COASTGUARDS ASSIST DRIVERS STRANDED IN SNOW ON NORTH YORK MOORS


Humber Coastguard received a call from North Yorkshire Police at 5.45 pm this afternoon asking for Coastguard assistance to recover vehicles stranded in the snow on the A171 between Whitby and Scarborough. 

Early estimates suggested between three and four hundred cars stopped on the road, with a number of people leaving their vehicles to walk back along the road in order to seek refuge in local villages. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay were mobilised to assist, deploying their vehicles alongside 4x4s from North Yorks Police and Scarborough Mountain Rescue Team.

Drew Mahood, Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard, said,

 “Coastguards do not spend all of their time dealing with incidents on cliffs, at the beach or out to sea.  Our equipment is optimised for life-saving on the coast.  But it can also be used to assist in incidents of this nature, when severe weather strikes inland.  Coastguard teams from Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay responded swiftly to assist in the recovery, with rescue personnel and 4x4 vehicles.”


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