A walker (m, 48) slipped on steep ground, sustaining a dislocation fracture to his right ankle. Another walker used his ‘personal locator beacon’ to call for help. The call was directed, initially, to Upper Wharfedale Rescue Association, then to Swaledale MRT and then to CRO. On seeing the severity of the injury, the first two members to reach the patient requested evacuation by air ambulance, in order to minimise movement and reach hospital more quickly. Having administered pain relief and immobilised the injured leg, CRO members ‘sledged’ the patient 50m down the hill to a more gently sloping area. A North West Air Ambulance, flying from Barton (Eccles), then flew him to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for treatment.
Unsuitable footwear.
Volunteer hours: 32