Ross double rescue drama
AN injured walker and a hypothermic canoeist were both airlifted to hospital in the same helicopter during a double rescue drama in Wester Ross.
The female walker and the canoeist were flown together to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment by the Stornoway coastguard rescue helicopter following two separate incidents within minutes of each other in the Ullapool area on Sunday.
The two canoeists in difficulties were pulled out of the water by the Seascape vessel in Loch Broom, while Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team tended to the woman who had injured her back.
The helicopter took its first call just after noon on Sunday when it was scrambled to help the female walker who had fallen around 30ft on the coastal path between Ullapool and Achiltibuie.
The helicopter lowered its winchman to the female and then airlifted four members of the mountain rescue team to help the winchman secure her in a stretcher.
As the female walker was being winched, Stornoway Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call reporting two canoeists in difficulties at the Summer Isles, Loch Broom, just seven miles from where the walker was injured.
As this report was being taken the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Falmouth reported it had picked up a distress alert from a Personal Locator Beacon in the same area.
The rescue helicopter was sent to the area of the beacon and a mayday broadcast was issued on VHF radio by Stornoway Coastguard asking for help from other vessels in the area.
The helicopter crew had noticed two rigid inflatable boats watching them winch the walker and contacted the boats by VHF radio, asking them to follow the helicopter to the canoeists.
Both canoeists were found and pulled from water by “Seascape” before being taken ashore to the small village of Dornie near Achiltibuie. The helicopter landed at that location to allow the paramedic to check the condition of both canoeists.
One was found to be suffering from hypothermia and was taken hospital in the helicopter, along with the walker.
