Peak performance: Edale MRT Leader James Stubley and his new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Mountain rescue volunteers in the Peak District National Park are now responding to emergency call-outs in an all-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz van.
Kitted out to fulfil a number of roles, the Sprinter 4×4 can transport members of the Edale MRT (Mountain Rescue Team) to remote locations safely and efficiently, move casualties across challenging terrain, and act as a mobile command and control centre for complex incidents such as missing person searches.
The Sprinter 316 CDI arrived via the Sheffield branch of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Mercedes-Benz Dealer Northside Truck & Van. As well as the driver and a front-seat passenger, it can carry another team member in a rear-facing seat, and an injured person on a stretcher.
The van is also equipped with an array of computer and communications equipment, including two large touch-screen monitors and software systems which can be employed to share information with other teams or emergency services. Restricting the need to run the engine while the vehicle is stationary, these can be powered by a bank of lithium-ion batteries which are charged with the help of two roof-mounted solar panels.
MRT Leader, James Stubley, said: “We know from experience that Mercedes-Benz vans are extremely well built and reliable, as our new vehicle has replaced an older Sprinter, which was donated to us by South Yorkshire Police.”
He continued: “The relationship we’ve built up with Northside Truck & Van was also instrumental in convincing us to buy another Mercedes-Benz, as the Dealer’s Sheffield team look after us very well.”
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