Rising waters force helicopter rescue of young hikers

THOUSANDS of British youngsters taking part in a hiking challenge were airlifted off Dartmoor yesterday.

The two-day, army-organised Ten Tors Challenge was abandoned on Saturday night as the weather deteriorated and swollen rivers prompted safety fears.

A total of 2,400 youngsters from across Britain were airlifted, driven or escorted to Okehampton battle camp.

Army spokesman David Harris said all the teams were now off the moor and added: “All the children are accounted for and safe. They are being reunited with their parents.

“This operation went smoothly and as well as can be expected with the conditions up there.

“The weather has abated somewhat now, making life a bit easier.”

About 200 youngsters who were airlifted to the Royal Marine Base at Bickleigh Barracks, near Plymouth, were being transported by road back to the camp.

The teams set off Saturday morning to negotiate 10 tors on routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles as part of the annual event.

This year they were allowed to carry one mobile phone for emergency use.

Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, Ten Tors director, said: “Saturday was challenging conditions but they were sensible risks.

“What changed today is the river levels went up considerably.

“The rain is harder and the mist means it is very difficult to extract people by helicopter.”

The decision was also influenced by Saturday’s high dropout rate of 15%, an Army spokesman said.

The youngsters spent the night on the moor and waited in their tents before either walking back to camp or being brought back by two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters and road vehicles.

Rosy Greenaway and Jenna Drew, both 17 and from Okehampton, were on the same team completing the 55-mile route when they were airlifted back to camp this morning.

Jenna said: “I’m really, really devastated. We really wanted to finish.”

Rosy said: “We were really disappointed. Last night we were told we couldn’t carry on. It’s really bad.”