Major operation sees woman airlifted from Rhum

COASTGUARDS rescued a barely conscious woman in one of a string of walking incidents during a busy day for the service.

A helicopter from Stornoway was sent to rescue a woman who had collapsed and was struggling to remain conscious on the Isle of Rhum at around 9.30pm last night.

When the helicopter reached the island the weather had closed in and the cloud cover was too low to fly in to locate the casualty.

The Rhum Coastguard Rescue Team started to walk in to the lady’s position while the helicopter returned to Skye to refuel and to collect extra coastguards from Portree to help with the evacuation.

Rhum and Portree Coastguards made their way to the injured lady on foot and found her conscious but very cold and unable to walk.

They made her comfortable and placed her in a stretcher ready for extraction.

Carrying the stretcher through Harris Glen towards the coast, they were able to get the woman to a location suitable for the rescue helicopter to fly to meet them as the weather lifted. The casualty was then transported to Hospital in Broadford.

Incidents

The coastguard rescue helicopter from Stornoway had already been to four different incidents involving injured walkers on Saturday in Skye, Kintail and Crianlarich.

Carol Collins, Stornoway Coastguard watch manager said: “With so many people enjoying a chance to get out walking over the bank holiday weekend our advice for walkers is to be prepared. Make sure you are properly equipped for walking along coastal paths.

“Wear sturdy shoes or boots and check the weather forecast before you set out. Do not attempt to climb up or down cliffs unless you are properly equipped and trained. Do not try to climb cliffs as a short cut back to the top. Do not attempt self rescue, if you get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.