Whernside, the highest peak in Yorkshire
A woman had to be carried by stretcher and sled almost two miles after falling from Yorkshire’s highest mountain.
An RAF helicopter called in to help the rescue had to turn back in visibility of less than 20m when the 39-year-old woman fell about 100m (330ft) from the summit ridge of Whernside, in the Yorkshire Dales. The incident prompted a reminder to be prepared for the worst conditions, even in the lower mountains of England.
The walker, from the Leeds area, slipped and fell down the steep slope from the 736m (2,415ft) fell’s summit path after she and her husband decided conditions were too icy to continue. A spokesperson for the Cave Rescue Organisation, which went to her aid, said: “As they turned, she slipped off the edge and fell or slid down the hill-side, which is almost a sheer drop, in places.
“Having struck her head on a rock, she came to rest just above Greensett Tarns. Two other walkers descended to her, with her husband, and stayed with her while he went to a telephone.”
She suffered head and possible neck and back injuries in the tumble, which happened on Saturday afternoon.
A Sea King helicopter from 202 Squadron at RAF Leconfield went to aid the 23 members of the CRO who rescued the stricken walker, but was unable to land. The team’s doctor treated the woman at the scene before she was carried the 3km to the team’s Land Rover at Blea Moor aqueduct.
She was then taken to a road ambulance, where paramedics gave her further treatment before transporting her to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Jon Beavan, the CRO’s duty controller for the incident, said: “There have been several serious accidents on snow and ice in the more mountainous areas of the country over the past two or three weeks.
“People tend not equate the Dales with serious winter conditions, but this is a reminder that wherever you go, you do need to prepare for the worst that the season might bring.”
He added that the couple had been very fortunate that other walkers had come along and were able to help.
The Cave Rescue Organisation, which conducts searches and rescues both above and below ground, was called to two other incidents over the weekend.
A dog and a rucksack were found at the entrance to a cave on Friday evening and police asked the team to investigate. Three CRO members were despatched to Roaring Hole, Chapel-le-Dale, but the dog’s owner emerged as they arrived.
Team members went the following evening to Stream Passage Pot, near Clapham, after three cavers were reported overdue. They found them walking slowly down Trow Gill, one of them suffering from exhaustion. The team’s Land Rover was called and took the trio to Clapham.
- Update: on Monday, a spokesperson for the CRO said the woman rescued from Whernside was: “Still in hospital, sore, but making excellent progress. She had fractured ribs and her head wound needed 30 stitches.”
