Mountain rescue team reveals drone 'first' in missing person search
Last updated 17th Jan 2025
It's understood a new hi-tech drone is being used to help find a 26-year-old man who vanished following a two-car crash on the A7 near Selkirk, which left a woman in hospital.
The device boasts "a powerful spotlight, night vision camera and massive zoom".
Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team (TVMRT) confirmed it has been deployed in the search for a missing person.
It comes after police revealed "air searches" have been taking place in an effort to find Shane Donnelly, also known as Shane Barr, from Galashiels.
They believe he was driving one of the vehicles involved in the smash, near the Bridgelands Road junction, on Tuesday evening, and may be injured.
READ MORE: Mum of man reported missing following A7 crash makes emotional appeal
SARAA - the Search and Rescue Aerial Association - only recently received the new drone when it was called into action.
It says it "significantly enhances" its capabilities, by allowing its pilots to operate at night and in unpleasant weather - enabling, it adds, "a more expedient search, as well as reducing risk to mountain rescue team members."
TVMRT has also been using its new thermal scope, which was funded through recent donations.
It's been a busy day for the volunteers, who were also called out to help an injured mountain biker at Glentress.
The casualty had to be evacuated from the 'Twitcher' trail and airlifted to hospital in Edinburgh. An air ambulance from Glasgow was called out shortly after 1pm.
Elsewhere, a member of Northumberland National Park's Mountain Rescue Team claimed the final podium place in a 160-mile race along the Pennine Way - despite taking time out to rescue a dog in the Cheviot Hills.
Cleo Bishop-Bolt was taking part in the Montane Winter Spine MRT Challenge North event when the pet appeared shivering and alone on the trail ahead of her.
She leapt into action, fashioned a makeshift lead out of a spare jumper in her kit and escorted her new friend to a safety team in a remote refuge hut nearby, before it was eventually reunited with its owner.
A spokesperson for the race said: "Cleo and the team warmed their visitor up and plied them with snacks whilst our team at Race HQ began calling around to try and find their owner.
"In no time at all, to the mild disappointment of the safety team who'd have been happy to have their guest stay with them, the owners were tracked down and a quad bike dispatched from Mount Hooley Hostel in the valley down below to come and fetch the now thoroughly contented dog.
"Cleo received a time credit from our Race HQ for taking time out from her amazing race to help a fellow hill walker in need. Many thanks to College Valley Estates for their help in making sure this story had a happy ending."
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