MOUNTAIN rescue members who were out on a litter-pick have come to the rescue of a man who injured himself after jumping in a shallow reservoir.

The 21-year-old, from Middlesbrough, had injured his leg after jumping into Cod Beck reservoir, near Osmotherley in the North York Moors, yesterday evening.

Members of Cleveland Mountain Rescue team got involved they came across a Yorkshire Ambulance Service crew which had been called to assist the man.

The team had just finished a litter-pick of the Cod Beck area.

The Northern Echo:

Four team members joined the ambulance crew to help the man, who was unable to walk.

He was treated and collected using an ambulance stretcher and taken to hospital.

Gary Clarke, from the mountain rescue service said: "It is perhaps worth reminding people about the some of risks of jumping into water – it might be shallower than they think and ‘cold water shock’ is a very real danger. Put simply– it's very dangerous – don't do it."

The mountain rescue team, says it has noticed a marked increase in the amount of litter being left in beauty spots in recent weeks.

The Northern Echo:

On Wednesday, 42 volunteers were out picking up litter while practicing search techniques.

With support from Hambleton District Council and Redcar and Cleveland Council, which supplied hand-held litter grabbers and refuse sacks, they covered areas from Cowbar on the east coast near Staithes, right across to Square Corner near Osmotherley and including: Eston, Guisborough Woods, Hutton Village Woods, Roseberry Topping, Baysdale, Clay Bank, Lordstones and Cod Beck Reservoir.

Mr Clarke added: "It’s quite amazing what they collected in just a couple of hours - bottles, food wrappers, broken toys, clothing, balloons, broken shoes, discarded tent poles and of course those old ‘favourites’ - used nappies and ‘poo bags’.

The Northern Echo:

"Oh, and a rubber dinghy and some car parts. Not forgetting many disposable BBQs - about a dozen just at Cod Beck - and there are plenty of Fire Risk warning signs throughout the national park.

"All in all it was a busy, rewarding evening for the team in very hot conditions but at the same time so very frustrating."