CRO were called out by North Yorkshire Police after a member of a caving party (F 60 YO) had a medical episode just as she taking part in a caving trip in Ireby Fell cavern. Showing great fortitude, she was able to ascend the final pitches with the assistance/encouragement of the other members of her party and an emergency call was made as soon as they got to the surface. CRO1 and CRO3 were deployed to Masongill and then team members continued on foot to the cave entrance. After an assessment from a team doctor, a request was made to North West Ambulance Service to provide additional support and transfer the casualty to hospital. The casualty was packaged and placed on a stretcher which was then wheeled off the fell to the waiting ambulance for further assessment and transportation to hospital.
In addition to the fantastic efforts of our casualty, there were a couple of other conditions that made for a seamless rescue…if you are going to have a medical event requiring our help, it is very useful to 1) have a CRO Duty Controller in your caving party, and, 2) do it on a CRO organised training night when just about the entire team are already suited & booted and just about to head out the door.
As always, we wish the casualty a speedy recovery, it took a sterling effort to make it out of the cave under her own steam.