Tarmac’s Panshanger Park played a major role in a missing person rescue operation which saw the Midshires Search and Rescue services scouring the Hertfordshire beauty spot.
Fortunately, the entire operation was simply a re-enactment as rescue teams were put through their paces in an exercise in how to locate and recover the so-called ‘missing’ member of the public.
Dan Rose, chairman of Chairman Midshires Search and Rescue, which serves Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, said: “Most people have heard of mountain rescue and the coastguard but perhaps not us in lowland rescue who, basically, cover everything in-between.
“We are called out by the police to missing people on average once a week but sometimes as often as four or five times in one week. These can be individuals either suffering from mental health issues or dementia and are at risk of coming to harm. Or it could be anything from missing children to people who might have injured themselves while out walking.”
The mock search at Panshanger Park saw specialist teams, including trainee members, being tasked with areas to search to locate the so-called ‘Misper’, who – because they were also injured – needed to be extracted via a stretcher back to the control area.
Dan said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the team at Panshanger for allowing us access to the park. It proved to be a perfect venue for what we achieved.”
Jez Perkins, estates manager from Maydencroft, which manages the park on behalf of Tarmac, said: “It was something a little different to our normal visitors who come to see the wildlife and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the park.
“We are glad to be able to help such important public safety work and admire the effort the volunteers put into their search and rescue mission.”
Michael Charlton, estates manager at Tarmac, which owns Panshanger Park, added: “We are pleased to have been able to support the incredible and hugely important work of Midshires Search and Rescue. The charity’s dedicated team of volunteers provide a vital local service and are to be commended for all their efforts.”
