MOUNTAIN rescue volunteers who were involved in two major incidents in Darwen in two days have issued their own appeal for support from townsfolk.

Leaders of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (BMRT) are in the running for a £5,000 community award from insurance giants Aviva – but need public backers.

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Firstly the volunteer squad was involved in ensuring a 77-year-old Darrener, who collapsed near Sunnyhurst Woods, was made safe.

Residents Stella Hoyle and Dennis Rigg had found the pensioner in distress on a muddy footpath off Kestrel Drive and dialled 999. He was suffering from a suspected back injury.

Once on the scene, the mountain rescue team worked closely with paramedics to transport the OAP on a scoop stretcher, before transferring him to one of their own specialist stretchers, en-route to a waiting ambulance.

Steven Fletcher, a BMRT spokesman, said: “During the man’s rescue, his wife had turned up at the incident site, and thanked all the team members present for assisting her husband.”

Then just over 24 hours later the team were alerted when a 49-year-old walker collapsed close to Darwen Tower, while out with his partner.

Paramedics had been alerted and the North West Ambulance Service helicopter had been drafted in from Blackpool Airport, landing nearby.

Eight mountain rescue crew members, working with ‘helimed’ paramedics, stretchered the man across the moorland to the aircraft, which took off for the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Squad treasurer Martin Banks has managed to secure a place in the final reckoning for the Aviva-backed charity challenge, with the aim of purchasing life-like mannequins for training exercises.

To vote and support the mountain rescue team visit community-www.fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/Project/View/3773 before May 30.