Demand on Mountain Rescue Teams in Wales Remains High – National Statistics for 2025 Show

Statistics released by Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW) for 2025 show that demand on mountain rescue volunteers remains consistent, and North Wales continues to be the busiest area of the country for callouts. The statistics show:

• The number of callouts in 2025 across England and Wales almost reached a record 4,000 – coming in at 3968 in 2025, compared to 3784 in 2024.
• The busiest day of the year was Saturday 12 July, but unlike 2024 which saw a new record set for a callout on every day of that year, 2025 saw two days with no callout occurring (12 and 18 December).
• The two busiest teams in England and Wales were Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team (LLMRT) (which accounted for 10% of all national callouts with 360 callouts during the year), followed by Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OVMRO), both in North Wales.

In North Wales, 2025 saw 716 incidents recorded compared to 718 in 2024. However, while the number of callouts decreased slightly, the number of fatalities sadly increased from 18 in 2024 to 23 in 2025.

There are nine teams responding to callouts in North Wales. However, it’s not just about mountains – the teams consist of 7 geographically based teams, and two specialist teams consisting of search and rescue dogs and the cave rescue association. Between them the 9 teams will respond to callouts in all terrain, including mountains, lowlands, underground caves and mines, and also have specialist training to respond to and support communities during flooding.  All team members are volunteers who give up their time to train and respond.

North Wales Mountain Rescue Association (NWMRA) is the umbrella organisation that overarches the nine teams that respond to callouts for assistance in the region.

Commenting on the statistics, NWMRA chair Andy Harbach said,

“It is difficult to pinpoint one particular reason for the continued demand on mountain rescue volunteers. Looking at the statistics, it is clear that when there are more visitors, during summer and holiday season for example, there is an increase in demand – our busiest day last year in England and Wales was a Saturday in July. This is understandable, as risk is inherent in much of the magnificent terrain that brings visitors to North Wales, and, of course, accidents do happen.

“However, what is also interesting is that the national statistics suggest that around 45% of callouts occur as a result of human factors – poor decision making, error, inexperience, or lack off knowledge of what is required for the route planned. With this in mind we would like to urge people to take the simple precaution of planning ahead and researching what is required to ensure a safer day out.”

The 2025 statistics also show that weather conditions such as ice, snow, and strong winds are a contributing factor to 16% of callouts. While many people do safely navigate more extreme weather, this figure illustrates that others do not. If decision making based on weather conditions is added to the other human factors contributing to callouts, over half of all calls (61%) to mountain rescue teams are influenced by human judgment and potentially avoidable – although it’s also important to remember that there can be many contributing factors to a callout.

Simple tips to stay safer include:

• Weather – research the weather for the full extent of your planned route. Weather conditions higher up or in remote areas can be radically different to those experienced at home when you set off. In addition to this, weather can change rapidly.
• Plan – ensure the route you pick is suitable for everyone in your group, and understand how long it will take, working at the pace of your slowest party member. Don’t overestimate your abilities. Remember if things aren’t going to plan you can always turn back.
• Equipment – Have the right equipment for the day’s activities, and always pack for contingency. If an accident happens and you need to wait for help to arrive, you may be sat still for several hours. Warm clothing, food, and shelter becomes essential – even on a warm day, as does a back up battery for your mobile phone.

Further advice on staying safe can be found at AdventureSmart https://www.adventuresmart.uk/wales/

You can also find out more about mountain rescue in North Wales and how to stay safe in a series of short videos here https://www.nwmra.org/media

Should you find yourself in difficulties and need assistance, call the police and ask for mountain rescue.

Andy said,

“It is important to remember that the vast majority of people who visit North Wales’s magnificent landscapes do so without incident. However, when it does go wrong, the results can be very serious. So, our experience tells us that a little planning and research ahead of setting out can make a huge difference.

“If you do need the help of our teams, never hesitate to call us. We are all volunteers who train to professional standards and give up our time to do this because we share a passion for the great outdoors. However, just a little forethought may mean you will never need to make that call. “

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 North Wales Mountain Rescue Association comprises nine teams working together to cover the region and include some of the busiest areas in England and Wales. They are:

• Aberdyfi Mountain Rescue Team
• Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team
• Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team
• Mon-Sar
• North East Wales Mountain Rescue Team
• North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation
• Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation
• SARDA Wales
• South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team