Incident reports

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October 2016

2 incidents

Ben Nevis, North Face

climber fall Highlands Serious incident

A climber in his 50s fell on the North Face of Ben Nevis on Friday and was airlifted by helicopter along with his uninjured companion. He died from his injuries despite the rescue efforts of Lochaber and RAF mountain rescue teams in difficult dark and cloudy conditions.

Outcome: casualty died from injuries

climber fall Highlands Serious incident

A 21-year-old climber died after falling on Ben Nevis near the East Gully of Aonach Mor whilst climbing with a companion on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services including Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and HM Coastguard responded, and the casualty was airlifted to hospital but died from injuries sustained.

Outcome: fatality

September 2016

2 incidents

Snowdon, Crib Goch

multiple incidents: crag-fast walkers, medical emergencies Snowdonia

Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team responded to five separate incidents on Snowdon over a weekend in September, including rescuing six walkers from Crib Goch ridge who became frightened and required rope assistance. Additional incidents included a woman collapsing on the Pyg track, a man experiencing a medical episode on the Snowdon Ranger path, and a woman with a dislocated shoulder on the Miners Track, all of whom were airlifted to hospital.

Outcome: six walkers rescued from Crib Goch by rope; three casualties airlifted to hospital

medical emergency - loss of consciousness Brecon Beacons

A teenager on an organised expedition in the Brecon Beacons lost consciousness and became unwell near Aber-craf in the upper Swansea Valley. Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, along with colleagues from Brecon and Central Beacons teams, attended and provided care before stretchering her off the hill. She was conveyed by ambulance to hospital for further assessment.

Outcome: casualty stretchered off hill and conveyed by ambulance to hospital

August 2016

5 incidents

Pen-Y-Fan, Brecon Beacons

speed flying accident Brecon Beacons Serious incident

A 35-year-old speed flyer crashed on Pen-Y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons and was rescued by Brecon Mountain Rescue Team and the coastguard. He sustained a shattered spine and spent 38 days in hospital, but has since recovered sufficiently to rejoin the rescue team as a volunteer.

Outcome: casualty evacuated and hospitalised with spinal injury; recovered and returned to activity

Ruadh Stac Mor

fallen climber Highlands Serious incident

A member of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team died after slipping and falling on Ruadh Stac Mor on 12 August while setting up a radio relay station for a charity event. Despite activating his personal locator beacon and being rescued by team members within six hours, he was seriously injured and subsequently died in hospital.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by helicopter, died in hospital

Yr Aran, Snowdonia

aircraft emergency landing and fire Snowdonia

An RAF training helicopter made an emergency landing on Yr Aran in Snowdonia on Tuesday afternoon and caught fire. The crew of five escaped unhurt and were recovered by the North Wales Air Ambulance. Local mountain rescue teams attended to secure the site whilst RAF personnel trained in air crash incidents were deployed.

Outcome: crew evacuated unhurt by air ambulance

boat in distress South West

An inflatable boat with engine troubles drifted out with the tide under the Old Severn Bridge in rough conditions. The Severn Area Rescue Association launched their lifeboat, located the vessel, and towed it back to safety, returning with the occupant uninjured.

Outcome: boat and occupant towed to safety

July 2016

2 incidents
trapped group in gorge Highlands

Lomond Mountain Rescue Team was called to Finnich Glen (Devil's Pulpit) on Saturday afternoon after five people—one adult and four children—became trapped in the gorge due to high water conditions following heavy rain. The team lowered personnel to the group, provided warmth and security, and successfully hoisted all five out using rope systems. Everyone was checked by the team paramedic and released uninjured.

Outcome: all five hoisted out safely and released uninjured

Haystacks

injured walker Lake District

A 50-year-old man sustained an ankle injury on Haystacks and spent the night at a nearby bothy. Cockermouth Mountain Rescue team treated him and stretchered him down to Gatesgarth Farm, from where his friends transported him to West Cumberland Hospital.

Outcome: casualty stretchered to Gatesgarth Farm and taken to hospital by friends

June 2016

5 incidents
lost group Brecon Beacons

Twenty-six teenagers from Hertfordshire became lost in cloud around Llyn y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons while undertaking a Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. A rescue helicopter located the groups and all were safely accounted for; they were taken to hospital for precautionary checks with no serious injuries reported.

