Darren Wallis

The Kinder Rescue Team Leader talks sheep rescues, Life on Mars and the busiest period in the team’s history

All the rescue team are volunteers, so what is your day job?
I’m a Special Effects Supervisor – mainly on Northwest/Yorkshire TV working on Coronation Street and Shameless. However my biggest claim to fame is the Life on Mars car explosion.

How do you get a job like that?! The BBC have recently been filming the rescue team, what was that for?
The massive demand on all mountain rescue teams was quickly picked up on by the BBC, who were keen to see what we do and where we operate from. This publicity led to a much-needed increase in donations, which was fantastic.

What five things should people do to ensure they are safe in the hills?
1.      Plan your day out and have the skills/equipment to match the plan.
2.      Let somebody know your planned route and when you should be back – mobile phones can be useful, but there are plenty of places where they don’t have signal.
3.      Check the weather forecast before setting out.
4.      Don’t forget the essentials – map, compass, whistle, torch.
5.      Don’t rely on the skills of others in the group – make sure you know how to use a map and compass. It could be the leader of the group who has a problem.
 
Which one of those is the most common mistake people make?
Number five – the inability to navigate with a map and compass.

Do you use dogs in mountain rescue and if so which dogs are best?
Yes we do use dogs. On our team we have a Collie and a trainee German Shepherd. They both have very sharp teeth, so I am not going to pick one as being best!

We won’t tell! How did the recent big freeze compare to other winters you may have experienced, in terms of work rescuing folks?
It was the busiest period in the team’s history, with more than a typical year’s number of callouts coming in a single week. Nearly all these callouts were in the Greater Manchester area, assisting the ambulance service.

What’s the worst job you have ever been on?
After 20 years on the team, overnight searches in driving rain all merge into one. However, trying to wrestle a sheep into a rescue harness on a small ledge does still have flashbacks…

Do you ever feel like a superhero, and if you were a superhero which one would you be?
No, I generally like to keep my underpants on the inside and unfortunately my climbing ability would not justify Spiderman.

For more information on the Kinder Montain Rescue Team see http://kinderdownfall.co.uk/

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