Lucky tourist saved by tree in embankment slide scare

By DAWN MORRISON
Published on 04/09/2012 12:01

An Australian tourist has had a lucky escape after she narrowly avoided plunging 40 feet down a ravine.

Jenny Edwards, 64, from Sydney, was out walking in the grounds of the Dalhousie Castle Hotel in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, when she slid down the 50ft embankment.

It was only a tree at the bottom which prevented Jenny from falling a further 40 feet on to rocks below.

A total of 25 fire service personnel, including a specialist line rescue team from Newcraighall, were called to the scene along with ambulance crews and police.

Jenny, had been staying at Dalhousie Castle with Tim Davis, 72, as part of the couple’s tour of the UK.

She said: “I was taking one of the walks and the mud was a foot thick.

“I thought there had to be a better way, why don’t I make my way down to the stream?

“It was solid mud and I couldn’t get back up. I got stopped by this tree and I could see it was overhanging.

“I knew if I went any further, I would have fallen down on to the rocks about 40 feet below.”

Trapped, Jenny phoned Tim on her mobile phone and a search party came looking for her.

Jenny said: “The firemen put a harness on me and pulled me back up the ravine. You could say this is the most excitement I have had on this trip.

“I felt pretty stupid when this happened and from now on I will be sticking to the paths.

“The efforts of the police, the fire brigade and the hotel staff were absolutely fantastic.”

Group commander Richie Hall, from the Lothian and ­Borders Rescue Service headquarters in Lauriston, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this result in rescuing Jenny.

“The rescue took a large amount of fire service resources.

“We had crews from Musselburgh, Dalkeith and ­specialist line rescue crew from Newcraighall in attendance and worked alongside 
the police and ambulance 
service. The location where Jenny had fallen was quite isolated from the hotel.

“It took a large amount of personnel and equipment to ensure that there was a systematic safe rescue.

“I would remind people when they are out walking 
to stick to the designated routes and make somebody aware of the route they have taken.

“And like Jenny, you should always take a mobile phone with you.”

The area from which Jenny was saved is not believed to have been within the nine acres of land which make up the hotel grounds.

General manager Alan Fry said: “We’re really pleased that Jenny is safe and well.”