breakfast this morning? If not, there’s still time to find the programme on iPlayer. It’s around 3h19 from the start.
Mike discussed the importance of preparedness, thoughtfulness, and safety whilst enjoying the beautiful outdoor environments our country has to offer.
He also stressed the toll that call-outs can take on the unpaid volunteers who make up our mountain rescue teams.
The eagle-eyed viewer may even have spotted a photo of some of Bolton MRT’s vehicles!
Like all mountain rescue teams in England and Wales, Bolton MRT is fully voluntary. Our team costs around £52k per year to run, which means we have to raise an average of £1,000 per week to maintain the vital service we provide. Replacing essential kit can bring our annual costs up to a whopping £65k!
If you would like to help our work by donating, you can do so by clicking the donate button.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. If you’re out around the Rivington area over the Easter weekend, you’ve a fair chance of meeting some of our team members.
On Good Friday, we are providing safety cover and fundraising at Rivington Hall Barn.
On Saturday, we are providing standby rescue cover for Horwich RMI Harriers’ Rivington Pike Races.
We understand it’s likely to be a very busy weekend in all the popular outdoor spots within our operational area, and we would like to remind everyone to park responsibly when enjoying the fantastic countryside on offer. Remember, you may depend on an emergency vehicle being able to access gates, etc.
From all at Bolton MRT, have a great long weekend.
From Lancashire Police:
"Whilst we have now exhausted all search enquiries and so for the moment the searches have been stood down, we will of course continue to act on any new information reported to us.
Brian’s family have been made aware of this and are fully understanding of the position.
The family have expressed their appreciation of the extensive searches carried out by police and all the agencies involved, and to the members of the public who kindly offered their help and assistance in looking for Brian.
We and the other organisations involved in the search may conduct re-searches in the area to account for changes in environmental conditions or if new information comes to light."
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. Our capability to use four wheel drive vehicles to access more remote locations in our operational area means we can reach casualties more quickly. Last weekend three team members undertook off-road driver training delivered by Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation. A classroom theory session on Friday evening enabled delegates to understand the operation of our vehicles and their technical capabilities, different ground conditions and hazards to be aware of. This was followed by a day of practical skills training in the sunshine on the off-road course at Myerscough College. The team would like to thank MPSRO, Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT), Trevor the instructor and Myerscough College for an excellent course.
For two whole days, this weekend of the 5th and 6th of April, over twenty operational team members became hard-working students. After studying numerous Wednesday evenings prior to this, and also online, this was the intense push to get us all ready for our forthcoming tri-annual Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT) practical and theory exams. For some this will be a renewal of their qualification, while others are taking it for the first time.
We were ably taught by Alistair and Sam, Health Care Professionals from within the team, as well as our Medical Lead David. The course consisted of lectures, demonstrations, hands-on practicals, and quizzes. There was also a wide variety of outdoor scenarios to get to grips with - both medical and trauma. These accurately simulated the kinds of incidents qualified RRMTs will be asked to deal with for real.
We wish all those team members who are committed to taking these demanding RRMT exams the very best of luck!
At 12.20 today we were contacted by North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust who asked us to attend an incident involving a 34 year old female who had sustained a serious lower leg injury in the vicinity of the Liverpool Castle folly in Rivington. While team vehicles were mobilising from our bases, two team members (who were very nearby, in Horwich) headed directly to the incident. North West Ambulance Service paramedics were already on scene. The Blackpool-based North West Air Ambulance landed in an adjacent clearing shortly after our team members arrived.
Our team members assisted the paramedics in their treatment of the casualty. Once the casualty was safely within the ambulance, our team members departed.
We wish the casualty a rapid and full recovery.
(Library pic 📸)
Last Tuesday at 12:28 North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust requested our assistance with an incident near to Rivington Hall Barn.
A 76 year old male was reported to have tripped whilst walking and had sustained a head wound. An ambulance crew was on scene with the patient.
On our arrival, the casualty was conveyed in a team vehicle a short distance to the waiting ambulance.
We wish the casualty a quick recovery.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. The team has put in a massive amount of backbreaking work overnight to help everyone trying to complete the Three Towers route.
Darwen Tower and Rivington Pike have been painstakingly relocated next to Holcombe Tower, so that locals might visit all three towers in one go.
We've rescued a few walkers on the 32-mile Three Towers route over the years, so to make life easier on the public and on us, we've decided to move all three towers next to each other.
As a result of this effort, the Three Towers route is now a 100m sprint.
Yesterday, mountain rescue resources were once again mobilised by Lancashire Police to assist with the ongoing extensive search for Brian Fletcher, who went missing on Saturday 22nd March and is believed to be in the Tockholes area.
We were joined by colleagues from Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (Official) Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT), Rossendale & Pendle Mountain Rescue Team, Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, Cheshire Search and Rescue, North West Police Underwater Search & Marine Unit, and a specialist search dog from SARDA Southern Scotland.
Members of the public who drove along the A675 Belmont Road between 1:30pm and 2:30pm on Saturday 22nd March are encouraged to send dashcam footage to Lancashire Constabulary, by calling police on 101 and quoting log 1544 of 22nd March 2025.
At 23:42 on Saturday 22nd March the team was contacted by Lancashire Police who were requesting our assistance with the search for an 80 year old missing male, Brian Fletcher, with Police having concern for his welfare. Brian is a keen walker and has a number of routes he regularly walks in the Tockholes area, including Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir and Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir. His car was found parked on the A675 at Calf Hey Bridge.
16 team members from Bolton MRT and Rossendale & Pendle Mountain Rescue Team searched overnight in foggy, wet conditions, covering Darwen Moor, Roddlesworth Plantations, and Great Hill. They were joined by a drone team from @lancashirefrs
As daylight broke on Sunday further resources arrived from Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT) along with a HM Coastguard Search and Rescue aircraft and Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England.
The search for Brian continues today, Monday, encompassing parts of Darwen Moor, Withnell Moor and the Roddlesworth Plantations.
Brian is 5ft 8, slim, with grey hair and is believed to be wearing a brown cap, blue top and blue trousers. Brian also has a small scar on his cheek from a recent procedure.
For any sightings of Brian, please call 999 immediately and ask for Police. Any information which could help us locate Brian, please contact Police on 101 – quoting Lancashire Constabulary log 1544 of 22nd March 2025.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. The team has received some fantastic news from the children of Year 3 at St. Mary's Primary School, Victoria Road, Horwich. Some time ago we learned that the children were doing a project about mountains. Team members Paul and Mark visited them to give an illustrated talk about the work of our team. The class decided to do what they could to support Bolton MRT. Since then, four children in the class have been so enthused by the project that, between them, they raised £550! In order to raise this, the children walked up Winter Hill or Rivington Pike (a distance of about 5.5 miles) enough times for the total height gained by all the children to exceed the height of Mount Everest (29,030ft)!
On behalf of the whole team, Paul and Mark would like to say thank you for this amazing support. They very much enjoyed visiting the children. Thank you also to the children's class teacher, Miss Eaton, for making it all happen.