Yesterday evening we were training with North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team at East Woodburn crag. Whilst the wet weather had cleared, the wind made conditions challenging at times.
Our recent intake of trainees practised their clove hitches and alpine butterfly knots whilst others rigged the lowering system using in line anchors and a Petzl ID. Then we turned our attention to a stretcher raise using a rope grab and a 3:1 pulley system.
Unfortunately today was not the day for climbers in Northumberland. As we were about to stand down from the previous incident, Northumbria Police activated the Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team for a male climber who had fallen at Kyloe Crag.
A Team vehicle which was almost back at our Pegswood Fire Station base was swiftly despatched along with two Team members, whilst the remainder of the Team were called out. A few members travelled from Hadrian’s Wall in the west whilst others not involved in the previous incident headed direct to the scene.
Three Team members and a NEAS Paramedic arrived on scene at approximately the same time, within 30 minutes of the activation. The Paramedic and a Team medic stabilised the casualty who had sustained a serious lower leg injury in his fall.
Given the nature of the terrain and the casualty’s injuries it was deemed a helicopter evacuation was required. Our incident controller requested a Coastguard helicopter for its winching capability, which was duly tasked from Prestwick.
The helicopter on arrival at Kyloe Crag winched the stretcher and casualty on board from the location below the crag. The casualty was then transferred to a crewed Ambulance for onward transport to hospital.
The North East Ambulance Service HART team was also involved in the incident. A true multi-agency response.
Again we hope the climber makes a full and swift recovery.
The incident involved 11 Team members for 2 hours 20 minutes.
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Coastguard helicopter arriving on scene at Kyloe Crags Northumberland.Preparing the casualty for winchingUsing a smoke flare to guide in the helicopterAwaiting the winchman from the helicopterUsing the highline whilst winching
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) requested the assistance of the Team to evacuate a climber who had fallen approximately 15 metres. The Team along with North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team responded immediately tasking two vehicles and members to the rendezvous point. At the same time a NEAS Paramedic and the Great North Air Ambulance were en-route to the scene at Peel Crag. The incident was literally only a few metres away from the recent one on Peel Crag.
On arrival it was clear that the climber had sustained serious injuries from his fall, landing on steep ground and rocks at the bottom. Team members were on scene within 25 minutes of the initial call.
The GNAAS Doctor treated and stabilised the casualty before Team members and the HART team carried the stretcher to the awaiting helimed. The flight time to hospital was 15 minutes where the climber will have received further treatment for his injuries. We hope he makes a swift and full recovery.
As the Team were loading the casualty into the helimed, another activation was received for a second fallen climber – see next post!
The incident involved 10 members for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Yesterday the majority of the team were getting acquainted with the new Coastguard S-92 helicopters. A couple more team members will be doing similar again tomorrow.
The busy period continues with a request for assistance from the North East Ambulance Service. A female in her 60s had sustained a head injury whilst cycling in the Kielder Water area.
At the time of the request Paramedics were en-route to the casualty’s location which was believed to be just off the Lakeside way, near to Silvas Capitalis (or the ‘forest head’). Given the location it was highly likely that the Ambulance would be able to access the scene.
In case assistance with the evacuation was required and given the travel time involved, North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves despatched a Land Rover and six Team member to Kielder.
Almost an hour into the incident, the Ambulance Service confirmed they had been able to access the scene and treat the casualty. The Teams were stood down.
Northumbria Police requested the assistance of North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and ourselves yesterday evening to assist in the search for a high risk 51 year old male in the Houghton-le-Spring area.
A search plan based on missing person data and other available information was agreed by our incident controllers with the Police Search Adviser, before the two Teams were called out.
Soon after our vehicles and Team members arrived at the RV, the missing person returned home. Seemingly our presence had helped to flush him out!
A good ending. Most Team members were also back home just before midnight for a few hours sleep before work today.
The incident involved 18 members for 2 hours 40 minutes.
Yesterday afternoon a climber fell approximately 10m on Peel Crag, landing on the boulders and uneven ground on the bottom of the crag. The climber sustained serious injuries from his fall and was treated and stabilised by a Doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance.
The Team alongside North of Tyne MRT and the North East Ambulance Service HART team assisted with the evacuation down the steep slope and across the uneven ground to the awaiting helicopter.
The climber was flown to the RVI for further treatment and we hope he makes a full and swift recovery.
A great multi-agency, team effort.
The incident involved 15 Team members for 1.5 hours.
Whilst the rest of the country bathed in glorious sunshine, much of Northumberland including the Simonside Hills was covered in thick mist. The prevailing weather conditions led to two walkers becoming disoriented and eventually lost in the Simonside Hills.
The Team alongside North of Tyne MRT were activated late afternoon by Northumbria Police to assist in the search for the two walkers. From the information received the two walkers having ‘walked over the hill’ had taken shelter in a hut next to rough track. From this information we identified the likely location of walkers as being the two huts on the track between Harwood Forest and Hepple Whitefield – along the route of the Sandstone Way and Border County Ride.
Two Team members were swiftly despatched to drive the rough track up to Whitefield Hill. The walkers were located in one of the shooting huts with the gas fire on to warm themselves up. When we pointed out to them where they had ended up, they were somewhat surprised and very grateful we’d turned up!
A Police 4×4 was used to transport the walkers back to their car at Simonside Forest car park.
All ended well and in time for Team members to enjoy their Saturday evening.
The incident involved 8 Team members for 1hr 50mins.
Yesterday evening North of Tyne MRT and ourselves were contacted by Northumbria Police regarding a cyclist who was lost in the Kielder area. Indications were that the cyclist was near to Riccarton.
We tried SARLOC, a text message system used to locate missing persons, whilst the Police drove some of the roads and other resources were being mobilised. Border Search & Rescue Unit and Tweed Valley MRT were made aware of the incident in case additional support was required.
Unfortunately due to the poor mobile coverage SARLOC didn’t work. After half an hour though contact was made with the cyclist again and he confirmed he was on the road near Riccarton. A Police vehicle located the cyclist and transported him back to his start point at Kielder Water. All ended well.
Yesterday evening Northumbria Police requested the Team’s assistance to locate a group of partially sighted walkers overdue in the Harthope valley near Wooler. A total of 19 walkers including their sighted guides were well over four hours late for their transport back to Wooler. They had set out to climb The Cheviot and return to the valley over Cairn Hill and Scotsman Knowe.
Given the wintery conditions on the hills, members from our Team and North of Tyne MRT were activated immediately. An advanced party, including two of our Incident Controllers, were on scene very quickly whilst the Team Landrovers and other members travelled to Langleeford farm.
On arrival at the farm, one of our Incident Controllers ascertained that all the walkers had managed to find their way safely off the hill. Other than being very tired from their long day, all the walkers were well.
A good outcome for all concerned. We hope they enjoyed their well deserved meal in the Red Lion!
A total of 21 Team members were involved for 1.5 hours.
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