A mountain rescue Land Rover and the Coastguard helicopter at the scene. Photo: Northumberland National Park MRT
Rescuers have praised a walker for helping to save a man’s life during an incident in the Cheviot Hills.
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were alerted on Monday after a man became ill while on a solo walk.
Police requested the help of the two teams at 11.30am, as the man was drifting in and out of consciousness somewhere near Hedgehope Hill.
Team members gathered in the Harthope Valley as the man’s exact location was not known. They used the Sarloc smartphone system to pinpoint his position between Hedgehope and Long Crag.
A Northumberland national park MRT spokesperson said: “with this information, one of the mountain Rescue Land Rovers was redirected to access the casualty’s location from Threestoneburn Wood while team members headed up from the Harthope valley.
“Given the seriousness of the situation, air support was also requested by the mountain rescue incident controller. An MCA helicopter from Prestwick, Rescue 999, was tasked to the incident and arrived on scene within 50 minutes.
“Team members and a North East Ambulance Service paramedic were transported up to the casualty’s location by the local farmer from Langleeford in the Harthope valley using his quad and trailer. The farmer’s support was very much appreciated.”
The Coastguard helicopter flew the walker to hospital. Photo: Northumberland National Park MRT
After the walker had been assessed by the Coastguard helicopter paramedic, rescue team members helped carry him to the waiting Sikorsky S-92. He was then flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The spokesperson said: “The mountain rescue teams would also like to thank the passing walker who came across the casualty and provided immediate care before the emergency services arrived shortly after. The walker’s actions certainly helped to save a life.”
The incident lasted almost 2¼ hours and involved 13 volunteer mountain rescue team members.
