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The Magazine of

SCOTTISH

MOUNTAIN RESCUE

Issue 26 August 2011

The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland

Supported by the Order of St.John

The Magazine of

COMFORTABLE HELMET FOR WORK AT HEIGHT AND RESCUE

All enquiries regarding letters, photographs and features for publication should be submitted to the Editorial staff Design Editor Any queries regarding artwork, design and layout etc should be forwarded to the Editor Dave Cawthorn, Tel:- 01750 32342 Mobile:- 07702 162913 email :- cawthers@btinternet.com ALL ENQUIRIES ABOUT ADVERTISING AND SALES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO

Lesley Bryce Advertising Coordinator lesleybryce2002@googlemail.com Articles published in CASBAG do not necessary reflect the views of the Editor or the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland.

We are very grateful to all contributors and Advertisers. It is not always possible to include submitted features in the current issue. Those omitted are always kept for future use.

MRCofS Executive Committee

CHAIRMAN Jonathon Hart

VICE CHAIR Graham McDonald New Easy-to-reach adjusters on sides

jhart41579@aol.com jonathan.hart@northern.pnn.police.uk

SECRETARY Scott Douglas TREASURER Moira Weatherstone MEDICAL OFFICER Brian Tregaskis

New CentreFit headband system keeps the helmet shell central on the head

TRAINING OFFICER Stuart Johnston EQUIPMENT OFFICER Shaun Roberts STATISTICIAN Jim Sudd

New PETZL VIZIR eye shield accessory - cannot be dropped or left behind. meets EN166.

egmcd@btinternet.com

Secretary@MRCofS.org moiraweatherstone@yahoo.co.uk briantregaskis@me.com b.tregaskis@nhs.net sj@climbmts.co.uk

Shaun.Roberts@glenmorelodge.org.uk jdcmillforge@aol.com

ACPOS Colin Souter

colin.souter@northern.pnn.police.uk

ARCCK Tom Taylor

tom.taylor.arcc@mosstowie.demon.co.uk

Co-opted Members

Roddy Cormack roddy.cormack@btinternet.com James Coles james.coles@webpresentations.co.uk James Coles james.coles@webpresentations.co.uk Graham McDonald egmcd@btinternet.com Alfie Ingram alfoy.ingram@btinternet.com Alfie Ingram alfoy.ingram@btinternet.com Vacant Dave Cawthorn d.cawthorn@o2.co.uk

Front Cover: Rescue at Drogonniere de Gaud, Ardeche Gorge, France.

Divers and kit being picked up at Nimes airport by the French fire service.

October 2010, see pages 16-19

Petzl products are distributed in the UK by

Lyon Equipment Limited

Junction 38, M6, Tebay, Cumbria, CA10 3SS, UK Tel: +44(0)15396 26250, Email: work.rescue@lyon.co.uk

www.lyon.co.uk

The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland (MRCofS) is a Registered Scottish Charity – Number SC015257

The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland

I have hugely enjoyed and feel privileged to have been the MRCofS Strategic Project Manager for the last eighteen months, and will be sad to go back to wearing a suit on a train into Edinburgh rather than huffing and puffing my way up the hill behind a MRCofS course on Carn Aosda or up Corrie na Ciste.

that you can progress together confidently.

I have been particularly impressed with the dedication and professionalism of all MRT volunteers. You represent the best traditions of community service and continue to deliver a world class, front-line, voluntary search and rescue service, free at the point of delivery, in the face of increasing demand. Please continue to tell, as I will, those who do not know of the thousands of volunteer hours you give to rescue hundreds of people, indirectly supporting the economically vital outdoor recreation and tourism sectors that are of such great benefit to Scotland.

My first duty as the new Chair of the MRCofS is to formally thank Alfie Ingram on behalf of the members of the public we serve and the teams affiliated to the MRCofS , for all the hard work and dedication he (and Joy) have put into the role for the last seven years. I am taking stewardship of an organisation that has been both well managed and progressed over this difficult and challenging period.

The Scottish Government, Order of St John and UK Government all recognise what you do and have increased their grants to Scottish Mountain Rescue for landbased search and rescue. While this additional funding is usually very welcome it comes with responsibilities and there will be an increased financial management workload for the MRCofS Executive and MRTs. You will have to manage carefully this necessary workload so that you stay focussed on your core purpose of providing a voluntary mountain rescue service.

The new Core Capabilities for Scottish Mountain Rescue covered elsewhere in this issue and are a vital tool to let other emergency responders know, or to remind them, of what you do as a voluntary organisation, and the high level at which you operate in providing a unique voluntary public service to assist the Police. You should not take for granted that others know what you do and should take every opportunity to remind them of your Core Capabilities, in particular when your MRT provides an additional service.

May I thank all the MRTs and members who have taken the time over the last year to let me know what you think and what amendments should be made to the work I have undertaken on your behalf; without this valuable feedback Scottish Mountain Rescue would not be in the high profile position it is now in with government, charities and other responders. Lastly may I thank your Executive and in particular Jonathan Hart, Graham McDonald and Alfie Ingram who do a huge amount of largely unseen work to advance the cause of Scottish Mountain Rescue; please do support and speak to your Executive whenever you can so

I hope we meet again soon up a hill in social rather than professional mountain rescue circumstances!

John Craig Strategic Project Manager

My second duty is to thank you, all the front line individual team members across our civilian voluntary, Police, RAF, SARDA and Cave rescue teams in continuing to go out in all weather and conditions at any time of night or day and provide an amazing voluntary world class service, free at the point of delivery. The statistics for 2010 clearly demonstrate what a truly fantastic and inspirational organisation we all belong to in Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Looking forward, I suspect that for the duration of my role as the Chair of the MRCofS we will see unprecedented change in Scotland, both within our political establishments, and across the public and private sectors at large. This period of change will have a profound impact on Scottish Mountain Rescue. During this significant and fast moving period of change Scottish Mountain Rescue will need to consider issues such as modernisation, the potential of increasing costs and administration and of course issues with regard to the choice of services our teams supply their local communities, be it in the Highlands and the North of Scotland , across the Islands or down in the central belt and the borders.

I, and the MRCofS Executive Committee, will work on your behalf so that collectively, Scottish Mountain Rescue will rise up to these challenges and continue to be an inspirational organisation , providing the very best of patient care in some of the most hostile environments a Mountain Rescuer is ever likely to encounter.

I look forward to working with you to meet this aim Jonathon Hart, Chair MRCofS. ®

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

LEGAL ADVISOR RADIO / COMMS UKSAROPS (CWG) MLTS MRC MC of S SMSF CASBAG EDITOR

Compatible with the New PETZL PIXA industrial lighting range

MOUNTAIN RESCUE

editorial

THE NEW VERTEX BEST

SCOTTISH

®

3

Core

®

New Core Capabilities for Scottish Mountain Rescue were approved by the MRCofS General Committee in November 2010. They have been recognised by the Scottish Government and Police as a major step forward and example of good practice for the voluntary sector.

The new Core Capabilities are a vital tool to let other emergency responders know what Mountain Rescue Teams do. They are something you should all be proud of as they detail both how you offer a unique voluntary public service and also how MRTs assist the Police in meeting their responsibility for land-based search and rescue. They provide a note of operational capabilities that many MRTs excel at and often exceed; and provide good practice for new or aspiring members.

Scottish Mountain Rescue is leading the way for the voluntary sector in Scotland at a time of major change for the Scottish Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

These Core Capabilities should further the wider understanding of Scottish Mountain Rescue as the niche mountain rescue service in Scotland.

The Core Capabilities should be kept under dynamic review by the MRCofS Executive with any proposed amendments subject to approval by the MRCofS General Committee. It is important that this work does not remain static, but rather that it evolves and responds to new opportunities. Please do speak to your Executive members regularly and let them know what you think so that Scottish Mountain Rescue can consider it’s response to a changing operational environment.

John Craig MRCofS Project Manager

4

Scottish Mountain Rescue will: 1. Deploy under the authority of the Police Force in whose area they are located.

2. Maintain the ability to deploy personnel and operate effectively and safely 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions.

3. Work in a challenging and at times hostile environment in all mountainous terrain throughout Scotland.

4. Assist the Police in multi-agency search and rescue (SAR) operations.

5. Deliver best practice casualty care and evacuate casualties as appropriate.

6. Operate safely along water margins. Those teams that operate a flood or swift water rescue capability should have in place an appropriate agreement with their local Police and Fire and Rescue Service.

7. Maintain radio communications compatible with the UK SAR band plan.

8. Operate safely and communicate with the UK SAR helicopter fleet.

9. Maintain appropriate partnerships with other local SAR stakeholders and community resilience providers.

10. Safeguard, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of our personnel while undertaking Mountain Rescue activities.

11. All teams are to be capable of effecting technical rescues on ground above the high water mark.

12. Teams that wish to provide additional and/or enhanced SAR capabilities should have in place an appropriate agreement with their local Police Force.

These Core Capabilities will be kept under dynamic review by the MRCofS Executive with any proposed amendments subject to approval by the MRCofS General Committee.

For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Mountain Rescue” includes all terrain search and rescue. The final decision regarding the appropriate operational deployment of a team and the safe use of a team in any situation will always rest with the Team Leader.

Andy Simpson reports from the 2010 IKAR Conference Very early on in the Terrestrial Commission of the 2011IKAR Conference the perennial subject of Dyneema rope was aired.

When it first appeared Dyneema was hailed as incredibly strong, very lightweight (100metres of 8mm rope weighs only 4kg), it floats, has only 1% stretch and is resistant to acid/alkali/UV/ petroleum.

The rope itself is high module polyethylene (HMPE), not to be confused with Kevlar (high module polyamide (HMPA)).

Much has been written on the subject and tests are still ongoing but, at the moment, it would appear that the only safe, and certified, application for Dyneema rope is as a static line providing a very lightweight alternative to steel cable slung

under a helicopter. As part of a MERS2 (multiple evacuation rescue system) system it can take a load of up to 800kg, allowing several people to be rescued at once.

As soon as you introduce a high speed winch into the system you are also introducing the potential for heat build up. Dyneema rope is only to be used in temperatures below 50˚C before it starts to deteriorate very rapidly.

