Blanchland

12 March 2023
10:49

A walker sustained a lower leg injury after they had slipped in mud on the riverside path along the River Derwent, downstream of Blanchland. The group that was with the walker alerted the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Given the location of the injured person, Mountain Rescue was requested. Response vehicles were swiftly deployed and operational Team members were called out to rendezvous near Blanchland where there was an access track down to the river and the footpath.

One of our duty controllers arrived on scene just ahead of the NEAS Paramedics and was able to confirm the exact location and provide a list of required equipment. As soon as one of the response vehicles arrived at the RVP, vital rescue equipment was carried to the incident site.

Once the walker had received treatment from the Paramedics and their injury had been immobilised, they were packaged on a Bell stretcher and wheel ready for the evacuation downstream towards Derwent Reservoir. After a 700m stretcher carry alongside the river and up a set of steep steps, the injured walker was handed over to the NEAS crewed ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

Thank you to the walking group who cared for the injured party ahead of our arrival. We wish the injured walker well for a full recovery.

The incident involved 25 Team members for 4 hours 20 minutes.