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Coastguard in 999 patient rescue Moor walkers rescued in blizzard
(about 5 hours later)
The coastguard has been called out to rescue a woman who needed hospital treatment after an ambulance got stuck in snow drifts on the North York Moors. Police and a mountain rescue team trekked for an hour to reach five experienced walkers who were stranded in a blizzard on the North York Moors.
The group, all from York, were on moorland near Cropton Forest when they ran into difficulties in deep snow drifts and poor visibility on Friday.
All began to show signs of hypothermia as temperatures dropped to -8C (18F).
Rescuers found the stranded men, gave them medical checks and walked them back to safety without serious injury.
The group had intended to spend the night in a moorland shelter and were fully equipped.
They were also able to provide officers with an exact grid reference to their location.
'Serious dangers'
After finding they could not get through waist-high snow to reach the walkers, officers from North Yorkshire Police called in the assistance of Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team.
Supt Glyn Payne, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "This incident highlights the serious dangers that even the most experienced walkers can get into when the conditions are so extreme."
Nearby on the North York Moors, the coastguard was called out to rescue a woman who needed hospital treatment after an ambulance got stuck in snow drifts.
The weather conditions on the North York Moors were severe with deep snow drifts, very steep hills and extremely low temperatures Alex Harrison, Humber Coastguard watch officer
The patient was suffering dehydration at her home in Grosmont in the Esk Valley on Friday night but paramedics could not get through 3ft snow drifts.The patient was suffering dehydration at her home in Grosmont in the Esk Valley on Friday night but paramedics could not get through 3ft snow drifts.
Humber Coastguard sent a Land Rover to pick up the paramedics at nearby Egton and take the woman to hospital.Humber Coastguard sent a Land Rover to pick up the paramedics at nearby Egton and take the woman to hospital.
Watch officer Alex Harrison described the weather conditions as "atrocious".Watch officer Alex Harrison described the weather conditions as "atrocious".
Parts of North Yorkshire saw snow accumulations of 2cm to 5cm on Friday night and locally up to 10cm, with drifting in freshening north-easterly winds.Parts of North Yorkshire saw snow accumulations of 2cm to 5cm on Friday night and locally up to 10cm, with drifting in freshening north-easterly winds.
Mr Harrison said: "The ambulance was stuck at Egton due to heavy snow at the time and unable to proceed any further.Mr Harrison said: "The ambulance was stuck at Egton due to heavy snow at the time and unable to proceed any further.
The weather conditions on the North York Moors were severe with deep snow drifts, very steep hills and extremely low temperatures Alex Harrison, Humber Coastguard watch officer
"A plan was worked out that a coastguard rescue vehicle would pick up the ambulance crew at Egton and transfer them to the patient's house, then take the paramedics and patient who was suffering from dehydration back to the ambulance."A plan was worked out that a coastguard rescue vehicle would pick up the ambulance crew at Egton and transfer them to the patient's house, then take the paramedics and patient who was suffering from dehydration back to the ambulance.
"They then escorted the ambulance back to Whitby Hospital."They then escorted the ambulance back to Whitby Hospital.
"The weather conditions on the North York Moors were severe with deep snow drifts, very steep hills and extremely low temperatures."The weather conditions on the North York Moors were severe with deep snow drifts, very steep hills and extremely low temperatures.
"Our teams have been very happy to help our colleagues in the other emergency services in these extreme weather conditions with our mix of 4x4s, stretchers and first aid experience normally and primarily deployed along our coastline.""Our teams have been very happy to help our colleagues in the other emergency services in these extreme weather conditions with our mix of 4x4s, stretchers and first aid experience normally and primarily deployed along our coastline."
Forest closed Weather warning
Meanwhile, Yorkshire Ambulance Service has cancelled journeys for patients due to attend routine hospital appointments until Monday. North Yorkshire Police warned people to stay away from moorland roads during the coming week as the predicted heavy snow and strong winds could make areas "extremely dangerous".
Transport for those with urgent medical needs, such as renal and oncology treatments, will continue. Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued a new severe weather warning for North Yorkshire.
The Forestry Commission has closed Dalby Forest and Dalby Forest Visitor Centre to the public until further notice because of the severe weather. All walking and biking trails are shut. It said outbreaks of snow on Sunday were expected to become heavier and more persistent during the late afternoon or evening and persistent through the night and into Monday morning.
North Yorkshire County Council said all the main roads had been salted and the main traffic routes were open. Some 5cm to 15cm of fresh snow is expected widely, with 20cm to 30cm locally and drifting in very strong winds.
Beach sand is being used to grit pavements in residential areas in Scarborough, where salt supplies are being reserved for main routes.
However, residents have been urged not to help themselves.
The City of York Council said it currently had 500 tonnes of salt, with further supplies due to be delivered on Monday.