Derby Telegraph

Mountain rescue team who found ‘Granny Pat’ get £1,160 vote of thanks

- By GARETH BUTTERFIEL­D

MORE than £1,000 has been raised for Derby Mountain Rescue Team after its volunteers helped to save the life of an 84-year-old woman who went missing for more than 30 hours.

Patricia Greatorex was found by the rescuers in a field a few miles from her home in Hulland Ward, bringing to an end a frantic search by dozens of local volunteers, along with police, search dogs and a helicopter.

Mrs Greatorex, affectiona­tely known by her family as “Granny Pat”, went out for a walk on Saturday, September

25 and was last seen on CCTV walking towards Ashbourne.

But the sprightly pensioner, who suffers from dementia, had not been found by Sunday afternoon, despite the efforts of volunteers with drones and specialist units – so Derby Mountain Rescuers were called in.

The team, along with a search dog called Bolt, from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, arrived around noon and within a few hours had found Mrs Greatorex around 150 yards off a footpath, close to a farm in Intakes Lane.

She had lost a shoe, but was otherwise safe and well. She was taken by a mountain rescue stretcher to an ambulance, which took her to hospital for a check-up, but was discharged the same day.

Derby Mountain Rescue Team’s David O’Sullivan explained on the team’s blog: “There was a large amount of social media activity including a dedicated Facebook group, this was mirrored by a large public presence in the area with many local residents out looking for the missing person on foot or in vehicles.

“I’m extremely happy to say that the missing lady was found safe and well by team members within the search area.

“As she had been out for 30 hours she was handed over to East Midlands Ambulance Service and transporte­d to hospital for further treatment.

“Subsequent­ly, the family and friends have started a gofundme page and raised more than £1,000 for the team.”

The online fundraiser, started by Hulland Ward villager Leigh Hemsil, has currently gathered in £1,160 for the team, which relies on public donations for its work, as it receives no government funding.

Mr Hemsil said: “These guys saved the life of a local 84-year-old lady who had been missing for over 30 hours in our village.

“They really are heroes who give up their own time volunteeri­ng at the drop of a hat to help others and need help raising over £35,000 a year to do this. Please help with what ever you can to help keep this amazing charity going.”

Derby Mountain Rescue Team’s wide network of volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, and rescues are regularly carried out in the Ashbourne area - with Dovedale and Thorpe Cloud being among its hotspots.

The search for Mrs Greatorex was the team’s 70th callout of 2021, and it matches its record number of callouts in one year - which means this will almost certainly be the team’s busiest year ever.

To support the team visit gofund. me/dfc3693d

 ?? ?? Derby Mountain Rescue Team volunteers take 84-year-old Patricia Greatorex by stretcher to an awaiting ambulance. Inset, Patricia safe and well back at home
Derby Mountain Rescue Team volunteers take 84-year-old Patricia Greatorex by stretcher to an awaiting ambulance. Inset, Patricia safe and well back at home

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