Lost Walkers airlifted to safety
Written by author on August 14, 2015
SIX LOST WALKERS AIRLIFTED FROM BUCHAN HILL Galloway Mountain Rescue Team were called out on 12th August 2015 after a group of six walkers were benighted on Buchan Hill in the heart of the Galloway Hills.
One of the group, a 56 year old man from Doncaster, suffered an asthma attack and had to be airlifted from the hillside by Rescue 131 from RAF Boulmer. Police Scotland alerted the team at about 10.50pm and personnel responded from Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas and were on scene at 11.40pm.
Ken MacKenzie, Team Leader, who co-ordinated the search said, “Using the SARloc system, we were able to pinpoint their location on the summit of Buchan Hill, which is south east of the Merrick. We were aware that one of the group, a 56 year old man, had suffered an asthma attack and didn’t have an inhaler with him. As a result, we called in the assistance of air support and Rescue 131 from RAF Boulmer attended. They were on scene shortly after midnight and airlifted all six members of the party and dropped them off at a landing site at the old Caldons Campsite near Loch Trool.”
“The casualty’s condition was such that we treated him on scene before transporting him, as a precaution, in our ambulance to his holiday accommodation. By the time we got there, he’d improved significantly and we were able to leave him in the care of his family.” In total there were fourteen Galloway MR rescuers involved in the incident. For more information about the voluntary activities of Galloway MRT including details of incidents, training, walk routes and much more, visit www.gallowaymrt.org.uk.
