During training, a mountain rescue squad and their canine companions were winched from a helicopter, putting their abilities and nerve to the test.
Stunning photos capture Elly Whiteford and her dog Bracken being put to the test as part of the search dog training for the Lake District Mountain Rescue.
The Mountain Rescue Teams, which are made up entirely of volunteers and are available around the clock, regularly conduct training drills to get ready for being called to potentially hazardous rescue situations. These situations may require the mountain rescue team members and their dogs to be winched to a rescue scene by helicopter.
The deafening noises of a chopper may frighten most dogs, but as these photos demonstrate, Bracken appears quite unfazed as he descends to the ground while donning a cute pair of “Doggles.”
“It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication from all of our staff to be able to run the way we do,” said Elly, Bracken’s handler and an employee of the Environment Agency.
It can take two to three years to train a dog to the required standard, and all of our dog handlers are highly trained members of the mountain rescue team.
“Although the majority of our searches will be conducted on foot, it can occasionally be too difficult or dangerous to reach a missing person’s location on foot, especially in situations where time is of the essence for survival, such as when there has been an avalanche or the casualty is believed to be in danger.
“Our dogs must be accustomed to helicopters and comfortable being strapped into a harness and raised or lowered to the ground beside us.
“We introduce the instruction gradually to prevent overwhelm. Amazing dog Bracken accepts everything with grace.
We must wear goggles while near helicopters in mountainous terrain because the blades often throw up debris at a high rate of speed and create a powerful downdraught, endangering our eyes.
11 trained dogs are currently on hand by the Lake District Mountain Rescue teams to help with searches.
Volunteers must complete extensive training in complex first aid, including the administration of medications, mountaineering, and training search dogs.
They respond to calls to find missing people, elderly people with dementia who have vanished, and walkers who have become lost or hurt in inclement weather.