Outcome: all located safely, taken to hospital for precautionary checks with no serious injuries

injured walkers trapped by rock Snowdonia Serious incident

Two walkers were injured on Y Gribbin ridge between Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach after dislodging a large rock. A male walker was knocked unconscious and trapped by the rock, whilst a female walker suffered a knee injury. Both were evacuated by Rescue 936 helicopter in difficult flying conditions and taken to hospital.

Outcome: both casualties evacuated by helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital

Selkirk

injured riders Southern Uplands

Two riders participating in Selkirk's annual Common Riding event suffered lower leg injuries on hill sections of the route. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended and transported both casualties to Borders General Hospital for treatment.

Outcome: both casualties transported to Borders General Hospital

swimming fatality North East Serious incident

A 16-year-old died after getting into difficulties while swimming beneath High Force waterfall in Middleton-in-Teesdale on Tuesday. He was recovered from the water by fire brigade rescue and airlifted to hospital but later died. Five other teenagers in the water were uninjured.

Outcome: teenager died in hospital

The Cobbler, Great Gully

climbers fall Scotland Serious incident

Two climbers fell in Great Gully on The Cobbler in the southern Highlands and were airlifted to hospital by Prestwick Coastguard helicopter. Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team and Police Scotland MRT attended the four-hour rescue operation. Both casualties were winched to hospital for further treatment.

Outcome: both climbers airlifted to hospital by helicopter

May 2016

3 incidents

near Peebles

cardiac arrest Southern Uplands Serious incident

A mountain biker suffered cardiac arrest during a competitive event near Peebles. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded within four minutes and used one of their automated external defibrillators to deliver a life-saving shock. The casualty was airlifted to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh and is reported to be doing well.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, reported doing well

missing person Highlands

An experienced 56-year-old German walker has been missing in Lochaber since 3 May after embarking on a planned five-day 76 km walk between Lochailort and Glenfinnan. Extensive searches involving Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, RAF teams, Coastguard, police, and search dogs have been conducted across high and low-level areas without locating him.

Outcome: still missing at time of report

Maentwrog gorge, Snowdonia

injured person in gorge Snowdonia

A man suffered an ankle injury while canyoning at Maentwrog gorge in Snowdonia. Four mountain rescue teams used rope and stretcher systems to evacuate him from the gorge after a helicopter was unable to access the location. He was airlifted to hospital approximately four hours after the rescue operation began.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher and airlifted to hospital

April 2016

3 incidents

Scale Force

head injury from slip Lake District

A 14-year-old suffered a head injury and possible concussion after slipping near Scale Force in the Lake District. She was attended by Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team and the Great North Air Ambulance, then airlifted to hospital.

Outcome: airlifted to hospital by air ambulance

Brecon Beacons, Neuadd Ridge

lost group of schoolchildren Brecon Beacons

A group of 43 Belgian schoolchildren became lost on Neuadd Ridge in the Brecon Beacons. Central Beacons and Brecon Mountain Rescue Teams located all the children at The Old Barn Tea Rooms in Ponsticill after initial confusion over a miscount; all were safely returned to their coach unharmed.

Outcome: all children safely located and reunited with coaches

Mourne mountains, Slieve Beg

severe hypothermia Northern Ireland

A 16-year-old student from Royal School, Dungannon, suffered severe hypothermia and lost consciousness during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the Mourne mountains on 2 April 2016. Several group members also experienced mild hypothermia when conditions deteriorated near Slieve Beg. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team was called and all 11 students were located and treated; the affected student was stretchered down and recovered at home without requiring hospital admission.

Outcome: casualty stretchered down and evacuated, no hospital treatment required, made good recovery at home

March 2016

2 incidents

Ben Nevis, North Face

missing persons Highlands Serious incident

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team found a technical ice-axe on the North Face of Ben Nevis below The Shroud and Boomers Requiem. The team is seeking the owner to help eliminate them from an ongoing search for missing climbers Rachel Slater and Tim Newton from Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Outcome: ongoing search

Goat Fell, Isle of Arran

injured walker Scotland Serious incident

A woman fell 100–150 metres near the summit of Goat Fell on the Isle of Arran on Monday afternoon, sustaining various injuries. She was winched to safety by coastguard search and rescue helicopter, and the rest of her party were guided down by team members.

Outcome: casualty airlifted by helicopter