Hareshaw Linn

Incident Type: Rescue

While enjoying a walk up to the beautiful Hareshaw Linn, a woman slipped as she headed down to the river to bathe her feet and cool off. Unfortunately she sustained a lower leg injury and was unable to walk.

The North East Ambulance Service deployed a Community Paramedic and an immediate request for Mountain Rescue’s assistance was made. Volunteer members from from North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and our Team were called out and the pre-plan for the area implemented by our tactical and operational commanders.

Local members arrived at the RVP within 20 minutes and they were immediately deployed into the gorge to locate the casualty. Shortly after two 4×4 response vehicles arrived and other members began to carry in the necessary equipment for the evacuation. Due to the location a rope rescue system was also rigged to safeguard the stretcher over a couple of steep and tricky sections above the gorge.

Once the casualty was packaged on the Bell stretcher and the wheel, the evacuation began. The casualty was handed over to the double crewed ambulance at Hainingrigg Farm for onward transport to hospital.

A good, swift response by all involved demonstrating the value of pre-plans for incident ‘hot spots’ and why we regularly train in locations like Hareshaw Linn. We wish the woman well for a full recovery.

We would also like to thank the farmer at Hainingrigg for allowing us to access the gorge across their land.

The incident involved 18 Team members for 4 hours.