Kintail MRT come to rescue of Skye volunteer injured training accident

Members of the Kintail Mountain Rescue Team had a busy day on Sunday (March 26) as they were called out on two separate rescue missions.

Kintail volunteers started the day by assisting an injured walker in the Glenshiel area.

Shortly after 1pm, Police Scotland received a 999 call from Sgurr nan Saighead, on the western end of the Five Sisters of Kintail.

Kintail MRT volunteers were called out to assist with the rescue, with the help of another walker who happened to pass by. The injured walker was able to return part of the way along the ridge until Kintail team members arrived to provide first aid and assist her down to an ambulance.

Volunteer team leader for Kintail MRT, Lara Hinde, said: "Even experienced and well-equipped hillwalkers can slip and fall – and they did the right thing in alerting us for support, advice and assistance."

Kintail volunteers were also called out to a rescue after an accident during a routine training exercise being carried out by the Skye MRT.

The team's Sunday training exercise "became a bit too real" when one of their team members suffered an accident involving a loose boulder, high up in Coir'an lochain, resulting in a lower leg injury.

A post on the Skye MRT Facebook page said: "With assistance and considerable sympathy from other members in the group our ‘real’ casualty was able to hop and shuffle his way down below Coire a Ghrunndha before additional team members, including several of our neighbours from Kintail Mountain Rescue, were on hand to stretcher him further down the hill and into an awaiting helicopter.

"Loose rock is always something to be extra vigilant about in spring conditions, especially in the lesser-travelled areas of the Cuillin and the weekend’s accident shows that it can happen to anyone, including experienced climbers.

"Many thanks to all those that turned out including Kintail MRT, R948 and R151. Also, many thanks to The Old Inn, Carbost, Isle of Skye for sorting out the troops with one the best curries we’ve tasted in a while.

"Lastly, we wish our team member all the best with their recovery and we can announce he is happy to consider book and film rights in the future."

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