A 12-year-old boy was airlifted to the hospital after falling into a river at a picturesque location in Dartmoor over the weekend.
The incident occurred at Spitchwick on Dartmoor, a well-known spot for swimming on the River Dart on Saturday. Emergency services swiftly responded, leading to the successful rescue of the teenager, with the road being temporarily closed for an hour.
Upon the incident, the Devon Air Ambulance arrived promptly, approximately 15 minutes after the boy’s fall at around noon on Saturday, as reported by Devon Live. An eyewitness mentioned that the boy had slipped while cliff diving.
Various emergency responders, including Dartmoor rangers, Devon and Cornwall Police, and paramedics, quickly mobilized to the scene, resulting in the road closure for an hour. Thankfully, the situation normalized soon after.
Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Ashburton, shared on their Facebook page the involvement in the rescue operation on July 11 after a child was injured from diving at Spitchwick. The team assisted in moving the 12-year-old by stretcher to a Devon Air Ambulance Trust helicopter. Given the warm weather, the area was bustling with visitors enjoying swimming and picnicking.
To facilitate the air ambulance’s departure, emergency vehicles blocked the lane, and the rescue team managed traffic control until the situation was resolved. The team extended well wishes for the child’s speedy recovery.