Above 75˚C the rope becomes un-useable but the worrying thing is that it will look fine.

Any visual check will pass without comment but not only will the rope have deteriorated, it will have become positively dangerous to use. Similarly, the rope is easily contaminated by fine particles of grit, not always apparent to the naked eye.

In addition, whilst the rope floats and will not soak up water, water does become trapped between the fibres and takes a long time to dry out. I don’t know what the technical difference is but, one way or the other, the rope holds water after immersion or exposure to wet conditions, increasing the weight of it as you’d expect.

Dyneema rope is very difficult to knot and doesn’t retain its strength unless it’s done in a particular way. If it isn’t done that way the loss of strength is massive compared to other ropes, thereby introducing a potentially catastrophic element into simple human error.

Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland

Insurance

Personal Accident Personal Accident insurance on operations (Call Outs) is provided by a Teams home police force. Teams should confirm with their home police force as to whether cover is also provided when undertaking training.

Civil Liability The MRCof S holds a Civil Liability Policy which covers the MRCof S Executive, and all affiliated voluntary organisations.

The limit of indemnity is £10,000,000.

The policy provides cover on the basis of any authorised activity of the MRCof S which includes social, and fundraising activities. Fund raising activities should generally be carried out in a “mountain” environment i.e. providing first aid cover at a fell race for which a donation may be received. Whilst providing safety cover at a Common Riding is acceptable, organised events which involve horses (i.e. equestrian shows), or engines (i.e. motor cycle scrambles car rallies, and similar) are not covered. Low risk activities such as Flag Days, and other general fund raising outwith the mountain environment are also covered.

The policy covers all emergency medical treatment (first

Finally, for those who might be tempted to splice a Dyneema rope - don’t unless you know exactlywhat you’re doing (and you have the correct tools) or, better still, send it back to the manufacturer, it’s that tricky. Up to 30% of the breaking load is lost when the rope is spliced incorrectly.

As someone who doesn’t know the technical ins and outs of rope but who uses them on a reasonably regular basis I would be scared stiff of touching Dyneema. It appears to have the same failings as ordinary rope but is nowhere near as forgiving if it’s even slightly abused.

Add to that the fact that it keeps it’s failings well hidden and you have a recipe for disaster for most ordinary team members.

By the manufacturer’s own admission, Dyneema rope is not certifiable as a rope generally for use in climbing or rescue. No doubt the next IKAR meeting will be treated to a lecture on how things have developed in the last 12 months and there will be some improvements. In the meantime you’d be better off taking butchers string on the hill, at least you’d know that was going to snap! www.air-work.com= Andy Simpson is Team Leader of the Rossendale & Pendle MRT, and was an MR (E&W) rep at the Oct 2010 IKAR Conf.

This article first appeared in the MR(E&W) magazine “Mountain Rescue”

aid) - the parameter being that the provider is trained in the medical treatment being administered.

Trustee Liability The MRCof S holds a Trustee Liability Policy which covers the MRCof S Executive, and the Trustees of all voluntary affiliated organisations.

The policy covers the legal liability of officers or trustees of each voluntary affiliated organisation as well as the MRCS Executive, whilst acting as governors etc of the Charity.

Limit of Indemnity is £1,000,000.

The policy is with Markel (UK) Ltd, and has been arranged through Henderson Insurance Brokers.

MOD Helicopters The MRCof S holds an MOD SAR Helicopter Liability Policy which will pay claims made by a third party, either the MOD or the civilian organisation, in the event that they are legally liable for an accident happening during a SAR training flight involving the subject aircraft.

Not more than £50,000,000 will be paid for claims arising out of one occurrence Note this policy is for training flights only, operational flights are automatically covered by an MOD policy.

MRCS/ACI/07/11

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

Scottish Mountain Rescue - Core Capabilities

Dyneema Rope the answer to our prayers or a potential death trap!

5

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Inspection OK now the stretcher is clean get up close and personal and try to develop a clear inspection procedure that you do every time i.e. frame tubing, skis, casualty bed.

A bit nerdy I know but the import thing is not to miss anything. Most of the stretcher just needs a critical eye ran over it but there are times that you will need to pause and inspect a little closer. Inspect the two parts of the stretcher individually and then put it together to check frame alignment.

Pimp My Ride Finally then a look at how you can personally adapt your stretcher to suit the needs of your team. Key to this is knowing what is ‘out of bounds’ and what is allowed a little tweaking. Frame tubing, skis and corner plates are all ‘out of bounds’ as any well intentioned modification here could in fact weaken the stretcher. The casualty bed however will allow the odd modification and this is where you can do something to enhance the stretchers performance for your team. In our team we have chosen to keep our wire strops in a watertight BDH bottle. This gives several advantages in that it is weatherproof which is great for maintaining the strops in good order but also means I do not have check them just because they have been carried in the rain.

We have modified the casualty bed so that the BDH bottle is attached via some 6mm bungee cord; I choose to drill a couple of holes to take the cord which meant I did not have a loop of bungee on the ground side of the casualty bed forming a snag hazard. At the other end of the stretcher we have done a similar thing to secure our rope bridle.

• Frame tubing: Look over all the frame tubing noting any significant dents and condition of screw heads, bolts and rivets. Look at how the stretcher is put together i.e. each half has a continuous bent tube frame that is suspended from two straight tubes which form the carrying tubes. Look closely at the corner plates which bring the tubing components together and also at the rubber tube sleeves which form part of the joint; ensure all rivets are in place and not loose. Look inside the tubing where you can and ensure that the nylon tube inserts that link the two halves together are in good order, a few scratches are normal.

• Skis: These often sustain damage and can be straightened with a friendly rubber hammer if required. Check that the countersunk screws and ‘U’ brackets are not loose, if so firmly hand tighten with your screwdriver and adjustable spanner. Pause your inspection at the centre ski joint where the ski is bent at right angle. Ensure the ski is in good order around this area and that no cracks are evident. Have a good look at the stainless steel securing bolt and wing nut.

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Wash it!

Dry it

• Assemble the stretcher. This should be an easy job for one person. If it is a struggle then suspect misalignment or damage and consider returning to the service centre.

Do not forget to give the head guard and wheel unit a once over ensuring that you attach them to ensure alignment and

Nan

Have a look inside!

The Future Two reasons to take care of your gear – governance and money. Governance is another way of saying that you have a clear trail of history which shows your gear, in this case a MacInnes Mk6 was fit for purpose and that you have done your best to ensure it was well maintained and inspected regularly; hence the importance of the log.

What about money? Well I am not saying that I think the future is cash strapped or poor; it is just that right now, probably more than ever, strikes me as a good time to take more care of the gear we have and allow it to give maximum front line time. What else does an icon like the Mk6 deserve?

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SCOTTISH SCOTTISHMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINRESCUE RESCUEAugust August2011 2011

• Casualty bed: This again can often sustain damage so have a quick look correcting any major dents with your friendly rubber hammer. Look at how the bed is riveted in place to be suspended from the tubing and check these rivets for obvious damage. Be concerned if any dents look to be compromising components that secure the casualty bed to the tubing.

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remember the wheel will benefit from the wash it, dry it, protect it regime.

The last thing to do over the last cup of tea is record the maintenance and inspection you have just done in a log dedicated to that stretcher.

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SCOTTISH SCOTTISHMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINRESCUE RESCUEAugust August2011 2011

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knows what his on about. You won’t find him lubing his parts with WD40! Finally wipe off the excess lubricant with your oily rag and that’s you done the cleaning. One clean stretcher and two cups of tea - what no biscuits?

Pro

the vehicle then you would need to check it far more regular.

If you chat to Stuart at the Mk6 service centre in Glencoe, he will tell you that the stretchers that show up in the worst condition are those that are strapped to the top of a landy.

Many teams that prefer to store the stretcher on the landy roof have gone Shaun Roberts, MRCofS Equipment Officer, July 2011 for a stretcher bag to keep the worst of the conditions out.

The work horse of Scottish rescue. Consider the contribution that the MacInnes Mk6 Maintenance Equipment stretcher has made to rescue incidents; If you want to get serious about it then get consider the shear number of incidents some gear together to help you do the job that this proven design has been involved well. A basic kit would be: • Brush in - high time then that a little TLC was • Bottle of ‘Muc-off’ bestowed upon this iconic stretcher.

• GT85 Lubricant Spray • Clean rag Although the Mk6 is a mature design • Oily rag there is still work being carried out by • Large screwdriver the manufacturer to improve the overall • Adjustable spanner production process, tweak accessories such • Rubber hammer as head guard, wheel and back frame, and • Couple of saw horses finalising the detail of the comprehensive service. This article looks at what you can do Mountain bikers will recognise a lot of this to keep your stretcher in the best condition equipment as it is exactly the same as the between services and explores how you stuff you maintain your bike with after a ride. The process is very much the same as might make a few mini modifications. well – wash it, dry it, protect it.

Maintenance Who and When?

Well the question of who should do the Cleaning and protecting maintenance would typically be answered ‘a Pull stretcher extension poles out to make competent person’. But who is a competent sure you get to all parts and work on half person? Basically this is somebody that the the stretcher at a time again to ensure team can prove has the experience to carry you get to all parts. Give a liberal spray of out the task. Ideally it would be somebody muc-off and grab a cup of tea (leave for who deals with the maintenance of PPE 3-5mins) whilst the nano technology of equipment within their working life and this modern cleaning agent, what ever there are many within MR – engineers, that is, gets to work to loosen the grime riggers, bike mechanics, etc. If this is not (techno phobes may use soapy water at possible then we have to except that team this stage). After tea give the stretcher a members that carry out maintenance of once over with the brush to help remove stretchers need some form of training. any stubborn grime then rinse with lots of Partly to inform them what to do but also water from bucket or hose. At this point to let them know the importance of what you can grab another cup of tea and allow often feels a mundane task. I have no doubt to drip dry or if you’re in a hurry wipe off that all teams could identify a competent excess water with your clean rag. Now give person and this individual could either do a generous spray over and inside all frame the maintenance or deliver the in house parts with GT85. This does several things it will displace remaining water from the training for others to do the job. nooks and crannies, penetrate deep into Every time the stretcher is used, incident joints, protect and lubricate. Importantly it or training, maintenance and inspection is safe on other stretcher components such should be done and subsequently as rubber and nylon straps; it also leaves recorded. You should be able to get it behind a lubricating PTFE film which will down to a slick process that takes no longer make putting the stretcher together much than 10 minutes. If your stretcher is stored easier particularly around the large nylon a long time between incidents then it frame inserts. Now all you old timers that depends on the nature of storage to how love your WD40 take note this is not only often you maintain it. Those that are stored my advise but also that of Stuart who does in a cosy base or a weather tight remote the servicing of the Mk6 in Glencoe; he rescue box, then an annual care plan would lives engineering, drives a workshop with be fine. If your stretcher lives on the top of lathes worth a small mortgage and basically

7

Hebrides Search And Rescue John Norfolk

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Hebrides Search And Rescue were voted in as affiliated members of the MRC of S. This short sentence doesn’t really quantify or explain the 3 years of hard work leading up to that achievement.

