An 11-year-old girl trapped between boulders on Dartmoor was rescued after emergency responders used a common household detergent to free her leg. Shannon Facey became wedged in a crevice during a school trip to Hound Tor on June 23, one of the hottest days of the year, and remained stuck for more than four hours.
Rescue teams, including emergency services and the Dartmoor Search and Rescue, arrived promptly and attempted various methods to release Shannon. Specialist equipment was brought to widen the gap and break away rocks, but these efforts were initially unsuccessful. The Devon Cave Rescue Organisation later arrived on the scene with a bottle of Fairy Washing-Up Liquid, which proved pivotal in the rescue.
Olly Rees, who led the cave rescue team, said he purchased the detergent on his way to the site after hearing about the incident. Recognizing that lubrication might help, he applied the Fairy Liquid liberally to Shannon’s leg and the surrounding rocks. This allowed her leg to slip free from the crevice.
Shannon’s mother, Jessica Facey, described the ordeal as frightening and emotional. “After how many hours they tried to free her, it was just a bit of Fairy that came to the rescue,” she said. Ms Facey was contacted shortly after the accident and drove to the location, receiving a follow-up call informing her that her daughter had been released before she arrived. Upon reunion, Shannon was holding the bottle of Fairy Liquid signed by rescuers as a memento.
Despite the lengthy entrapment, Shannon did not require hospital treatment. She chose to continue with her school trip and resumed outdoor activities, including scrambling down waterfalls the next day. Authorities praised the combination of technical rescue expertise and teamwork, while also noting the unexpected role played by the simple household detergent.
A Devon Cave Rescue Organisation spokesperson highlighted the importance of teamwork and equipment but acknowledged that the Fairy Liquid was instrumental in resolving the incident successfully.