Tourist rushed to ERI after jumping into Castle moat
The man leapt over a 10ft wall at Edinburgh Castle
A TOURIST has been rushed to hospital suffering from multiple injuries after falling into the empty moat at Edinburgh Castle.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after friends he was with called 999.
It is understood that the 20-year-old – believed to be on holiday in the Capital – was jokingly hiding from friends when the incident happened after 2am yesterday at the historic attraction.
It is understood he leapt over a wall not knowing there was a 10-metre drop, and plunged to the other side where the moat once ran round the castle.
Today, the Scottish Ambulance Service said he sustained double breaks to his ankles, and suspected head and neck injuries.
Fire crews and paramedics were called to the scene to rescue the man from the moat before rushing him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
The army said it was aware of the situation but had left emergency services to deal with the initial response.
A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade said it appeared as if the fall was an unfortunate accident involving someone who would not have known that area.
She said: “We attended with a line rescue crew to Edinburgh Castle.
“A 20-year-old male had a double fracture to his ankle, suspected head and neck injuries after falling 10 metres into the dry moat at Edinburgh Castle. It is believed he jumped over the wall to hide from his friends and didn’t realise the other side was such a big drop.
“We used line rescue teams and line rescue equipment from the turntable ladder and rescued him, and the Scottish Ambulance Service took him to the Royal Infirmary.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service added: “We got a treble-nine call from the Castle itself at 12 minutes past two, saying that a male had fallen into the moat below.
“We had two ambulances there. He’d fallen into the moat under the drawbridge, just at the entrance. It was a 20-year-old male with ankle and head injuries, who was taken to the Royal Infirmary.”
An army spokeswoman said: “A tourist fell into the dry moat around about 2.15am and sustained injuries. The fire brigade and civilian police were dealing with it.”
The bottom of the moat has lose chipping stones in it, similar to those used in garden paths.
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Comments
There are 40 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Curious Yellow
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:43 PMMemo to editor - Edinburgh castle does not have a moat.
Scottish Dross Destroyer
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM#38...Yup....same fools who think Edinburgh's main thoroughfare is called Princess Street.
Proximo
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:33 AM#35 How embarrasing that you insist on calling something by the wrong name. #3 is correct of course. So much better for you to live and learn as we all do. Some people may, out of habit or ignorance, refer to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as the ERI, but you can take it from one who knows that it has and always will be called the RIE, or the "Royal" for short. Just because you and a few clowns that write for this newspaper would like it to be called ER, or have mistakenly referred to it by the wrong name all of your life,I doesn't actually make it so. Even more reason to be quiet rather than shout out to everyone that you have got it wrong all these years.
Snoopy1
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:08 AM#Jools in Edinburgh you would be exempt from paying anything under the mental health act when the men in white coats section you for your rambling statements.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:39 AM#33 - "obviously the quality standards at this rag are worse than ever." - but obviously not as bad as the standards of your rags.
The Genuine Mario Antionette
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:36 AM#3 - ERI ALWAYS.
Jools in Edinburgh
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:23 AMJingsitsme, and I hope you'll be applying that same logic to the person who crosses the road without looking properly, the person who takes a short cut and gets hit by a train, the person who has a high fat content diet and ends up with premature heart disease, every person who is held responsible for a road accident...in fact, why not those sailing boats, driving trains and piloting planes without due care and attention. How about the person who forgot they left the chip pan on and burnt their hand on the fire, the person who took a short cut and gored themselves on railings......blimey at this rate we'll be billing virtually everyone in A and E.
Mario Antoinette
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:48 PMThere was never a moat round the castlevand the ditch at the front is a victorian addition. Look at the topography for gods sake. This is of course blatantly obvious to just about anyone , obviously the quality standards at this rag are worse than ever.
dgg
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 09:10 PMLots of nit-picking when anyone who has been there knows how it could happen. 3 ft wall, large hole in ground, dark. Ouch. He's lucky if all he broke is his ankles.
Always look on the bright side of Leith
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:15 PM#30 I agree with you! If you are injured due to misadventure 'whatever your condition, then it is up to you to foot the bill. Simple as that.
Jingsitsme
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:48 PM#26 - yes I would. If you play sports then take out insurance to cover it. I would do the same with alcoholics and drug abusers - all self inflicted and who pays - you and me from our taxes etc. No wonder NHS in such a poor state.
Fartar
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:33 PMLook before you leap.
Lachie Mhor
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:06 PMThe poor guy possibly read the SNP proposals on the referendum
Tobytoo
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:09 PM#6 Luvmacity, Thanks I did not know that.
HighwayChode
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:06 PMJingsitsme. I hope in that case you'll be applying the same logic and sending bills to anyone who was treated for a sporting injury aswell.
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