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I was quite surprised to find that there was no MRT established here, despite there being a sign for the “Mountain Rescue Post” in Tarbert. After being here a year I heard rumours of a team being formed so contacted the name I was given. It now transpires that there have been rumours and a desire to have a team here for well over twenty years.

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Firstly I should introduce myself and the rest of the management team. I come from a military background, having spent 16 years in the Army, badged to the RA. I then went on to become a senior off road driving instructor with Land Rover working at Rockingham Castle. This then led me to become self employed, owning the company that ran the largest private off road site in the country. A few years, and a set of twins, later my wife and I decided that quality of life was more important and decided to move to the Isle of Lewis. I used to spend some amount of time each year firing off from the Missile Range in the Uists.

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Pimp your ride!

These rumours were hard to pin down, but eventually I was given a name. Tom and Amanda Laverty, who have now become firm family friends, as well as Team Leader

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and Fun Raising officer respectively. Tom works as the Emergency planning Officer for NHS Western Isles and was formerly a member of Lochaber MRT. Amanda is a care worker and has lots of experience of working in outdoor shops.

At this point it is worth mentioning that HebSAR has a slightly different structure, from most other SAR/MR Teams, in that we have a Team Manager and a Team Leader.

As we started to plan the team word got out and we attracted a nucleus of members. With each additional member came more skills and enthusiasm to get the team up and running.

Our really lucky break was attracting Dr Laura Marshall and her husband Justin Busbridge, a highly qualified Nurse Practitioner. We were also lucky enough to get Steve Oliver, ex Rossendale MRT, in to the fold. My drive and motivation was always boosted after a chat with Justin.

Once the decision was taken to form the team we approached the Police area commander, Chief Inspector Gordon MacLeod. He was pivotal, as without Northern Constabulary having a requirement for a team we would not be deployed. He has continued to support the team ever since, and we have established a good working relationship with him.

The Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles, is a long island chain running 130 miles from Barra in the South to the Butt of Lewis in the North. The population is over 26,000, spread across some of the most remote and rural parts of the British Isles. It goes without saying the weather presents its problems in this rugged environment.

With the media attention that the Isles have received with Monty Hall, Countryfile and Coast and the introduction of RET (Road equivalent Tariff) on the ferry we have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of visitors.

Traditionally the land based SAR/MR roles has been undertaken by members of HM Coastguard.

The Islands are also lucky to be blessed with the S-92 helicopter operated by CHC. This accounts for a large proportion of the existing capability within the Outer Hebrides. As mentioned earlier the extreme weather here can also pose problems for the helicopter, at times.

Our vision was always the same, to form a

team capable and equipped to respond to incidents across the Western Isles. In the end I decided that Search And Rescue was the correct route to go down, as technically the Clisham (our highest summit at 799 meters) didn’t warrant the name Mountain Rescue Team. Some would argue with Sron Ulladale on our doorstep we should be an MRT. Our core role is land based search and rescue, but one only has to look at a map or satellite image to see the amount of Lochs and inland water we have. This has led the team to identify a requirement for team members to have some degree to water awareness/ response training in future. Our secondary role was always to enhance the resilience

of the wider community by assisting our stakeholder partners. During the 2010/2011 severe weather the team deployed vehicles and personal to assist the council home care program and the local hospital.

Hebrides Search And Rescue currently has 24 operational team members, including 3 Doctors and Mike Walker from SARDA, and 3 support staff. We have a wide range of professions and experience across the team.

The team is busy training and identifying skills and equipment gaps. The team still has a way to before we are fully operational and equipped, but lots of hard work is going on to resolve this. We are now a registered charity, which brings its own paperwork issues.

A quick mention must also go to Alfie Ingram, who as well as agreeing to mentor the team, has spend countless hours on the phone to Tom offering advice and support.

For this Hebrides Search And Rescue is deeply indebted to Alfie.

John Norfolk

Our website is:

www.hsar.org.uk

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH SCOTTISHMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINRESCUE RESCUEAugust August2011 2011

e ny

When Tom and I googled “How to set up a Mountain Rescue Team from scratch” there were no results! There are text books out there on the technical aspects of our core business, but nobody really knew how to do it as a start up. All the existing teams are well established and formed dynamically over the decades. We knew we had a task in front of us so the decision was taken to share the work load as much as possible. We now operate on a basis that the Team Leader has operational command of the team and the manager overseas the management of the team.

9

The final episodes of four short stories based on the life of a Search and Rescue dog.

Milly In Trouble with Helicopters....

Thump...thump...thump....the noise grew louder and louder til’ I couldn’t bear it

Photograph Bob Sharp

10

Vaguely I could hear Special Human running behind me, her voice loud and desperate, lost in the noise, smell and maelstrom of air movement. She found me cowering and shaking uncontrollably in the doorway of a building, on her face a look of mixed stress and sympathy. Gently she picked me up, held me in her arms and carried me across to the safe haven of my kennel in the back of the car. I’d really like to trust her; I should know that she would never let me come to any harm. But when natural survival instincts take over, any sort of doggie sense just goes out of the window.

I’m five years old now; you would have thought I would have got used to

Heather Morning Mountain Safety Advisor Mountaineering Council of Scotland

helicopters. I’ve even been taken to see a dog psychologist, (who incidentally even asked questions about my bowel movements!) in order to ‘de-sensitize’ myself to the horrendous yellow beast.

But to no avail. A helicopter only has to appear on the horizon and I’m quaking in my paws. The ‘doggie psycho’ gave Special Human a CD of helicopter noises, the idea was to ‘de-sensitise’ me to the noise and make it seem normal. NORMAL??!! There’s nothing normal about a huge noisy, smelly, yellow beast descending from the sky.

I ask myself...

NORMAL I’d rather run over a cornice, which incidentally I tried one day on Glas Maol. What a ride that was!!! Special Human was traumatised.

You would think that if I was so scared of something, Special Human would be good enough to keep me away from them. But oh no..... as often as not I’m trussed up in my full body harness (I’ve included a picture for you here – how undignified is that????) held real tight and woman handled onto the helicopter. My last helicopter epic was on Ben Nevis, just check out my look of disgust! Tell you what, I’d much rather jump than stay inside.......

Milly in Trouble with a Snowboard....

I’ve been around skiers and snowboarders all of my life; Special Human worked in the ski area so it seemed pretty normal for me to see Humans whizzing down the hill when the snow arrived. A close shave early on as a young pup, was pivotal in my education and self preservation around skis. Special Human’s

best buddy Fran, tried to mow me down on the south side of Cairngorm; luckily I slipped between her legs at the last minute and avoided a disaster. Since then I’ve learnt to be very respectful of those pointy, sharp things and kept well out of the way.... until.....

Dark red blood seeped from my leg and across the snow as the searing pain registered. The snow boarder had run over my back leg. The cut was clean and sharp like a knife where the metal edge of the board had sliced through flesh, tendons and an artery... Blood pumped from the artery as I thrashed in panic and pain. Special Human wrapped a bandage around my leg, but it didn’t stem the flow. Ruari rushed us down the hill on the back of a skidoo blood pouring over me, over Special Human and all over the seat of the shiny new skidoo. I didn’t understand, I struggled and writhed as Ruari tried to calm me down and strap on extra bandages. ‘Pressure and elevation’ I heard a panicked Human cry – what were they going to do? Turn me upside down?

An eventful drive ensued; me pouring blood in the rear of the car, Special Human driving in ski boots, 25 miles to the nearest vets, stressed. If that wasn’t bad enough as I was lifted from the car and carried into the vets, Special Human slipped on the smooth floor in her ski boots and we both went flying in a pool of blood. Not the most dignified of entrances I would say!

The vets (bless them) saved the day and more importantly my life. A drip, internal and external stitches and three months recovery saw me bouncing back to relative

Photograph Heather Morning

Getting across to the bottom of the garden was becoming more of a challenge by the day; I’d worn a groove through the snow, but overnight this had totally drifted over.

With the help of the light shining through the doorway, the back garden looked magic, a true winter wonderland .....

Photograph Heather Morning

normality. Oh and did I tell you about that dreaded ‘lampshade’? You can see it in the photo here – sorry state I look eh? They MADE ME wear it for 6 weeks! It seemed like a good idea to lick and chew at my wound every time they took it off, cos’ that’s what us dogs do. Special Human didn’t quite see it that way. One day I jumped in the loch with the ‘lampshade’ on, it caused a bit of a stir....but that’s another story.

Milly – I had a dream....

This is the last of my stories, so I thought I’d Tom and Tara in snow.

The day was forecast to be good; dry and sunny with a strengthening wind. There would be lots of people enjoying the hills today. We’d had a fantastic winter so far. Snowy times are my favourite time of year; snow balls to run after, doggy ‘snow-angels’ to make and digging for things hidden in the snow by special human. Now that really was my favourite pastime. It was great fun practicing; sometimes I would find ‘articles’ buried; if I was really lucky one of those stupid humans would actually have been buried in the snow for me to find – weird lot eh? It was way more fun than the boring summer stuff. Small air gaps in the snow would allow the human smell to percolate up to the surface of the snow pack. Wot a give away! I’d sniff ‘em out; start digging and seconds later Special Human would be there with a shovel digging beside me (doesn’t she know that’s a doggie job?) Didn’t care tho’ cos I just loved jumping and catching shovel loads of snow in my mouth.

