A 12-year-old boy was airlifted to the hospital after falling into a river at a scenic spot in Dartmoor over the weekend. The incident occurred at Spitchwick on Dartmoor, a popular location for swimming along the River Dart on Saturday. Emergency services responded swiftly, closing the road for an hour to perform the rescue operation.
The Devon Air Ambulance arrived at the scene approximately 15 minutes after the incident, which happened around noon on Saturday, July 11. According to reports from Devon Live, the boy slipped while cliff jumping. Witnesses praised the quick response, with Dartmoor rangers, Devon and Cornwall Police, and paramedics all assisting in the operation.
Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team – Ashburton shared details of the event on their Facebook page, mentioning their involvement in assisting the injured child. Team members helped transport the boy on a stretcher to a Devon Air Ambulance Trust helicopter. Due to the high temperatures that day, the area was crowded with visitors enjoying the water and picnics.
Emergency vehicles blocked the road, requiring team members to manage traffic until the air ambulance left. The rescue team expressed their well wishes for the child’s speedy recovery.