A WOMAN who owes her life to search and rescue volunteers last night praised the team for its rapid response when she needed them most.

Kelly Weelands was in a distressed state when disappeared into dense woodland in Stanley, County Durham, on Wednesday, August 20.

A text message she sent to her partner James Platten left him so worried that he called police immediately and the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team was duly dispatched to help look for her.

The 17 volunteers, which included a doctor, together with search dog Misty embarked on a search for the 35-year-old, from Stanley.

It took about 25 minutes for Misty, who searches for human scents but ironically is not keen on people, to locate Miss Weelands.

A medical emergency was declared as she was unconscious and had serious injuries. The doctor within the team provided life-saving medical attention until paramedics arrived to take her to hospital.

Miss Weelands, who cannot remember anything about the incident, said without the quick actions of the doctor she would not be alive today.

“I owe them my life,” she said. “I have to say a massive thank you to them. Things could have been so different if the dog hadn’t found me and there hadn’t been a doctor I wouldn’t be here now.”

Durham Police chief constable Mike Barton presented the search and rescue volunteers and Misty with a certificate of commendation in the grounds of Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, yesterday.

Miss Weelands said: “It has been hard coming here but I want them to receive the recognition they deserve. It has been really nice to meet them.

“They don’t get any funding, it is all by donations but the work they do really makes a massive difference.”

Mr Barton said: “What is so special about this is that Kelly has had the bravery to say thank you.

“It is fantastic to have a happy and optimistic end. It has given them the chance to enjoy another day and it undermines the life changing work the search and rescue volunteers do.

“Any time the search and rescue team goes out is worthy of a commendation, but it is Kelly’s bravery and the speed at which they found her that makes this one stand out.”

He added: “We couldn’t do a lot of our work without people like the search and rescue volunteers. It is important we celebrate the success of their work.”

Search and rescue team leader Pete Bell said: “It was a surprise to hear we were receiving the commendation. It is very unusual to meet the people we rescue.

“We always send the dog in first to detect human scent and without Misty it would have been very hard to find Kelly because she was off the beaten track in quite dense woodland.

“Having the doctor with us really made a difference and enabled to give her treatment straightaway.”

He added: “It is really good to see Kelly here and looking well considering how she was that night.”