The usual drive to work at Glenmore was a little more ‘exciting’ than normal. At the best of times my eyes were out on stalks as we whizzed Photograph Moira Weatherstone along, trees flashing past.

Today the trees were laden, heavy with snow. Unceremoniously indulge myself and share a dream with you. chained to my kennel outside Glenmore It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that YOU might take a lead role in my dream... Lodge, I lazily watched as the snowflakes became less frequent and mid morning here goes. a weak winter sun broke through the It was mid-January; still dark and cold as thinning cloud.

I was woken from my deep, doggy sleep by the familiar morning sounds about the house. As Special Human opened the back door to let me out for my morning toileting, a pile of snow sloughed onto the kitchen floor. Cursing, as time was running short, she brushed it out and noticed that overnight the already thick blanket of snow covering the garden had been added to by several more inches.

with spindrift ripping across the Coire floor.

We were at the base of the Goat Track, a popular route up and down to the plateau.

I’d done it many times. Today it looked different. There had been a massive slab avalanche. Debris was strewn in a wide area across the corrie floor. I instinctively knew that this was my time...this was what all the training had been about...here I could make a real difference....humans were buried and my nose was the most important asset the rescuers had. I understand from Special Human that the chances of survival after burial for more than 15 minutes are very slim. I had to work fast.

Glancing up towards the rim of the Corrie, I could make out the Crown Wall extending approx 500m wide just below the edge of the plateau. The avalanche debris was blocky, difficult terrain; but blocks were good, they left air pockets for humans to survive in and for their smell to escape through to the surface of the snow. I wove in and out, over and through the massive blocks, some of them way bigger than me.

Nose down, concentrating hard, I had it ...I had a smell...no lost it...and got it again.

This time it was strong, powerful, I could smell the fear, the trauma, and the blood. I started digging. Special human was there in seconds, shovel out she started digging too...Cautiously...far more cautiously than me. YES there it was half a meter down.

Was it a leg...an arm...a rucksack...difficult to tell at this stage...Special Human was shouting...other humans ran over... a head was carefully cleared, the casualty was breathing....still alive ...moving...speaking... injured but alive.

I jerked awake as the familiar tones of the BBC Breakfast TV presenter filled the room.....’Search & Rescue Dog hailed a hero as she digs victim out of Avalanche’.

Innes and Sky in snow.

Thump, Thump Thump....that all too familiar drone of a Sea King Helicopter broke my peaceful world. Within seconds special human was there putting on my coat and full body harness and running across to it.

(Did I call this a dream? Perhaps a nightmare might be a more apt description?)

Within minutes we had been dropped into Coire an’t Sneachda, the weather clear now,

Photograph Moira Weatherstone

SCOTTISH SCOTTISHMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINRESCUE RESCUEAugust August2011 2011

SCOTTISH SCOTTISHMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINRESCUE RESCUEAugust August2011 2011

anymore.....a pungent, acrid smell of aviation fuel filled my nostrils....a terrifying down draft of air was sucking the life out of me... just out of the corner of my eye a massive yellow object descended from the sky. I was petrified; my only instinct was to run..... I didn’t care where or for how long, I just had to get away.

Milly

“that dreaded ‘lampshade’?”

11

The Sikorsky 92A SAR Helicopter at Stornoway History The Stornoway Coastguard Search & Rescue Flight commenced operations in May 1987. Prior to this, the Hebrides and the North West Coast of Scotland relied on search & rescue helicopters from either RNAS Prestwick or RAF Lossiemouth. Due to the distances involved and the isolated nature of some of the communities, the response time of these helicopters to the casualties was slow and was often increased by bad weather.

Following a series of tragic accidents in the 1980’s including the fishing vessel Bon-Ami in December 1985 - where 6 stranded crewmen perished after running aground on the approaches to Kinlochbervie while other fishing vessels and Coastguards looked on helplessly - a campaign for the provision of a dedicated search and rescue helicopter on the West Coast of Scotland was launched.

Capt Alun Tink Deputy Chief Pilot Coastguard Search & Rescue Flight Stornoway

new Sikorsky S-92A helicopter replaced the ageing S-61N and introduced the latest aviation technology to SAR operations.

The S92A The S92 entered into service in October 2007 and quickly established itself as a successful SAR platform which to date has completed over 650 call outs at Stornoway.

The aircraft is an AWSAR (All Weather Search & Rescue) helicopter with a dual hoist fit complete with new aviation and SAR technology. It offers significant advantages over the old aircraft including full aircraft de-icing, improved performance and speed.

It can fly in icing conditions down to minus 40 deg Celsius, it can maintain its speed at altitude and in the event of a single engine failure has a higher chance of maintaining its position during a critical phase of winching without the need to initiate an immediate fly away.

At just 68.5 feet long with a rotor diameter of 56.5 feet it has a smaller footprint than the S61, and its military variant the Sea King, but its design offers an increase in cabin size.

The aircraft is powered by two 2520shp General Electric CT7-8A engines which are controlled by FADEC computers. It also has an Auxiliary Power Unit to provide electrical and hydraulic power on the ground when the engines are shut down.

12

The flight is based at Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis and operates 24 hours a day all year. Its area of operations is generally from the Kyle of Tongue on the North coast of Scotland to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula on the West coast and inland to the Great Glen. However, the aircraft regularly operates outside this area and can fly casualties as far afield as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The role of the flight is primarily maritime search & rescue, air ambulance support and of course mountain rescue. Stornoway’s first mountain rescue was flown by my father, Capt David Tink, 23 years ago in April 1988 where an S61, assisted by Torridon Mountain Rescue Team led by Charlie Rose, successfully recovered 2 climbers stuck overnight on a snow covered ledge on Liathach in Wester Ross.

Over the years the S61 helicopter continued to provide a dependable service to the Highlands and Islands but after 20 years it had become dated and required replacing. In 2007 a

The electrically powered dual hoist system offers redundancy in the event of a single hoist failure and it comes with 290 feet of usable cable with a variable speed up to 325 feet per minute. The hoist can lift up to 600lbs.

A Spectrolab Nightsun 1600w Xenon search light is fitted on the port side of the aircraft offering 30 million candela illumination in both wide and narrow arcs.

Operation There are two S-92A helicopters at Stornoway, a duty aircraft and a standby aircraft. The duty aircraft’s call sign for training is ‘Coastguard’ 100 (one-zero-zero) but this will change to ‘Rescue’ 100 if the aircraft is tasked to perform Search & Rescue operations.

The helicopter carries a crew of four: - two pilots, one winch operator and one winchman, who is a qualified paramedic. The winchman is linked to the aircraft by a wireless Polycon Intercom system allowing him to communicate directly with the aircraft whilst working with casualties.

During the winter operations the aircraft’s anti-icing and de-icing system has proved invaluable with casualties able to be taken directly to hospital at altitude thus avoiding the long and time consuming low level routes around the coast.

The aircraft can carry up to 4 hours and 30 minutes of fuel giving it a maximum operational range in the region of 250 – 280 nm including 30 minutes on scene. It recently performed an 8 hour 30 minute 972nm round trip via Ireland to recover a seriously ill crew member from an oil tanker in the Atlantic 260 nm west of Sligo.

Operating with MRTs Last year the Stornoway SAR flight began a MRT Flight Safety Initiative for all teams in our area. This involved revitalising the current aircraft safety briefing with the introduction of a dedicated and comprehensive annual aircraft safety and winching brief along with the distribution of a specially written guide on the S92 for MRTs, aircraft safety cards and flight safety posters. This was completed in the spring of this year and we will be commencing the briefings again in August.

We always welcome any requests for training from MRTs. We aim to exercise at least twice a year with the teams but we will exercise more if asked. We actively encourage teams to contribute to the planning of a training day so we both get maximum benefit out of the exercise. Regrettably, we can only consider requests from MRTs in our area.

It is important to emphasise that we ‘train safe’. That is to say

we will not expose our crew or MRT members to unnecessary risk, carrying out an on scene dynamic Risk Assessment on all operations. During a SAR tasking we will endeavour to do all we can to minimise all exposure to risk although, as we all know, that is not always possible when attempting to save the life of a casualty and in some cases risks may be more difficult to mitigate.

During training however we must make all attempts to minimise these risks and as such, for training, we will not winch a live body in a stretcher and we will not winch MRT members unless we have single engine performance.

A helicopter’s performance will vary depending on a number of factors: - the engine power, weather on the day, the weight of the helicopter and the altitude at which it is operating - to name a few.

Basically, it the weather is hot and calm the performance will be less than if it is cold and windy. Additionally, performance is worse at high altitude than it is at low altitude.

In the event of an engine failure when winching and the helicopter has single engine performance, then the helicopter is able to maintain its position and successfully complete the winching evolution by either safely returning the MRT member to the ground or safely recovering them to the aircraft.

If the helicopter does not have single engine performance then its rotor speed will decay and it will start to descend. To prevent this rotor decay to the point at which it is unrecoverable, the pilot will initiate a forward flying movement thus reducing the engine power required to maintain flight. If a MRT member is on the hook then the winch operator has two choices – to bring him with the aircraft or to cut the cable and leave him behind. The choice will purely depend on the circumstances but in either case the potential risk is increased and sometimes with limited options available.

It’s important to us that the MRT’s have a good understanding of how we operate and vice versa. We hope to achieve this by a reciprocal information exchange through exercises and future attendance at MRT events.

The Stornoway crews have a tremendous respect for the work and professionalism of the MRTs and feel that over the years we have built up a good working relationship with them. As the Stornoway Coastguard flight approaches its 25th anniversary in 2012, our aim for the future is to build on this relationship and continue to work together effectively and successfully. Thank you for your support. alun.tink@chc.ca Capt Alun Tink first started flying helicopters in 1991. He has flown with Search & Rescue flights in Scotland, England, offshore in the North Sea, the Netherlands, Norway and the Faroe Islands. He has also flown in the Falkland Islands supporting the military, with the United Nations in Kosovo and on various oil & gas operations. For the past 6 years he has been based in Stornoway where he is the Deputy Chief Pilot and MRT liaison officer.

