Simonside Crag

Incident Type: Rescue

On Sunday, ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were deployed to assist the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust with a climber who had fallen approximately 5 metres from the crags at Simonside, sustaining potentially serious injuries.

With no other emergency services on scene at the time of the call, our vehicles, Echo and Foxtrot were immediately dispatched on blue lights, and the teams were mobilised. Working closely with NEAS crews, our volunteers coordinated access to the casualty site and provided critical support in assessing and stabilising the casualty, and preparing for a technical evacuation.

As Great North Air Ambulance Service helimed arrived overhead, smoke was deployed to assist their landing. After a joint decision based on the casualty’s stable condition, it was agreed the safest evacuation route was downhill to the forest track, rather than a haul back to the top of the crag.

The teams set up a steep slope lower, and within 30 minutes had safely brought the casualty to the waiting ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

A big thank you to all involved for the swift, coordinated response. Wishing the casualty a smooth and speedy recovery.

The incident involved 22 Team members for 3 hours 26 minutes.