BGR Incident in Gategill?

[Mike T]

Sorry Mike, I was just matching Yiannis’ flippancy..

It wasn’t a brilliant accident at all actually, it was quite serious. I fell c.100ft in three or four bounces from the infamous slippery slab on the upper section of Sharp Edge in September 1999 and suffered multiple injuries: broken ribs, punctured lung, internal bleeding (haemo-thorax), broken cheekbone and other facial injuries, R kneecap broken into 4 pieces, severed patella tendon, big chunk of flesh gouged from R buttock etc.

I was close to death due to blood in the chest cavity when I got to Carlisle infirmary but have made an almost complete recovery thanks to the Mountain Rescue team, other people on the scene, and the medical care I received. Strangely though, I have never quite regained my previous level of fitness

Strangely Bill, I never noticed the view on my way down but I'm sure it was spectacular....

Yikes Fellhound that was nasty. Was it wet? I have done it 3 times, once down - horrible - as I chickened out of staying on the ridge and found myself on even worse ground to the north - twice up in dry conditions - fine. I can see that even when dry you are only a foot or two - or a brief distraction - from disaster.

[Hanneke]

Oh no, poor Mark!

Whoever is in touch with him, a speedy recovery from me... xx

[that_fjell_guy]

I never go up Sharp Edge in anything but perfect conditions these days. If its damp at all it can be slippy. I had a nasty day up there a few years ago. Nearly fell off twice, once from in the gulley and once again on the slab. I decided to descend, tried the ridge...slippy. Dropped down to lower path...horrible, shaley and slippy. Scary day! Judging by your resultant injuries Fellhound, I'd be wise to only go up in scortching sunshine!! I've taken a few people up there and had problems too....

[invisible]

Mark is now out of intensive care and in good spirits except for being bored with nothing to do. He has a shattered 2nd vertibrae which they have secured by bolting marks head in a halo collar thingy to stop him moving it. they plan to leave it like that for up to six weeks to see if it will bind itself together. if it does not they will go in and wire it all up.
He also has a broken leg which they will not set and put in plaster for a couple of days when hopefully the trauma and swelling has gone down.
Also he has lost a chunk of flesh from the side of his nose plus other scrapes and bruises

[AlanB]

Mark is now out of intensive care and in good spirits except for being bored with nothing to do. He has a shattered 2nd vertibrae which they have secured by bolting marks head in a halo collar thingy to stop him moving it. they plan to leave it like that for up to six weeks to see if it will bind itself together. if it does not they will go in and wire it all up.
He also has a broken leg which they will not set and put in plaster for a couple of days when hopefully the trauma and swelling has gone down.
Also he has lost a chunk of flesh from the side of his nose plus other scrapes and bruises

Sounds like Doddick for Mark then next time !
Glad it's all getting sorted.

[Full Moon Addict]

[QUOTE=Fellhound;488224]I agree. Slightly off topic but I find the obsession among fell runners with finding a shorter 'faster' more direct way to be a bit sad. Of course, speed is the name of the game so it's inevitable but I'm always aggrieved when the need for speed takes me along some soul-less contour or down a bland slope when the ridges are so much more sporting and aesthetically pleasing...


actually, I'm with you on this one. ridges are usually the nicest lines.

[that_fjell_guy]

Ouchya!!! Good luck on a quick recovery!

[mountain bag]

Wow that has to smart a bit.

Very unfortunate to have had such a fall, very fortunate to be "bored" with his current situation. Its going to be a long hard road back. I'm sure everyone wishes a speedy and complete a recovery as possible.


As for the recce/race/run comments, its like getting run over by a big or a little car, it don't matter much, its still a car, they all still hurt.

[Maggie May]

Mark is now out of intensive care and in good spirits except for being bored with nothing to do. He has a shattered 2nd vertibrae which they have secured by bolting marks head in a halo collar thingy to stop him moving it. they plan to leave it like that for up to six weeks to see if it will bind itself together. if it does not they will go in and wire it all up.
He also has a broken leg which they will not set and put in plaster for a couple of days when hopefully the trauma and swelling has gone down.
Also he has lost a chunk of flesh from the side of his nose plus other scrapes and bruises

OOOh poor Mark-he must be in a lot of pain. How scary the whole thing must have been too. Ive fallen there also on wet rock with tired legs at the end of a BG reccie. Slipped, bounced a few times but managed to stop the forward rotation by flinging myself backwards, digging heels and elbows in, rucksack helped and quicky came to a halt. immediately burst into tears and was then very quiet for the reast of the day. A few sleepless nights -what might have been..... Mark is such a lovely lad and always runs with a smile and a friendly chat to everyone he meets. Hes a member of Ambleside AC although lives and works in Essex and is a Geordie by birth. Ambleside friends have sent a card and best wishes for a quick recovery. If youre reading this Mark Good Luck and leave those nurses alone!!

[Hyporunner]

Thanks for all the good wishes. Thought it was about time I contributed!! :-)

I am now recuperating at my parent's home in Somerset. Apart from the obvious effects of the injuries, I'm OK and don't feel too bad at all. My neck and shoulders are constantly sore and I've strained muscles in my chest and arms from shifting myself about with limited mobility, otherwise, no pain.

It seems I fell about 60ft down a scree slope. Don't know if I damaged it too much. Apart from scratches, cuts and bruises, my C2 vertebra (in the neck) is smashed (that's how the doc described it!), the skull is fractured in four places, the malloleus (bottom of fibia) is broken in the left leg and some lumbar vertebrae are damaged where the ligaments were pulled off. I have also nadgered my right ankle which is just soft tissue damage. By the feel of it, I think I may have caught the right foot in a hole or rock and this may have caused my fall.

Fortunately I don't have any memory from well before the incident until waking up in the hospital in Newcastle.

Apart from the frustration of limited mobility, my only annoyance is that I lost my wallet, phone and camera in the fall as my rucksack tore open. But there again, that my have saved me!!

From an assessment at Taunton hospital, I will now need to wear the halo for between 3 and 4 months. So effectively I'll be out of action for the rest of the year. But I will be back. With the Quantocks so close here, a few easy walks will get the confidence back.

Oh, and Maggie May! I'm native Welsh!! And I can report that all the nurses have been fantastic!! :thumbup:

Lastly I wish to convey my big thanks and gratitudes to the Keswick MRT and Great North Air Ambulance teams. Once I fully fixed I'll be popping up to buy you beers :thumbup:


Mark