Police and mountain rescue experts were drafted in
Rescuers at Birchen Clough on Saturday(Image: Oldham Mountain Rescue Team)
A family of eight had to be rescued after getting into difficulties during a walk in the Peak District.
The group, comprising both adults and children, had ‘become struck’ at Birchen Clough, near Dovestone Reservoir, on Saturday (November 22), according to the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.
Birchen Clough is a steep, rocky ravine known for its challenging and beautiful waterfall-filled scramble.
The family were ‘well prepared’ and wearing ‘appropriate clothing and footwear’, the mountain rescue team said, but they found that the ‘steep path had become unstable, making it unsafe for them to continue.’
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were alerted to the situation, with officers being the first to reach them. They then enlisted the help of the mountain rescue team to help get them down safely.
During the descent, the team helped them cross the water by ‘forming a human chain’ and putting a safety line across the water, they said. The family were given to chance to warm up at the rescuers 4×4 before being taken back to their car in the nearby car park.
“A huge thank-you to our volunteer team members and to the police for their assistance” the mountain rescue team said in a post on their Facebook page.
“The family did the right thing in calling for help and we’re glad everyone made it down safely.”