• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• News
• UK News
• Rescue

Girl trapped in rocks for four hours on school trip saved with Fairy Liquid

Rescuers tried everything to free the 11 year old, then one team arrived with washing up liquid

[Shannon Facey was trapped between rocks for over four hours]

View 5 Images

Shannon Facey was trapped between rocks for over four hours

A girl trapped between rocks for more than four hours at a beauty spot was rescued thanks to a bottle of Fairy Liquid. Shannon Facey, 11, was on a school trip on Dartmoor when she slipped and her leg became wedged between huge boulders.

Emergency services and Dartmoor Search and Rescue teams were called to Hound Tor on Tuesday, June 23 - one of the hottest days of the year. She remained stuck for hours as rescuers exhausted every possible option to free her - using specialist equipment for widening gaps and breaking rocks,

But Devon Cave Rescue Organisation (DCRO) arrived at the scene with a bottle of "life-saving" Fairy Washing Up Liquid. They poured it all over her legs and the surrounding rocks and they were able to pull her out.

[Multiple emergency services on the scene]

View 5 Images

Multiple emergency services on the scene

Shannon's mum, Jessica Facey, 38, said: "It was crazy - after how many hours they tried to free her, and then it was just a bit of Fairy that came to the rescue. Shannon told me the team completely covered all her leggings, her leg and all the rocks that trapped her leg and somehow managed to slip her out.

"People were under and above her trying to pull her out - they even brought all these different tools to try and cut away the rocks. But half a bottle of Fairy acted as the slippery lubricant they needed."

Jessica, from Barnstaple, Devon, received a phone call where she was informed her daughter had slipped and was stuck in a crevice. The mother of four said: "I was terrified. In my head I was just thinking, 'oh my god' - there is no way I was going to be able to fit in a cave to try and free her. It was just blind panic."

[Multiple emergency services at Hound Tor]

View 5 Images

Multiple emergency services at Hound Tor

It was only about three-quarters of the way into her drive to see her daughter that Jessica received another call saying they had managed to free Shannon. Jessica said: "They were just telling me how proud they were of her and how brave she had been - and that she was teaching them about Ernest Shackleton whilst she was stuck down there and they were doing everything they could to free her!

"The air ambulance said she listened to every direction and despite being down there for over four hours she remained upbeat and did so well. She's so resilient - I wouldn't have been like that"

[Shannon is reunited with the team that rescued her]

View 5 Images

Shannon is reunited with the team that rescued her

When Jessica finally arrived, she said she was greeted by her giggling daughter - who was carrying the bottle of Fairy liquid that had been signed by the rescue teams. Jessica said: "Shannon told me she didn't think she was going to get out - so she had those worries in her head but remained calm anyway.

"I didn't know if she was nervously giggling or whether it was the adrenaline and shock that would then calm down and hit her. Luckily she didn't have to go to hospital, and when I asked her if she wanted to go home with me she said she wanted to stay on the school trip for the next four days!

[Shannon with mum Jessica]

View 5 Images

Shannon with mum Jessica

"I mean the day after the accident she was scrambling down waterfalls. I could not believe it, she really does amaze me."

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.