(All photographs- Steve Branley.)

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

The campaign was led by local communities and supported by local politicians along with the fishing industry. The government eventually agreed for a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter to be introduced under contract to the HM Coastguard to provide cover for the North West coast of Scotland.

It is equipped with the latest aviation technology including a TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) which will warn the crew of other conflicting transponder equipped aircraft; an EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) which will alert the crew of impending terrain; the latest FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) camera and a SAR mission computer. The computer has a full set of UK Ordnance Survey, aviation and marine charts with AIS (Automatic Information System) overlay for tracking of marine traffic and software including Digital Map and Chart Navigator Pro to assist the crew in their SAR taskings.

Operationally in the mountains, the aircraft has been very successful. Being more powerful than its predecessor it is faster, has better performance and has a larger fuel capacity which increases its operational time on scene. It also allows more MRT members to be positioned on or off the mountains in one go and offers a greater chance of the aircraft maintaining its position in the event of a single engine failure. This does have a downside in the fact that the aircraft’s rotor downdraught is increased although techniques have been both designed and validated to counter this issue on both the ground and in the air.

13

Classie Tassie Alfie Ingram

Mount Amos

“G’ day, welcome to Tassie” – the drivers beam being beaten only by that of the sun “lot of traffic today” he continued, as we waited for a couple of cars to pass across the junction in front.

“I’ll park as near the office as I can” he advised. All of this from a courtesy car that was instantly provided for a 100 yard journey which became necessary due to a misunderstanding of signage on our part! Wow - how many culture shocks can you cope with in 5 minutes ?

Smiling, courteous, and helpful people, where two cars together is considered a busy road, the sun is pleasantly warm. Where the airport has an Amnesty Bin for departing passengers to deposit items not permissible on aircraft. Where for those who are arriving that may have forgotten their luggage contained fruit or vegetables (which it is not permitted to bring into the country to reduce the possibility of disease transference) there is a most docile friendly little Beagle dog which nonchalantly sits down and looks benignly up at its handler if it sniffs out a restricted item.

Quite a contrast to the wild running around and anxious barking prevalent in some search dog procedures !

Tasmania is a ‘new’ country in many respects, only being created 12,000 or so years ago as a result of rising sea levels caused by the thawing of the last Ice Age. Indeed after the Europeans first

14

The island, first called Van Diemans Land by Abel Tasman after the Dutch East India Governer of the time, was initially ‘developed’ by the British mainly as a penal colony with the construction of quite a number of prisons most of which were in remote isolated locations from which escape was virtually impossible - even if there had been some place to go - Port Arthur named after the islands Governer for convicts being the most infamous of these establishments.

When transportation was abolished in 1856, in an effort to escape the stigma of its horrendous past the island was renamed Tasmania after the aforementioned Abdel Tasman the navigator who first discovered the land in 1642.

Thus after the convicts came the settlers, who found the terrain just as challenging as the prisoners, the difference between one and the other being, that whilst one was keen to leave it the other was keen to live on it. So it is that even today the bulk of the population is based along the North and South East coasts, the interior still being largely unpopulated. These settlers, despite their pioneering spirit however, still Safety had fond memories of home as is apparent in the names which appear on road signs such as Perth, Glen Orchy, Swansea, Brighton, Richmond and similar. Killiecrankie Bay and the River Esk other obvious links with the land left behind.

So with challenging terrain and few people living on it, what have we got?. Well something of an outdoor enthusiasts paradise really, with 40% of the island protected in reserves or the 19 National Parks. The National Parks alone cover no less than 1.4 million hectares (21%) of the island, on top of which four of them (Southwest / Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair / and the evocatively named Walls of Jerusalem) have been placed on the UNESCO world heritage list acknowledging that these areas combined are one of the last great temperate wildernesses left in the world.

stumbled on the land it took almost a hundred years of further exploration before Mathew Flinders in 1798 sailed the Bass Strait, thereby identifying that it was an island separated by the Strait from the Australian “mainland”.

The skyline in some places is quite reminiscent of the north west of Scotland, with independent peaks standing out such as Mount Ossa, the highest at 1617m (5309ft), Ben Lomond 1534m (5010ft), and probably the best known Cradle Mountain 1545m (5046ft) with its dramatic dolerite pinnacles standing at the end of Lake

St Clair - the classic Tasmanian picture post card - these monoliths surrounded in many places by a vast plateau lying at around the 1300m (4250ft) mark.

Natives are Friendly!

Lying a little south of the 40th parallel and surrounded by water Tasmanian weather is unsurprisingly variable the ‘wait five minutes weather system’ often prevailing. If it is rain you are looking for the North West corner of the island is the place to go with around 2 metres annually. Snow can fall at any time of the year in the uplands, the previously mentioned Ben Lomond boasting one of Tasmania’s main skiing areas.

Surround all of this with a coast line that has jaw dropping cliffs, gigantic natural arches and other rock formations, punctuated with beaches so idyllic you can hardly believe they are real, for outdoor types the island has much going for it.

There are challenges of course, “going on the hill” is not quite straight forward with vast stretches of temperate rain forest, button grass or bush to tackle before reaching the glacially carved mountains. Therefore, because of this many routes are waymarked trails, or in the more popular areas even board walks, which are necessary because of the very high water table and fragility of the diverse flora. As it is without these constructions it would very difficult to access many locations without a machete, chest high waders or even both!.

This somewhat reduces the “stravaiging” attitude which can be indulged in Scotland, and does present a fairly regimented feel to excursions, even to the extent that there are sign out sign in

“Boulder Scrambling Required - Very Slippy When Wet”, “Not Suitable for those with Health or Mobility concerns”, and so on.

The choice of trails is infinite, from the 60 Best Short Walks to the more major undertakings from the South Coast Trail (85k) up to the Tasmania Trail (480k). Of these the Overland Trail is probably the best known, and quite a serious undertaking, normally taking 6 days for the 80k which because of the elevation, and unforgiving terrain has to be treated with considerable respect.

If this type of hill going is not your particular “thing”, and the clink of ironmongery is music to your ears, there are numerous venues where gravity can be challenged. One of the most accessible of these being the heavily bolted Cataract Gorge located well within the city boundary of Launceston, situated at the confluence of the North and South Esk Rivers. Little doubt where the folks that named these waters came from!.

Should things go wrong and assistance is required the Tasmanian Police have an SAR Squad. The volunteer SAR support for the statute services, however, is provided by the State Emergency Service (SES) which is an impressive large scale multi skilled and equipped organisation, full details of which can be found on the organisations web site www.ses.tas.gov.au/what_is_ses/volunteers/sar_teams.htm -

Walk Register Books

registers at the start / end or virtually every route, which by and large most people happily complete. The interesting thing is that the registers are not routinely checked to see if anyone hasn’t returned, being only referred to if someone is reported overdue or missing, the details left in the register being used as guidance as to where the person planned to go, as well as time of return.

Alongside the register books there will be various information panels giving details of the terrain, estimated times, particular difficulties, and other information, concluding with the physical ability persons considering the undertaking should have!. All of this is designed to encourage personal planning before setting out, never the less, there is invariable a rider at the bottom of the panel advising the reader that personal safety is their responsibility.

From the Scottish perspective all of this “guidance” is a bit of an athema, but it is just the way it is in this part of the world, and even those not used to such signage quite quickly find themselves having a sneak peak at the info panels if only to agree or disagree with the details listed such as “Difficult and Very Steep”, “Suited only to Physically Fit, Experienced, and Well Equiped Walkers”,

Once nicknamed the Apple Isle due to its very successful export of the fruit to Britain, until EU rules put an end to the trade, Tasmania whilst not the cheapest option, nor exactly a short haul flight away, offers much to the outdoor enthusiast. Its great lifestyle, and wonderful attitude succinctly summed up in a roadside sign which subtly requested “ Quiet Please - Trees Growing”!.

Hill and Coast

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

Hazard Risk

The creation of the island resulted in a remarkable environment, with an astonishing variety flora and fauna entirely unique to this compact land which is a little bit smaller than Ireland. Even the Aboriginal people of the island were distinct race from the Australian “mainland” Aborigines, although the grim treatment meted out to these native peoples by the Europeans as they ‘developed’ the land resulted in the pure Tasmanian aboriginal line becoming completely extinct many years ago.

15

Rescue at Drogonniere de Gaud, Ardeche Gorge, France: October 2010

Whitehouse (BCRC chairman) for help in dealing with the logistics of the operation.

While waiting for a formal call for help, there was plenty that could be done. The divers needed time to prepare their own caving and diving gear and then Rick and Charlie needed to drive from their homes in Coventry and Dorchester to John’s home in Bristol. There they would be able to study together any information about the sump, provided from France, and finally decide and check over what they needed to take with them.

PERTE DU PUITS DE RONZE ENTRANCE

PLATEAU SURFACE

ARDECHE GORGE

0

50

POINT REACHED DURING RESCUE OPERATIONS

150

DRAGONNIERE DE GAUD ENTRANCE

PROJECTED END OF SUMP –1m

100

CURRENT LIMIT 30/11/10

WATER SURFACE IN SUMP

200

–27m

LIMIT OF EXPLORATION –42m

250

BLOCKAGE –50m

RESURGENCE TO RIVER

SUMP POOL

–87m

ERIC ESTABLIE FOUND –71m

SECTION THROUGH CAVE

0

50

500

1000

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCALE IN METRES

16

When he did not return after what was planned to be a dive lasting over seven hours, his support diver went some way into the sump hoping to meet him at a decompression stop. When this did not happen he returned to the surface and raised the alarm.

The French cave rescue – Speleo Secours Français (SSF) – quickly realised they had a big problem. An experienced and well-equipped diver had dived to a place beyond the skills of most other divers to reach. However, based on what was known of the sump and

One of the decisions following the Norwegian incident concluded that the selection of divers to go on any team should be a decision made only by divers. The pick list for a team suitable for this incident was very small and the decision was quickly reached. Two divers with the necessary advanced skills (Rick and John Volanthen) would be the ones to go together with a third diver (Charlie Reid-Henry) as technical support and interpreter.

