Assynt Mountain Rescue Team 'stunned' by amount of money raised by photographers after Cul Mor rescue
Assynt Mountain Rescue Team has received what is one of its largest ever single donation ever after helping to rescue a photographer from a Sutherland mountain.
North Yorkshire landscape photographer Joe Cornish was airlifted to hospital by a Coastguard helicopter after falling 10 metres down a scree slope on Cul Mor in north-west Sutherland on October 22.
Following the incident, he and fellow landscape photographer Alex Nail, who had been running a mountain photography workshop at the time, set up a JustGiving page in aid of Assynt Mountain Rescue Team and have so far raised a staggering £23,461.
In a video posted on YouTube Mr Cornish, who is in his sixties, recalled his terrifying fall.
He said: “On the descent from the summit of Cul Mor and just at a particularly steep part of the hill, I was hit by a really unexpected freak gust of wind. It literally felt like I had a big hand on my backpack, pushing me off the edge.
“It was so steep that I could not control myself so I tumbled quite a long way totally out of control, and came to a halt in a lot of pain.
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“I never thought I would need a mountain rescue all the years I have been hillwaking. If you are confident in your agility and ability, you never expect it, but it does happen and even the most experienced hillwalkers can need these services so it is just as well to be reminded in a way.
Mr Nail says in the video: “I saw you fall and it was pretty horrifying to be honest. You were going a little too fast down that mountain. Everyone rushed to you to see what we could do for you. We had a GP in the group who helped with the assessment at that time.”
The photographers said that the rescue team had been “invaluable”, organising the Coastguard rescue and sending a team of eight to stand by should the helicopter have been unable to reach Mr Cornish in low cloud.
Mr Nail continued:”You can imagine how reassuring it was to talk to the team while trying to look after Joe and keep him warm. Joe and I are both indebted to the team.”
Mr Cornish is still wearing a neck brace but is said to be recovering well at home.
The two photographers are also embarking on another fundraising project on behalf of the team - putting together print boxes.
A spokesperson for the team said: “We are utterly astounded! This (donation) covers a whole year of fundraising equivalent and leaves us breathless. Needless to say this money goes directly to everything we do, from essential medical kit, training equipment, technical rescue equipment and everything else in between. A huge thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”