Sledgers need to minimise their risks. Photo: John Brightley CC-BY-SA-2.0

Sledgers need to minimise their risks. Photo: John Brightley CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescue team was called out three times in one day – all to people injured while sledging in the snow.

Yesterday’s trio of incidents was the first time the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team had to respond three times in a 24-hour period.

The team suggested that, even though it may look uncool, a helmet might be a good idea when tobogganing.

The team’s help was requested at 12.15pm after a woman broke her ankle sledging in the old quarry area at Great Ayton Woods.

An hour and a quarter later ambulance staff called the Cleveland team for help with a man who had hurt his head while sledging in Woodlands Country Park.

By the time the mountain rescue team arrived, the ambulance crew had managed to get the injured person to their vehicle.

A third sledging casualty need help 20 minutes later on the Eston Hills after she injured her back when she came off the toboggan.

Two Land Rovers and nine team members were diverted to each incident from a training day taking place in the Great Ayton and Guisborough area.

Team spokesman Gari Finch said: “This is the first time the team has had three callouts in one day.

“Despite the closeness in terms of the times of the incidents fortunately we were able to get to them all and provide whatever assistance was required extremely quickly.

“It is not difficult to understand how everyone, no matter what age, enjoys sledging; clearly it is not without risks.

“Just as the team advise everyone who is mountain biking of the value of wearing a helmet we would equally advice people to try and minimise the risks while sledging.

“Try looking for a slope which has a gentle run out at the end and is free from obstacles – boulders can easily be hidden by snow.

“Avoid slopes which run down into trees. Wearing a helmet although possibly not very cool clearly minimises the risk of head injuries.

“Spending time injured in hospital is equally not very cool. By all means enjoy the snow but stay safe would be the team’s advice.”

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