Harthope Burn below Scotman’s Knowe

Incident Type: Rescue

As team members were packing away following our earlier incident at Colt Crag Reservoir, a second callout was received.

Northumbria Police requested the assistance of ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team after one member of a party of three sustained a lower-leg injury on The Cheviot.

A What3words location placed the group at the head of the Harthope Valley, below Scotsman’s Knowe.

Given the remote location and the potential for a difficult and prolonged stretcher evacuation, both teams were immediately called out and Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter was requested. Strong, gusty winds over the head of the valley meant it was uncertain whether a winch evacuation would be possible, so team members prepared alternative plans for carrying the casualty to a suitable landing point or down the valley.

With the invaluable assistance of Lilburn Estates, an Argocat was used to transport rescue equipment further into the valley while Mountain Rescue personnel continued to the casualty on foot.

Rescue 897 arrived before the first hill parties reached the group. Despite the challenging conditions, the crew were able to lower their winch paramedic and then winch the casualty from the hillside, assisted by team members managing a highline. The casualty’s two companions were supported by other rescuers and escorted safely back down the valley.

A landing site was prepared at Hawsen Burn, where the casualty was transferred back into Mountain Rescue care and assessed by members of the team. Thankfully, the nature of the injury meant that the casualty’s friends were able to take him for further assessment and an X-ray.

This was a remarkably swift conclusion to an incident that could easily have required a long and difficult stretcher evacuation. Our sincere thanks go to the crew of Coastguard Rescue 897 for their skill in challenging flying conditions, to Lilburn Estates for their invaluable assistance.

We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.

The incident involved 31 team members for 4 hrs 50 mins.