The team was called to help a rider and his dog in Dalby Forest. Photo: Phil Catterall CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescue team member used his veterinary skills after being called to an exhausted mountain biker in North Yorkshire.

The volunteer from Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team was with colleagues who responded about 6.15pm yesterday to a police alert that a man was in difficulties in Dalby Forest.

The report said the man and his 2½-year-old german shepherd could not continue on the route. The dog was also said to be injured.

A team spokesperson said: “We were informed that they were somewhere on the blue mountain bike route. Team vehicles were initially despatched to search the driveable sections of the blue route and a find was quickly made.

“The dog was assessed by a team member who is also a vet and the gentleman and his dog were then transported back to his car. The dog had only minor injuries that did not require an immediate visit to a vet.”

The three-hour rescue involved 17 Scarborough and Ryedale MRT members.

The incident was the last of three in the same day, including a walker who collapsed on Levisham Moor in the North York Moors national park.

Team members were stood down when they got the scene as the Great North Air Ambulance, which had flown to the site, was able to land close to the walker and fly the casualty to hospital.

As the team was packing up, ambulance staff requested the volunteers’ help after the pilot of a light aircraft was reported to be in distress approaching Wombleton airstrip, near Kirkby Moorside.

The team spokesperson said: “While on route, with a fleet of North Yorkshire statutory blue light service vehicles, we were stood down with a report that the aircraft had landed safely.”