Rescue on Stirrup Crag, Yewbarrow

Lady with Facial Injuries after a Tumble Fall

Sunday 30th July 2006

(updated 03/06/07) added video

6/29: 30/7/06 (  1.46 p.m. ) - Sunday

Workington Police paged the team to rescue a lady in her early 50's who had taken a tumble fall on Door Head and sustained an injury to her head.  The lady along with her husband and dog were from Yorkshire, they were located high up on Stirrup Crag, about 200 feet below the summit cairn of Yewbarrow at the northern end where it falls steeply over crags down to the top of Dore Head Scree.  The lady had sustained a cut top the eye and she could not see out of the badly swollen eye plus a swollen lower face due to cuts.  She had remained conscious throughout the accident. 

17 team members arrived on scene and once safely secured in the Bell stretcher was lowered over the crags with barrow boy to guide her through the awkward steps.  The Great North Air Ambulance was called in to Door Head where it could safely land on and shut down.  The injured lady was flown to Hospital. 

17 team members arrived on scene and once safely secured in the Bell stretcher was lowered over the crags with barrow boy to guide her through the awkward steps.  The Great North Air Ambulance was called in to Door Head where it could safely land on and shut down.  The injured lady was flown to Hospital.  - video footage of the rescue has been passed to the news agencies along with a press release - the incident was closed at 6.30 p.m.

Stirrup Crag at the north eastern end of Yewbarrow taken from Dore Head.  The injured lady is near the top of the crag above the big rock wall

Casualty being re-assured and given first aid casualty care whilst the stretcher is being assembled and belays are being prepared for the lower.

Bell stretcher being assembled from two halves whilst more team members make their way up to the casualty site from Dore Head

The casualty is now safely secured in the casbag and strapped in to the stretcher

Start of the lower with the static line and safety back up line.  Head Guard protects the casualty from any falling stones that may become dislodged

Down onto safer ground but still a long way to go before we reach Dore Head in the distance

Great North's Air Ambulance arrives at Dore Head from Teeside Airport, a 40 minute flight

Casualty party arrive at the bottom

GNAA Paramedics check the casualty before she is transferred to their stretcher

Being carefully  loaded through the back doors.

On her way to Hospital

Peter Holburt. Barrow Boy for the crag lower was pleased to see the lady safely off the mountain and on her way to the local hospital

For video footage of the rescue see here

Page created 30/7/06