An 11-year-old girl was rescued from a rocky crevice on Dartmoor after spending four hours trapped, with a bottle of dish soap proving instrumental in her release. The incident occurred on June 23, a day that saw temperatures in the area reach 33 degrees Celsius.
Shannon Facey was on a school trip to Hound Tor in Devon when she slipped, and her leg became wedged between large boulders. Emergency services and Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Despite using specialized equipment to try and widen the gap, rescuers were unable to free her.
The Devon Cave Rescue Organisation (DCRO) then arrived and utilized a bottle of Fairy Washing Up Liquid. The soap was applied to Shannon's legs and the surrounding rocks, allowing rescuers to eventually pull her free.
Shannon's mother, Jessica Facey, described the situation as "crazy," noting that after hours of efforts, a simple bottle of dish soap was the solution. She explained that the soap acted as a "slippery lubricant" that enabled her daughter's release.
Ms. Facey, who was informed of the accident by phone, expressed initial terror but was later reassured by her daughter's composure. The air ambulance crew noted Shannon's bravery, stating she listened to all directions and remained upbeat despite being trapped for over four hours.
Upon reuniting with her daughter, Ms. Facey found Shannon giggling and holding the bottle of Fairy liquid, which had been signed by the rescue teams. Despite the ordeal, Shannon was unharmed and did not require hospital treatment. She even expressed a desire to continue with the school trip for the remaining four days, with her mother observing her daughter's resilient spirit in the aftermath.