Incident reports

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December 2014

2 incidents

Liathach, Glen Torridon

avalanche Highlands

A 47-year-old climber was caught in an avalanche in the Liathach area of Glen Torridon and sustained serious injuries. He was located by Torridon Mountain Rescue Team with support from Coastguard and RAF helicopters, and was airlifted to hospital.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries

motorists stranded in snow Southern Uplands

Mountain rescue teams from the Border Search and Rescue Unit, Tweed Valley, and Northumberland responded overnight to assist dozens of motorists stranded by heavy snow at Carter Bar on the A68 between Scotland and England. Working with police, volunteers used specialist vehicles to help tow cars and lorries to passable sections of road so journeys could resume.

Outcome: vehicles towed to passable road sections, motorists assisted

November 2014

1 incident

Cairngorms, Lairig Ghru

missing runner, hypothermia Highlands Serious incident

A 25-year-old runner became separated from a group of six in the Lairig Ghru area of the Cairngorms whilst wearing only shorts, trainers and a running top. Found by Cairngorm Mountain Rescue after five hours in subzero conditions and heavy snow, he was suffering from hypothermia and close to losing consciousness. He was warmed and airlifted to safety by RAF helicopter Rescue 137.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by helicopter after being warmed by rescue team

October 2014

1 incident
lost walkers; injured walker Brecon Beacons Serious incident

A couple became lost and stranded on a steep escarpment above Craig y Cilau in the Brecon Beacons and were rescued by Longtown Mountain Rescue Team in darkness. They were uninjured but tired, hungry and thirsty, and were provided with food, drink and warmth before being guided to safety. The post also reports a separate incident on Table Mountain where a woman suffered a shoulder injury and was evacuated by stretcher.

Outcome: couple guided to safety uninjured; woman with shoulder injury evacuated by stretcher

August 2014

3 incidents
injured walker Southern Uplands

A man in his 60s from Lincolnshire was rescued near the end of his multi-stage Pennine Way walk after an old knee injury recurred and worsened between Windy Gyle and Auchope Refuge Hut. Border Search and Rescue Unit members evacuated him by stretcher and Land Rover, completing the operation in less than two hours.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher and Land Rover

Mourne Mountains

missing persons Northern Ireland

A father and teenage son were rescued after becoming lost in the Mourne Mountains during a camping trip. They went missing for 13 hours after poor weather conditions caught them by surprise on Monday, but made the correct decision to pitch their tent and wait for help. Both were found exhausted and suffering from mild hypothermia but were otherwise uninjured.

Outcome: both rescued, exhausted and mildly hypothermic

Rùm

missing hillwalker, fatal fall Highlands Serious incident

An elderly hillwalker was reported overdue on the Hebridean island of Rùm. Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, Coastguard, and Police Scotland mounted a search, during which a body was recovered from a mountainside. The man appeared to have suffered a fatal fall.

Outcome: body recovered

July 2014

2 incidents

Marsden, Holme Valley

missing person Peak District Serious incident

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team discovered an elderly man in his 90s sitting outside their base who had gone missing from Liversedge several days earlier. The team provided him with refreshments and contacted police, who collected him. This incident occurred during an exceptionally busy 10-day period in which the team responded to 10 callouts, including a seriously injured climber, a child with suspected neck and leg injuries, and a woman who collapsed on the moors.

Outcome: located and handed to police

Dinas Cromlech, Llanberis Pass

fatal climbing fall Snowdonia Serious incident

John Ellis Roberts, a founder and long-serving member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, died after falling approximately 9 metres while climbing on Dinas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass. He was airlifted by RAF Valley helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Outcome: casualty pronounced dead on arrival at hospital

June 2014

3 incidents

Scale Force, Buttermere

injured walker Lake District

A 72-year-old walker from Cockermouth broke her ankle in a fall near Scale Force above Buttermere. She was treated at the scene by mountain rescue and air ambulance medics, then airlifted to Carlisle Hospital.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to hospital

Aonach Mòr

injured walker Highlands Serious incident

A tourist broke his ankle on Aonach Mòr while attempting to climb in flip-flops to see snow. He and two companions were found halfway up the 4,000ft mountain and were rescued by the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, who transported him by stretcher.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher

Ben Nevis

crag-fast walker; injured climber Highlands

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team responded to two incidents on Ben Nevis. A novice walker became cragfast on steep crags in Coire Eòghainn after straying from the summit in poor weather and was rescued by Royal Navy Sea King helicopter. Earlier the same day, another walker was injured in a fall from the Carn Mòr Dearg Arête and was airlifted to hospital.

