Windy Rig, The Cheviots

Incident Type: Rescue

Early on Friday morning, ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were activated by Northumbria Police following a request from the Montane Spine Race organisers for assistance with a competitor between Mozie Law and Windy Gyle in the Cheviot Hills.

The runner was suffering from significant leg pain. A Spine Safety Team was already with the casualty and had begun moving them carefully off the ridge towards Cocklawfoot, but required a stretcher to complete the evacuation.

Our on-call Duty Controller coordinated closely with Border Search and Rescue Unit (BSARU), confirming a rendezvous point at Cocklawfoot. Volunteers from all teams were quickly mobilised, with vehicles deploying from Rothbury, Pegswood and West Denton, and several volunteers responding directly from home.

Once at the RVP, our response vehicle Curlew Echo, alongside BSARU Landrovers and a farm ATV, was able to drive up to just below Windy Rig, where the Spine Safety Team had successfully brought the casualty to. The runner was given pain relief and rewarmed, loaded into Curlew Echo, and transported safely to race control at the Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm.

We wish the competitor well for a full and swift recovery after such a gruelling race.

A great example of strong multi-team working in challenging conditions.

The incident involved 15 Team members for 6 hours.