The Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT) and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team (NOTMRT) responded to a total of 12 incidents during July 2017.
At 17:00 on Sunday 30 July, the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) requested assistance from Mountain Rescue to extract a female casualty from a difficult to access location. The casualty had been walking on the Hadrians Wall path near Caw Gap, 2km west of Once Brewed, sustaining limb and head injuries. She was treated by NEAS before being carried via a Mountain Rescue stretcher to the waiting NEAS ambulance. The incident involved 12 members and lasted for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
At 15:40 on Thursday 27 July, the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were called to near the summit of The Cheviot. A walker had fallen on the flag stones and sustained a head injury. His companion provided immediate first aid and requested the assistance of Mountain Rescue.
As a Mountain Rescue Land Rover Ambulance and members were en-route to the Harthope Valley, a local member headed up the hill to assess the situation. He was then followed by other Team members carrying a stretcher and other medical equipment.
After medical attention and being warmed, the casualty was able to walk the 3km with support from Mountain Rescue down the hill. Sufficient members were on scene for a stretcher carry should it have become necessary. Following a short Land Rover ride, the casualty was handed over to the North East Ambulance Service.
The incident involved 18 Team members for 5 hours.
On 24 July, the Teams were deployed for an overdue Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Expedition group.
On 23 July, the Teams went to the aid of a female with a leg injury from the Lamb Hill refuge shelter on the border ridge.
On 18 July, a search dog and handler were deployed to assist Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (TWSMRT) in the search for a missing 65 year old female.
On 10 July, 13 July, 16 July and twice on 17 July, Support was provided to NEAS and Northumbria Police by deploying the Mountain Rescue SARLOC system that sends a text to missing people, and by clicking on the link in the text, their position is sent back to Mountain Rescue.
On 8 July, a 56 year old female participating in a Three Peaks challenge event aggravated a knee problem and was unable to continue. A member of NNPMRT was involved in locating, treating and evacuating the overdue walker to a Cave Rescue Organisation Landrover near Sulber Nick.
On 5 July, a male walker in his 50s had stayed overnight in the Lamb Hill refuge and was suffering from severe abdominal pains. With support from a local farmer and the NEAS community paramedic, the casualty was assessed and evacuated to an ambulance.
Mountain Rescue teams rely on charitable donations to provide the lifesaving service, requiring around £20k per team each year to remain operational. Donations can be made online to the Teams mentioned in this article online at:
NNPMRT – https://www.justgiving.com/nnpmrt
NOTMRT – http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1006553
TWSMRT – https://www.twsmrt.org.uk/Donate.php