Outcome: crag-fast walker airlifted to safety by Sea King; injured walker airlifted to Belford Hospital, Fort William

April 2014

2 incidents

Ben Lomond

cragfast dog Highlands

A 10½-month-old labrador became cragfast on a steep ledge approximately 30 metres below the summit of Ben Lomond whilst descending with its owner and three others. Lomond Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and successfully retrieved the dog from the precarious position; the dog was reunited with its owner and both walked down the mountain with rescuers as weather conditions deteriorated.

Outcome: dog rescued and reunited with owner, walked down with rescuers

lost walkers in severe weather Brecon Beacons

Three mountain rescue teams responded to multiple incidents in the Brecon Beacons over the weekend in severe weather. More than 30 walkers were rescued from three separate incidents, including a group of 23 Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants who became lost in the Carmarthen Fans. All walkers were brought to safety, with one person hospitalised as a precaution and two others evacuated by stretcher.

Outcome: all walkers rescued; one hospitalised as precaution, two carried down by stretcher, remainder walked off

February 2014

1 incident

Beinn Eibhinn

fallen climber Highlands Serious incident

A climber fell through a cornice on Beinn Eibhinn and was successfully rescued by Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team after a 10-hour operation in severe conditions. Team members faced extreme difficulty navigating whiteout conditions with very high winds and heavy snowfall, and were themselves avalanched and fell through cornices multiple times during the rescue.

Outcome: casualty recovered safe and well

January 2014

2 incidents
exhausted ultrarunner, hypothermia risk Southern Uplands Serious incident

Border Search and Rescue Unit assisted an exhausted 49-year-old runner competing in the Montane Spine Race ultramarathon who had activated his GPS SOS tracker after becoming depleted and at risk of hypothermia at Windy Gyle on the border ridge. A helicopter was unable to land due to poor visibility, so a team of ten volunteers hiked to the casualty's location and provided warmth and support before safely evacuating him on foot.

Outcome: casualty warmed, rewarmed and reassured with hot tea and shared body heat, then walked off the hill supported by rescue volunteers to a Land Rover

climber fall Highlands Serious incident

A 25-year-old climber fell approximately 800 feet down a cliff in the Coire Sputan Dearg area of the Southern Cairngorms in whiteout conditions. He sustained serious injuries including nine broken ribs, a broken wrist, and liver and lung injuries. He was located by mountain rescue and airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by RAF helicopter.

Outcome: evacuated by stretcher and airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with serious injuries

October 2013

1 incident
lost walkers with hypothermia Southern Uplands

Five walkers became lost in darkness on the Pennine Way in the Cheviots after underestimating the distance and leaving late in the day with inadequate equipment. They developed early symptoms of hypothermia and were located by an RAF Sea King helicopter and airlifted to safety. All five were treated for hypothermia and other minor injuries by mountain rescue medics.

Outcome: all five airlifted by RAF helicopter and treated for hypothermia; one with chest pain complaint

September 2013

1 incident
caving injury Brecon Beacons

A 51-year-old woman from Wiltshire sustained an injury while caving in the Llangattock caves near Crickhowell on Tuesday. After being brought to the surface by her group, mountain rescue teams and the RAF Sea King helicopter coordinated her evacuation and transfer to University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.

Outcome: airlifted by RAF Sea King helicopter to University of Wales Hospital

May 2013

2 incidents
medical emergency Brecon Beacons

A boy became ill on a mountainside at Llyn y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons and was evacuated by RAF Search and Rescue Helicopter. Mountain rescue teams from multiple agencies were diverted from an urban search for a missing woman to assist with the casualty.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by Search and Rescue Helicopter RAF 169

April 2013

1 incident

Fannich hills, near Braemore

missing person Highlands Serious incident

A search for an overdue walker in the Fannich hills near Braemore, Ross-shire, ended with the recovery of a body. Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, assisted by RAF Mountain Rescue and a helicopter, conducted the operation. A post mortem examination was planned.

Outcome: body recovered

March 2013

2 incidents

Ystradfellte

injured walker Brecon Beacons

A pupil broke his ankle after falling from a pathway during a charity walk near Ystradfellte. He was airlifted to hospital by Central Beacons Mountain Rescue volunteers and later recovered sufficiently to present the team with a £700 cheque raised during the walk.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to Prince Charles Hospital