The Elie Chain Walk, Photo: Andy Hawkins, CC-BY-SA-2.0
An 11-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital today after falling on a recently reopened section of the Fife Coastal Path.
The girl suffered head injuries after falling from the Elie Chain Walk, a scrambling route along the coastal rocks that has fixed chains for handholds.
The chain walk had been out of action thieves took sections of the chains, but it reopened in June after repairs costing £8,000.
Forth Coastguard was alerted at noon today after a woman rang to say a young girl had fallen and was injured at the site. The Leven and St Andrews Coastguard Rescue Teams were called out and Anstruther RNLI inshore lifeboat went to her aid.
A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet flew to the scene and the girl and her father were winched from the cliffs and flown to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
The girl and her family, from Glasgow, were on holiday in the area.
Gordon Downard, watch manager at Forth Coastguard said: “We would like to remind everyone that great care should be taken when visiting the coast. Please take heed of warning signs and wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the activity you are undertaking.”
The Coastguard rescue teams and members of the public were evacuated from the cliffs by the inshore lifeboat.
The Elie Chain Walk on the Fife coast features a series of chains that enables walkers to access the scrambling route ‘via ferrata’ style and forms part of the Fife Coastal Path, a 150km (93-mile) trail stretching from North Queensferry to the Tay Bridge.
The chain walk is thought to date from the 1920s and may have been placed originally for the benefit of fishermen. The chains were replaced by Fife Council in 2007.
A 78-year-old man died after a 15m (50ft) fall on the route in June last year and a woman had to be rescued after being injured in a 6m (20ft) tumble on the chain walk in April.
The girl suffered head injuries after falling from the Elie Chain Walk, a scrambling route along the coastal rocks that has fixed chains for handholds.
The chain walk had been out of action thieves took sections of the chains, but it reopened in June after repairs costing £8,000.
Forth Coastguard was alerted at noon today after a woman rang to say a young girl had fallen and was injured at the site. The Leven and St Andrews Coastguard Rescue Teams were called out and Anstruther RNLI inshore lifeboat went to her aid.
A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet flew to the scene and the girl and her father were winched from the cliffs and flown to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Gordon Downard, watch manager at Forth Coastguard said: “We would like to remind everyone that great care should be taken when visiting the coast. Please take heed of warning signs and wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the activity you are undertaking.”
The Coastguard rescue teams and members of the public were evacuated from the cliffs by the inshore lifeboat.
The Elie Chain Walk on the Fife coast features a series of chains that enables walkers to access the scrambling route ‘via ferrata’ style and forms part of the Fife Coastal Path, a 150km (93-mile) trail stretching from North Queensferry to the Tay Bridge.
The chain walk is thought to date from the 1920s and may have been placed originally for the benefit of fishermen. The chains were replaced by Fife Council in 2007.
A 78-year-old man died after a 15m (50ft) fall on the route in June last year and a woman had to be rescued after being injured in a 6m (20ft) tumble on the chain walk in April.
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trix
02 August 2010This bit of chain walk seems to have its fair share of accidents - which will probably lead to it being closed again, thanks to our health and safety culture. But if this is meant to be a via ferrata, why are people not encouraged to tackle it with proper gear, ie a harness with two attachments? It may not be in the league of some of the continental via ferratas, but would provide a good entry into that sort of activity and make it safe for everyone. Surely someone in the area could make some business renting out the gear.
Mike Merchant
02 August 2010I feel there's some grade inflation going on here. There is no place on the route (as opposed the the cliff above) with a 50 ft dropoff, maybe 20 ft at the max and that only in one spot. When we "discovered" the chain walk in the 1950s we negotiated it quite happily in sandals and sandshoes. Think of it as a handrail, and bear in mind that via ferrata-style hype will only encourage compensation lawyers and the risk police.
sharon
06 August 2010It doesn't matter if you walk on this or normal ground all it takes is for there to be a bit slippery ground and then down you go it happened to me round down by the rocks at shellbay holiday park a slippery bit grass and down i went after my dog pulled me. so it shows it doesn't matter wheather it's the chain walk or the flat ground it's common sense.
Alasdair Macdonald
08 August 2016Please stop being so pathetic, I have done this walk twice.
The first time was from East to West and on Saturday West to East, I would recommend the former as the foot holds are easier to locate.
I am just shy of 60 years old, too fat and unfit with no head for heights and I find it quite exhilarating.
Please keep the H&S people away from this lovely walk. If you want to get really scarred, go to Pulpit Rock in Norway https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/ryfylke/
- no safety ropes, just a long way to fall - I could only get to within 12 feet of the edge whilst crawling on my belly. My son was sitting with his feet dangling over the edge !
Raymond Carl Treadwell
12 September 2017The Elie Chain Walk, completed on 10.9.2017 is one of only 3 assisted climbing/scrambling routes in Britain. The other 2 are located at Honniston in the English Lakes and Kinlochleven. Both these will cost you a Pony or more, Elie remains free. Not only is the traverse of interest both physically and mentally and also very enjoyable? but the landscape, obviously volcanic, is just amazing! There seems to be some level of discussion or even controversy about the appropriate level of experience and competence needed to traverse said route but I have no intention in getting involved in that... We are in our 60's and managed OK!
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