Tourist rushed to ERI after jumping into Castle moat

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.