After deciding who should go, Rick rang Bill

(ARCC) at Kinloss and asked if they might be able to help. The initial response was not encouraging but he was asked to make contact again later that Monday morning when perhaps more information had been received from France.

About 03.00, Olivier Lanet emailed Bill to say French divers had been down to minus 50 metres in the sump hoping to find Eric on the way out at one of the decompression stages. He was not there and SSF were now

Now that it was confirmed the divers were definitely needed Bill went back to the ARCC and spoke to duty controller Robbie Roberts who, as luck has it, is not only a caver but also one with cave diving experience. Bill explained that a formal request for assistance was in the offing and there was a real urgency in getting the divers and their equipment over to France as soon as possible. He asked whether the team could be flown across the channel for the French to then deal with their onward transport to the Ardeche. Following many more conversations and exchanges of information Robbie, the ARCC and the RAF came up trumps. A Sea King, from Chivenor in Devon, was put on standby to fly later in the day to Bristol airport and pick up the team and their kit. The RAF also agreed to fly their filled diving cylinders of pre-mixed gases which would save valuable time in avoiding the need to mix gases and fill cylinders on site.

They would then be flown over to Cherbourg airport where the French would assume responsibility for them. But, for any of this to actually take place, a formal request for help between governments was still required.

It wasn’t certain what route such a request should take. During the 2006 Norwegian incident, Bill had first tried the Foreign Office and learned that matters concerning foreigners in foreign holes was not something in their job description. However, on learning that the police had overall responsibility for search and rescue in both countries they had suggested a request be made by the Norwegian police to Interpol in Oslo to go to Interpol in London and then to the responsible ACPO officer.

This had worked then so, assuming the situation would be the same now between the UK and France, Bill contacted Neil Thomas, DCC Ian Shannon’s ACPO staff officer in North Wales. As the day progressed Neil checked with the Foreign Office to confirm their stance was the same and then conferred with Interpol in London to ensure any request would be intercepted and passed on to him with the minimum of delay.

As the day progressed, other matters such as insurance cover were researched and resolved (the British Caving Association cavers’ holiday insurance turned out to be the best!). The Sea King was standing by, the aircrew had been given estimates of load weight, the ARCC had arranged diplomatic clearance for flying to

Cherbourg (where the airport would stay open late if necessary), the divers were on their way to Bristol and at Bristol airport arrangements were in hand to deal quickly with them when they arrived. ACPO and Interpol were ready to action a request which, by early afternoon, had still not been received. This was worrying.

Time was slipping away if the divers were to fly at all on Monday.

This was made clear in emails to the SSF who were themselves urging the French authorities to speed up a request but they were reluctant to do so until learning the results of the planned dive to 500 metres which had been delayed and was not due to take place until mid-afternoon and be completed until after 18.00.

In response to the MIC message, help was also offered by other countries. The French authorities accepted offers from Switzerland and Italy although, as it turned out, only a couple of the divers sent possessed the experience and skills necessary to operate far into the sump.

Divers sitting in boat waiting to be ferried across the river to the cave, John

However the SSF on the left and Rick on right. prevailed and about 14.30 the request was made – but not in the way expected this side It was now late afternoon and, following of the Channel. one last call to the French Interior Ministry to ensure that air transport in France had been The French Government made their request arranged, all was ready for the off. via the European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre for Civil Protection All went well. Rescue 169 collected the divers (MIC). This is a continually monitored EU and 700kg of kit from Bristol at about 18.30, emergency communications system on which delivering them safely to Cherbourg an hour any participating state can post a request and a half later where a large French Securité for emergency assistance. It is designed for Civile fixed wing aircraft was waiting. A use following major disasters. On receiving potentially serious hitch then arose as the pilot a request the MIC forward it to the civil refused to fly carrying full diving cylinders. protection authority in each participating However this was resolved by the French fire state for them to consider if they can offer service agreeing to collect them from the help. In the UK the receiving authority is the airport and driving them down overnight to International Team of the Civil Contingencies the Ardeche.

Secretariat in the Cabinet Office.

Once rebreathers, scooters and divers were The request dropped on their desk cold – they strapped into their seats the aircraft took off knew nothing of the planning and action and flew to Mulhouse to pick up three Swiss already going on. However, by the intelligent divers and their equipment, before flying them use of assorted contacts via the HSE and all south to deposit them at 03.00 on the edge elsewhere, they were put into contact with of an otherwise very closed Nîmes airport. The Rick, now driving down to Bristol. He, in turn, divers unloaded and sat with their mass of referred them to Bill. Consequently, Kirsty kit, wondering what was to happen next but, Hogan of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat after only a short wait, a convoy of fire service was able to rapidly make a formal UK reply vehicles arrived to ferry them the last fifty or so to the French request with the following miles to the base of operations. Here they were message: briefed and the decision made that the British team should dive first because they were the ‘The British Cave Rescue Council has identified most prepared with charged cylinders (which two UK cave diving specialists and a liaison had by now caught up with them) and a preofficer who are preparing to travel to France packed dry tube containing a ‘beyond sump’ via an RAF helicopter this evening in response rescue kit, comprising bolting kit, hauling gear, to this request. stove, food, repair kit, first aid, heat packs and other useful bits.

‘We understand that France will cover the three volunteers’ travel and accommodation So, after a short rest and a meal they prepared and that arrangements will be made to fly their gear and were ferried across the river to them from their initial landing point in France the cave shortly before noon, intending to to Ardeche region.’ dive as far as possible or until Eric was found.

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

The area around the Ardeche Gorge to the the local geology there was, they believed, a Northwest of Marseille is one of France’s many high chance that he had found a place above caving regions. In the gorge itself are many The divers reckoned caves and one of these they’d be ready to travel is the Dragonniere de from Bristol early on Gaud. This cave can Monday evening and be followed for only their initial plan was about one hundred to drive down to the Dragonniere de Gaud metres before its Ardeche – a distance continuation is of about 850 miles completely flooded. including the Channel Cave divers have been Tunnel. Allowing for rest gradually pushing the limit of exploration water to await help. Their problem was how to and preparation, the earliest they could be in this flooded passage or sump and, by the deliver that help. ready to dive would be late on Wednesday – beginning of October this year, one of France’s three days after Eric became overdue. leading cave divers, Eric Establie, had pushed On Sunday evening, Olivier Lanet, the SSF on alone beyond the previous limit of 775 Chargé de Mission for diving operations, This was really too long. Assuming Eric had metres in, to reach 1040 metres from the start telephoned Rick Stanton in the UK and asked reached safety underground on Sunday, he of the sump. At this point the passage was if he and other suitably experienced UK divers would be marooned in a hostile environment, trending upwards quite steeply and, although might be prepared to assist. At this stage the possibly injured and/or with damaged still 42 metres underwater, it was considered request was an unofficial diver-to-diver ‘pre- diving kit and certainly without food or other highly likely it would continue upwards until alert.’ Any formal decision to request help supplies. If British divers did end up being dry passage above water level was reached. from outside France would be unlikely until needed, because local resources were not Monday morning. available, a rapid reaction to a call for help The sump is not only long but also very would be critical. deep – minus 87 metres at its deepest point A similar request had been acted on in 2006 – and with considerable variations in depth. when two British cave divers, together with Consequently, just after midnight, Bill rang Diving beyond the first part requires the Heyphone underground to surface comms the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre use of rebreathers, mixed gases and lengthy equipment, had been decompression stops – a technical challenge sent out to Plurdal Divers and kit being picked up at Nimes airport by the French fire service. beyond all but a handful of cave divers in Norway to assist worldwide. in the recovery of a Norwegian cave diver On Sunday 3 October Eric set out on a missing in another dive, intending to pass his earlier limit and long and deep sump. continue onwards, hoping to reach the end That exercise had of the sump and gain access to unexplored been quite a learning dry passages beyond. He was well equipped experience and was with two scooters (small torpedo-like devices followed by some able to tow a diver), two rebreathers, ample pre-planning for a supplies of breathing gas and plenty of diving similar call should line to safely mark his route in and out of new one occur – and now territory. it had.

re-evaluating their options. Bill outlined the plan to get Rick and John over to the Ardeche but that it needed a formal government to government request for help to make things happen. An email at 08.20 stated that another dive was projected later in the day to the deepest part of the sump (about 500 metres in), and confirmed that SSF were talking to the authorities their end about making a formal request for help.

17

They kitted up and entered the sump to find visibility of about one metre due to suspended sediment in the water. French divers who had been to the lowest point of the sump (–87 m) had reported that visibility seemed to improve beyond but, when Rick and John passed that point, they found the reverse to be true. Visibility from thereon was, in fact, much poorer.

They pressed on. About 775 metres into the sump, John descended a silty gravel slope to find the diving line laid by Eric going through a very low arch. He made an unsuccessful attempt to squeeze through and, just as visibility reduced to zero, he caught sight of a diving scooter in the hole. Visibility was now so poor that, when Rick encountered John’s legs he thought at first that he had found the missing diver. Both made further unsuccessful attempts to pass the constriction and after conferring by wet notes they concluded that it was impossible. John was able to pull the abandoned scooter out of the hole to take out for examination and then they made their way back through the sump in atrocious visibility as their activity had stirred up even more silt.

Returning through the sump took over four hours because of the need for decompression stops on the way before they could safely surface. They reported what they had found

18

and their conclusion that the constriction had been caused by a collapse of gravel and silt from the slope preceding it. They described their attempts to force through and their conclusion that trying to dig through would be not only horrendously dangerous but almost certainly impossible. Any excavated material would merely gravitate back into the hole and digging attempts might well also precipitate further collapses on the unstable slope.

Disappointment at the outcome of the dive was universal. However, the fact that Eric’s scooter had been found was taken by the SSF as a sign he’d deliberately left it there to indicate he had survived the collapse and gone further into the sump to find refuge above water level.

Due to the extreme visibility problem it was decided no diving could usefully or safely be carried out until the sediment had been

Further diving was cancelled and French cave rescue teams turned their attention elsewhere.

