A schoolgirl's narrow escape on Dartmoor has sparked an unexpected hero – a bottle of washing-up liquid. Eleven-year-old Shannon was stuck between granite boulders at Hound Tor, Devon, for over four hours before emergency services intervened.
Teams from Dartmoor Search and Rescue and the Devon Cave Rescue Organisation (DCRO) were called to the scene. Olly Rees, team leader for DCRO, made a crucial stop on his way to the moor, grabbing a bottle of washing-up liquid that proved instrumental in the rescue.
Upon arrival, Mr Rees found Shannon's leg firmly wedged in the rocks, with only limited space around it. He applied the washing-up liquid liberally to make her leg as slippery as possible, allowing for its eventual release.
Shannon recounted the terrifying moment she got stuck while rock scrambling: 'I didn't know if I was going to get out and I wanted my mum.' Her mother, Jessica, praised the emergency services' efforts, noting that Shannon emerged from the ordeal 'happy' and 'smiling', despite the challenging conditions.
The unconventional solution has raised eyebrows, with some emergency services considering adding washing-up liquid to their rescue kits. The DCRO highlighted that while technical skills and teamwork were essential, the household cleaning product proved a valuable asset in this remarkable case of multi-agency cooperation.