A medical incident in a remote part of Dartmoor required a multi-agency response for Jane
A family walk turns into a rescue mission on Dartmoor.
Devon’s beautiful but vast rural and remote landscape often means that we don’t work alone as Devon Air Ambulance. Our crew attend incidents with local Search & Rescue teams, the Southwest Ambulance Service team and other emergency responders.
A wintry walk gone awry
On Saturday 8th February 2025 our crew were tasked to an incident on Dartmoor.
Jane Skelly was enjoying a family walk, setting off from Exeter and parking in Belstone with her son, his girlfriend, their two children and her daughter, the family group embarked on a trek among the stunning scenery around Higher Tor.
We were following the path, and it didn’t seem that steep to me but about three quarters of the way up I started to feel a little dizzy and sick. I persevered and when I reached the top, I still didn’t feel well so I sat down on a stone wall and had a water break. That was all I can vaguely remember before seeing the water fall on to the floor. My daughter described me as looking like the ‘scream’ mask, my eyes were wide open and staring ahead but I wasn’t moving and suddenly I became limp and passed out…
Jane Skelly
Putting theory into practice
Jane’s daughter, who completed a degree in Emergency Sector Management and Interoperability, put her training into action and called 999 giving the dispatcher their what3words location before putting her mum into the recovery position.
The dispatcher asked her if there was a defibrillator close by, but unfortunately because of their remote location there wasn’t. Due to the unknown cause of her fainting, Devon Air Ambulance and the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue team were both tasked to assist Jane. She said:
‘I have never been through anything like this before and I was overwhelmed by everyone turning out for me. The land ambulance came all the way from Ilfracombe and as I started to come round, I could hear the air ambulance overhead.
The cloud was too thick for the aircraft to land by the tor, so they had to land in Okehampton Football Field. The North Dartmoor Search and Rescue walked up from another direction to help me. Everyone was amazing!’
Jane Skelly
Teamwork in action
The search and rescue Hill Parties team arrived first and took charge, with their team doctor assessing Jane at the scene. She was starting to feel better and therefore they escorted her back down the hill where they handed over to a waiting land ambulance paramedic team. Thankfully, for Jane and her family, her condition was not critical enough to require intervention from our critical care crew and therefore they were stood down.
Jane was given an ECG – an electrocardiogram, a test that records the electrical activity of your heart including the rate and rhythm, and the results showed that she didn’t need to be taken to hospital and could return home with instructions to rest and call her GP first thing on the Monday morning.
A testing time
Jane is still undergoing tests but is otherwise feeling well and still enjoying long walks and time spent outdoors with her family.
Jane told us:
‘I was so impressed with the response of the Devon Air Ambulance, although I was lucky enough not to need their special care, I wanted to donate to the charity and share my story to show my support. I’m very appreciative of both DAA and Dartmoor Search & Rescue for attending.’
We all learnt a lesson that day, that no matter how prepared you are or how fit and healthy you think you are, you never know when you might require these amazing services.
I can’t sing everyone’s praises enough – it was all so surreal on the day!’
Thank you, Jane, for sharing your story with us! Have you been assisted by us and do you have a story you would like to share? Contact us to share your story.