On the plateau above the gorge in a vineyard about 1800 metres away from the cave entrance there was an impenetrable sinkhole (Perte du Puits de Ronze) that, in wet weather, took a considerable stream proved by dye testing to connect with the underground river resurging in the gorge. A massive operation commenced here, initially using mechanical diggers, but soon falling back to standard cavers’ digging techniques to remove the fill, break rocks and widen constrictions. Teams operated round the clock, gradually working their way down breaking through choke points and descending a number of clear vertical pitches revealed by their digging. But it was slow work and a clear breakthrough enabling them to get down the nearly 180 metres to the water level of the sump eluded them.

Thought was also being given to the possibility of boring a hole down to the constriction in the sump and then removing the blocking silt and gravel by pumping – clearly a long shot. There was still considerable optimism that a wellequipped cave diver of Eric’s experience stood a good chance of survival had he been able to continue beyond his earlier limit of exploration and ascend to an air bell or dry passage.

Consequently, John and Rick were asked to dive again to the constriction taking a radio location device with them to determine the exact location of the blockage relative to the surface. They were also asked to take a metal detector to determine whether any more of Eric’s diving gear was buried in the silt near the collapse.

They dived on Saturday, and with some concerns over the effect the magnetic field generated by the location device might have on their dive computers they operated the device successfully. Visibility was much better (relatively!) and Rick was able to see further into the constriction where he spotted a diving cylinder.

He was also able to find and inspect the entrance to a narrow passage above the collapse which might possibly bypass it.

However, it was extremely small and to attempt it with the back mounted diving gear they were using was out of the question.

They returned to the surface and reported

their findings, suggesting that an attempt on the passage above the collapse might be possible using sidemount rebreathers. This was agreed and the following day (Sunday) the two Swiss and Italian divers ferried additional diving cylinders into the sump ready for the attempt. They also pushed the dry tube containing supplies as far into the constriction as possible as there was a view that Eric might be returning periodically to the far side and therefore able to retrieve it.

If Rick and John were able to bypass the constriction, and if they did find Eric alive, they would need help and additional equipment to effect what would be a very difficult rescue.

The only other available person with the necessary equipment and experience was another British diver, Jason Mallinson. Jason was already half expecting to be called and after being contacted on Saturday evening he was able to be ready to leave home in Huddersfield later that night.

In view of the amount of kit he had to take, and as he would not be required to dive until early the following week, he elected to drive down to the Ardeche in his own vehicle.

After being met on the M1 to receive some specialist equipment, ferried over to the rendezvous from the Derbyshire CRO store in Buxton, he carried on and arrived on site in France on Sunday evening after an almost non-stop drive.

On Monday, Rick and John dived to the blockage for an attempt on the possible bypass. Rick entered the passage first and managed to get through. John followed, positioning the guide line for a safe return.

The squeeze, whilst not tight by UK standards, was complicated by the visibility suddenly dropping to zero and the fact it opened into a rift only negotiable in exactly the right place and at exactly the right height – a real problem in nil visibility. Once the way through the bypass had been successfully reconnoitred and lined, they returned to collect scooters, the dry tube of supplies and rescue kit. They then passed through the squeeze a second time and continued the dive, intending to pass the previous limit of exploration and carry on upwards in the hope of finding Eric unharmed.

However, about 140 metres beyond the blockage, at a depth of 70 metres below water surface and just before the passage started to rise, they encountered Eric’s body. Recovering and transporting him back through the squeeze would not have been possible, so Rick and John had to content themselves with recovering Eric’s dive computer for analysis by the French authorities.

Their discovery was a shattering disappointment to all involved as hopes had remained high Eric had managed to find refuge above water level. All reluctantly agreed that attempts to recover him

winter weather may soon cause further delays until next Spring.

Exactly what happened on Eric’s dive may never be known.

An initial analysis of his dive computer apparently revealed he had passed the point where the collapse later occurred and continued beyond his previous limit of exploration following a rising passage to a point only one metre below water surface.

He then returned to encounter the blockage on his way out.

Eric Establie’s death is a tragic loss of one of the world’s leading cave divers. He will be greatly missed and the sympathy of cavers everywhere will be with his family and friends. Speleo Secours Français and the French authorities mounted a huge and enormously efficient rescue operation and did everything possible in the hope that Eric The early days of the Ronze dig. The pinned sheet is to prevent loose had survived his dive on 3 October and had found a safe material falling into diggers below. place in the cave above water. through the sump could not be justified We all know, though, that even and the operation was wound down to the the best efforts are sometimes unsuccessful.

French divers (assisted by Jason) recovering Sadly, this was one of those occasions. equipment left in the sump.

This article first appeared in the MR (E&W) That night John felt unwell and in the morning, as a precaution, he was taken to Marseilles with possible decompression sickness for a spell in a decompression chamber. This meant that flying home was out of the question so, after a full debriefing by the French authorities, they packed their gear and were driven to St Malo by the French fire service to catch the ferry back to Poole.

This brought to an end the help from the UK but not an end to SSF operations. French cavers were determined to find another way of recovering Eric’s body and they restarted work in the Perte du Puits de Ronze sink with the intention of pushing on with excavations until they reached the other end of the sump underground and from where a diving recovery might prove possible.

At the time Rick and John found Eric’s body, cave rescuers had excavated down to a depth of about 75 metres. A subsequent public appeal was made by the Federation Française de Speleologie and the SSF for donations to support the continuation of digging operations. This appeal raised in excess of sixty thousand euros and the work continues.

Teams of cavers from all over France are involved and have now reached a depth below plateau surface of nearly 150 metres.

Work is currently held up with some flooded passages still some 30 metres vertically and possibly 500 metres horizontally from the projected end of the sump. Pumps have been installed to help try to clear the passage but

magazine

Comment from SCRO. As Scottish cave exploration progresses, fresh technological advances play an increasingly important role.

Thus one principal impediment to extending caves – a totally submerged passage – is no longer the impenetrable barrier it once was.

side, but it is still possible to come to grief at locations where diving out is the only option.

Remember as well, that the submerged passages will likely be small, twisty and sown with obstacles – rock flakes, mud banks and low roofs – and all diving will be in virtually nil visibility once silt has been disturbed. It is a challenging environment in which to operate.

Although SCRO can call upon a small cadre of native cave divers, if such a situation should arise, application would have to be made for cave divers and sump rescue apparatus from BCRC teams south of the border. All this of course costs precious time – time which would be used by local divers to stabilise and care for the victim in an environment hostile to trauma at any level. If the casualty is ‘walking wounded’ a far better solution would be a crash course in sub-aqua use followed by their diving themselves out, a technique which has been employed successfully on a number of occasions.

This was the case in Sutherland in 1998 when four cavers were trapped in Scotland’s longest cave, Uamh an Claonaite, by flood water filling two sections of their exit route to the roof.

Fortunately we had two cave divers nearby, one SCRO and one from Derbyshire CRO. Our diver managed to dive through to contact the four and take them self-heating tins of soup and coffee. His return against fast flowing water was only possible with a good pull on his line from the upstream end of the sumped passage. Hours later, once the torrent had partially subsided, the two divers took spare diving equipment through. There followed a quick course in using the gear then the four were escorted through the sumped sections to reach the surface at 4.30am after a 17 hour caving trip; probably a Scottish record.

It follows that accidents in, or more likely beyond, ‘sumps’ (of whatever length or depth) are exacerbated and transporting an inert casualty through waterfilled tunnels becomes a real problem, one not yet properly encountered in the British Isles. Suitable equipment has been developed but so far used only in practices, where the ‘casualty’ has been fully conscious. A real live incident SCRO Claonaite sump bypass would be testing indeed.

Caver exiting the bypass crawl to sump 1 in normal water conditions.

This is one of the two sections that flooded to the roof and where Scotland is not immune the trapped cavers had to go through using diving gear after a quick from these problems. Quite lesson.

extensive networks beyond sumps are to be found, for example, in North West Sutherland. Although currently no single dive is longer than 90 metres, and all sites are shallow in diving terms, they still present formidable barriers for rescuers. Fortunately, so far almost all have been bypassed with the opening up of ‘dry’ routes to the far

It is to be hoped that such a rescue is never called for again, but if the worst comes to the worst, help from SCRO would be as swift as geography permits, with back-up contacts from England firmly established.

Alan Jeffreys & Ivan Young, SCRO.

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

John about to dive with Charlie on right.

given time to settle out, so it was not until Thursday that a second team of one Swiss and one Italian dived to the constriction. Their inspection in improved visibility confirmed what John and Rick had found.

19

Reception Holyrood Palace 23 May 2011 Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland who is a keen hillwalker wished to recognise the work of mountain rescue in Scotland, and to this end held a Reception in its honour at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh on Monday 23rd of May. An invitation to the Reception was extended to all MRCof S member organisations to send two representatives with partners to the function, in addition to which invitations were extended to members of the MRCof S Executive as well as representatives from each of the twelve Order of St John districts in Scotland. Also in recognition of his long and extensive involvement in MR Hamish MacInnes was invited as a VIP guest.

Held in the Throne Room of the Palace Lord Wilson welcome everyone to the evening to which Jonathan Hart MRCof S Chair replied. The guests who represented all aspects of the MR service then enjoyed a very pleasant evening chatting to many friends old and new.

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

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Programmed MRCofS courses for 2011, please note all the courses advertised are subsidised by the MRCofS training officer budget. A huge thanks to all those teams who hosted MRCofS courses this year, they include: Lochaber, Cairngorm, Tayside, Moffat, Arran, Ochil, Braemar and Glenmore Lodge.

Search Management Development Course Course date: Friday evening 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September 2011 Location: Moness Resort Aberfeldy, Perthshire Places available: 30 Course cost: £120 pp full board package Who can attend: team management members, group leaders and any team member with MR experience who is keen to progress their knowledge in search management.

This course is designed by Scottish MR for Scottish MR. Although a new course to Scottish Mountain rescue it is the main course that brings together best practice from evidence based Scottish mountain rescue incidents. The course includes: lectures, theoretical discussion groups, practical skills, workshops and search management scenarios.

To book or for an informal chat through the course content, contact: Graham MacDonald egmcd@btinternet.com Level 2 Technical Rigging Course Course date: Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September 2011 Location: Town Hall Aberfeldy, Perthshire Places available: 24 Course cost: £80 pp, course cost only Who can attend: Ideal for those who have attended the MRCofS level 1 course or equivalent. This course delivers best practice technicques for undertanding; · Advanced hauling techniques · Angle theory of tensioned lines · Suspended rope access systems This course is mainly hands on and will assist those teams who have an operational capability for tensioned line work.

To book or for an informal chat through the course content, contact Stuart Johnston sj@ climbmts.co.uk MRCofS General Meeting Date of meeting: Saturday 5th November 2011 Location: Moness Resort Aberfeldy Contact: please forward your notification of attendance to secretary@mrcofs.org Scottish Mountain Rescue Conference Conference date: Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2011 Location: Moness Resort, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

Courses 2012 Avalanche Level 1 Course date: 2 x courses - Friday evening 13th and Satuday 14th January and Saturday evening 14th and Sunday 15th January 2012.

Location: Glenmore Lodge MRT Places available: 24 Course cost: £60.00 per person (does not include accommodation) Who can attend: Team members who are stepping out for the first time and team members who require to refresh their hasty search skills in avalanche prone terrain.

To book please contact Liz Belk liz.belk@ glenmorelodge.org.uk Avalanche Level 2 Course date: Friday evening 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January 2012.

Location: Lochaber MRT Places available: 24 Course cost: £80.00 pp (does not include accommodation) Who can attend: This course is ideal for experienced rescue team members who wish to imporve avalanche search skills and avalanche casualty care.

To book please contact Emma Pearce emma.pearce@outwardbound.org.uk Avalanche level 3 Course date: Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2012 Location: Breamar MRT Places available: 24 Course cost £80.00 pp (does not include accommodation) Who can attend: Experienced team members and team management To book please contact Graham MacDonald egmcd@btinternet.com Winter Rigging Course Level 3 Course date: Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th Feb 2012 Location: Tayside and Breamar MRT Places available: 24 Course cost: £80.00 pp (does not include accommodation) Course base Glenshee.

Who can attend: Team members who have attended the MRCofS level 1 or 2 course or equivelent.

Team members need to be competent on scotish grade 1 terrain.

To book please contact Stuart Johnston sj@ climbmts.co.uk Climbmts Group Aberfeldy Scotland PH15 2DT Office: 01887 822 699 Mob: 07748 840 851 e-mail: sj@climbmts.co.uk www.climbmts.co.uk www.climbwired.co.uk

Heli Mad! - 27 July 2011 Helimed turns it back in disgust as it cowers from the downdraft of 177 after having been displaced from the Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Helipad to allow its bigger brother to land and hand over a female casualty to the hospitals A&E department. The Helimed completing a hospital casualty transfer was hastily

HeliMed and Rescue 177 at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

moved off the helipad when 177 somewhat unexpectedly arrived overhead with its casualty which it had recovered from a fall from the sea cliffs at Arbroath, turning a quiet Sunday afternoon into a mini air show as the two aircraft carried out all their various manouevres landing taking, off and swopping places in order to off load their casualties

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

Lord Wilson’s recognition of the mountain rescue service in Scotland was greatly appreciated, and most gratefully acknowledged.

BOOK NOW!

Places available: 140 Course cost: £120 pp full board package Who can attend: Any team member however, we strognly suggest team management and team members with specific team roles and responsibilities attend.

The conference will be packed with lectures and hands on workshops covering a wide variety of topics specific to Scottish MR. To book please contact Stuart Johnston sj@ climbmts.co.uk

21

Banana and Whoopie Cushion Charity Tour

On April 10th I was signed off by the doctor as being fully recovered from the accident and on April 13th Scott and I headed off. As with any event where the purpose is to raise

UK MR Conference 2012

Thomas Hurst

Last July I took a fall during a climb in Rosyth quarry in

The 2012 UK MR Conference will be held from the 7th to 9th September in Leeds Metropolitan University. This venue offers particularly good Conferencing facilities,

rescue is very comforting so I decided to raise some cash for the Scottish rescue teams.

Fife which resulted in me fracturing my spine in two places. My rescuers consisted of two full fire crews, two paramedic teams, three police cars and a mountain rescue team. A fuss was made over me to say the least.

To raise the money, my friend Scott and I decided to do something a bit crazy and respectably challenging so it would attract as many donations as possible.

We planned to cycle from Edinburgh Castle to the Tower of London (450 miles) in 5 Days. As neither of us were regular cyclists we had to begin the intensive training and strict dieting.

This involved cutting back on the pies and beer and the occasional cycle into the hills around Edinburgh. The saddle sores after these cycles were not a good sign of things to come.

money for charity a ridiculous costume is a standard feature and this trip was no exception. Scott wore a full sized Whoopie Cushion and I dressed myself as a Banana.

As expected we turned heads and as a result claimed a few more donations.

After spending 6 days in hospital the long road to recovery started and so did the plans to give a little bit back in return for the effort made to sort me out.

As I’m a keen mountaineer the presence of mountain

Following on the very successful establishment of the Emergency Services show in England, first held in London, but subsequently at Stoneleigh near Coventry, the organisers of the event, the widely read Emergency Services Times, decided to host a similar event in Scotland to cater for the more northerly based emergency services in the UK.

Held at the SECC in Glasgow on the 5th and 6th of July, the exhibitor response to event was such that the show had to be moved to one of the larger exhibition halls. In addition The Emergency Planning Society Resilience Symposium was arranged to run in conjunction with the

the emergency services.

which together with adjoining Swimming Pool, Climbing and Bouldering Walls, as well as an Environmental Chamber offers exciting opportunities for lectures presentations, and workshops on a very wide range of MR topics. The Conference will undoubtedly be the MR event of 2012, and should not be missed.

More details will be issued as they become available, meanwhile mark your diaries.

What?

MRCofS Avalanche Level 2 Rescue Course When?

January 2011 Where?

Lochaber MRT A really consistent and successful format for the MRCofS level 2 avalanche rescue programme has developed and been refined over the last four years with Friday

of interested visitors to the stand, the presence and “exposure” most valuable in confirming MR’s place in the emergency services world.

Particularly notable at the event was the extensive array of equipment and vehicles on display - both inside and out - the outside section being neatly placed between the exhibition hall and the Glasgow Police / Scottish Ambu Helipad.

The MRCofS was invited to exhibit in the “Blue Light Zone” of the exhibition, and during the two days welcomed a steady stream

Emma Pearce (LMRT Training Officer) searching the run out apron immediately below number 5 gully after a cornice collapse event.

night introductions, practial team skills all day saturday and a large mock avalanche rescue scenario delivered on sunday, up on Aonach Mor in soft , crisp, powder snow with cobalt blue skies and lots and lots of sunshine!!!! Expectations were high for this years programme.......

The MRCofS level 2 avalanche rescue course was held over the weekend of 15th and 16th January 2011 and the programme was once again hosted by Lochaber MRT, held at Nevis range and attended by 26 particpants

An avalanche run out track leading from Garadh gully and ending up in the Ben Nevis gulchs just south of the CIC hut and near the approach to Itailain Climb. Two French climbers were caught in the avalanche and received serious injuries. Once again the climbers were caught in a classic terrain trap which had serious implications for them.

Courtesy of Lochaber MRT

from teams across Scotland.

The course content for the level 2 programme in 2011 had been revised and improved taking into account a lot of new avalanche rescue experience and lessons learned from the big Scottish avalanches of the last few years, the latest IKAR evidence and the most up to date research coming out of the States. The programme for this years course was no exception and the programme had been updated to include improved information on multi person shovelling techniques, avalanche site management and a revision on the protocols for casualty care at these infrequent but unpleasant events. As part of the programme this years particpnats were also fortunate to get a presentation and demonstration from members of the Austrian MRT who were over delivering the new RECCO avalanche responder to Lochaber MRT. LMRT has become the first team in the UK to have access to this piece of kit that aids the speedy location of RECCO trasnpsonders that are now freqeuntly sewn into skiers , boarders and climbers clothing. The availability of RECCO kit to avalanche rescue teams is standard practise in all the ski areas throughout the rest of europe but up until this year has been absent from Scotland.

LMRT have been pro active in this subject given the increase in off piste skiing, ski touring and boarding in the area and can now offer an improved response should an avalanche occurr in any of the main ski areas. The potential of the RECCO kit for use

in Scotland was highlighted (presentations from Davy Gunn in 2008 and 2009) on the MRCofS avalanche level 2 courses in previous years and its been great to see the MRCofS National courses provide the stimulus for local teams to consider how to improve their avalanche rescue capability.

The RECCO presentation was provided on the saturday night of the course and folks were all revved up for the big avalanche sceanrio planned for the next day. However once again the Lochaber weather proved that regardless of modern montaineering kit and advances in search and rescue technology the rigours of the West Coast weather can put the best laid plans to rest... and so it was......as the new rescue team building creaked and groaned during the saturday night lectures , the winds picked up to a very respectable 100 mph at 500m and a huge thaw on the back of the south westerly winds forced the organisers to cancel the final mock avalanche scenairo on Aonach Mor. A hastily arranged alternative programme was put into place and we all rocked up at Aonach Mor the following morning hoping that the winds would ease but unfortunately things just got worse and worse. The programme was shortened and delivered at the base station and thanks to Nevis range , coffee and bacon rolls saved the morning!! Sadly though the main part of the weekend is the big sunday exercise and this years participants missed out the chance to put all their new skills into practise in one large and realistic scenario and that was very disappointing.

However a lot of key skills were covered throughout the weekend and participants left the course fully updated on all current avalanche rescue techniques and had an opportunity to get to grips with the new recco kit.

Hopefully the MRCofS and Scottish teams can build upon this relationship with the Austrian Mountain Rescue service and look to gain form one anothers experences.

Looking forward to seieng folks on the 2012 course......book early!

With 100mph winds at 500m , the MRCofS avalanche level 2 course had to be reloacted to a lower level. The RAF rescue dummy takes a brew in the lower Gondola station and awaits their next burial!!

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

SCOTTISH MOUNTAIN RESCUE August 2011

show resulting in a Emergency 2011 Scotland prestigious two days of workshops The Emergency Services Show exhibitions, and presentations for

22

After 5 days of sweat, silly photos and laughs we cruised over Tower Bridge in London having raised £998 for the Scottish Mountain Rescue Teams.

23

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