Borrowdale Fell Race

[Madge]

I echo all of the above ...a very big thankyou to all the marshalls and the Mountain Rescue at the checkpoints and to Scoff, Shaz , Len and all the team of folk that made this race possible and made it a great day . It was my first time and I must thank my team mate Rachel for dragging me round as far as Great Gable where she even came back down part way to spur me on to the top ! ......I would not have got round without her encouragement. Also thanks to the runner from Newcastle who took me off Dalehead to avoid the rocks ....Andrew I think he was called ! It was all made worth it getting back to the finish hearing your name called out and thinking thank goodness I am back ! - it was a tough one for me. The cheese sarnies and lovely cups of tea really finished the day off well. I have never seen so many prizes given out either and well done to everyone who won!

[wharfeego]

[QUOTE=watto;591120]...right next to the runner who fell and was the first man on the scene, and stayed with him till the mountain rescue arrived./QUOTE]

It was a situation that I hope never to see again.

And it is still vivid in my mind, seeing the guy trip and tumble off the edge of the rocks, like a rag doll bouncing off the rocks.

When I scrambled down to find him I couldn't believe just how far he had dropped, another few metres and he could've fallen into Greta Gill (I think that's what it's called).

I honestly thought he was dead when I reached him, the amount of blood on the rocks where his head was resting, facedown, was a shocking sight.

I know you shouldn't move the casualty before assessing but I had to lift up his head as the blood was preventing him from breathing.

He was also facing the 'wrong' way with his head downhill of his feet, and in danger of slipping further down the crag, so when more help arrived we got him turned the other way, and that wasn't easy due to the terrain, the gradient, and the sheer weight of a limp body.

I do not want to sensationalise the situation, or claim to have saved his life, but had a couple of us not seen him trip and tumble then I really don't think he would've survived that fall.

He is a very lucky man.

Hats off to the Mountain Rescue teams, they were fantastic; it is great to see them working in such a professional manner, and I had every confidence in them seeing the situation to a happy end.

Just for the record; I'm guessing that it was 1 to 1:30pm when the incident happened, and the Sea King helicopter winched up the casualty at about 5pm.

I'm sure the story will unfold in due course but for now I'm just happy to know that he's in good hands at a hospital in Newcastle.

ps..I do not wish to name the guy, at least not until he's ok with that.

[stevefoster]

Forumite of the year, wharfeego, end of.......

[Wheeze]

Top man wharfeego....and don't underestimate the affect this will have on YOU. It is very traumatising to witness something like this and then have to deal with the aftermath. I do hope you have good people around you who you can talk to about this. It's important that you do. PTSD and all that. Although played up by the press now, it is a very real phenomenon and can have far reaching affects.
You are right he was a very lucky man to have someone to get to him so quickly....and someone who quite clearly did not panic.
I'm with Mr Foster on this....

[Derby Tup]

Andy, well done!

[alwaysinjured]

Well done Andy!

So I wonder , is fellrunner editor STILL refusing articles on what to do if you are first to the scene of a fallen runner?

Blocked airway = death in minutes = wasted journey for helicopter - so what should you do? Raised by me, numerous times , both here on the forum and privately, and blanked by those in charge. Everyone needs to know, but our executive are not listening, preferring petty power games over safety. Irresponsible Idiots.

One day, they might actually listen, preferably before the Pyrrhic victory on "who is in charge" ends up with someone else lying in the morgue. Safety officer needed in FRA (who knows something about safety this time ) would help. Safety is about foreseeing and preparing for things like this,( in this case disseminating information) not just reacting to them after the horse has bolted.

[wharfeego]

Thanks all for the kind words.

I guess I will, in time, do a proper written story (with pics and vids) of the day's experience.

But first my thoughts are with the fall guy who I would like to speak to before publishing any more details than I already have done.

I think this photo says a lot about the incident…

The red 'X' marks the spot where he tripped, Greta Gill just below…



by Andy Holden, on Flickr

[Wheeze]

Jeez! He fell a long way. The BBC weren't kidding!!

[Tindersticks]

I've just seen that 3rd placed runner Sam Watson finished 168th in his first Borrowdale in 2008. How inspirational is that, especially for the younger runners. Keep up the good work mate and hopefully one day you'll get your name on the winners board in the pub. Speaking of the pub, no wonder you had that big daft grin on your face all night after that result....brilliant stuff.

[Theolneywayisup]

Andy, the photo is very interesting. Assuming the route went along the ridge somewhere then you are spot on that he is very lucky someone saw him fall. He was also lucky he had somewhere as competent and responsible as you - although I'd like to think that most of us would do (or at least try to) the same. It must have been dreadful for you, not only to see it all but then have the responsibility of being the only person there to help him initially. I don't think everyone would necessarily have done what you did. I am sure at least a few people (possibly myself included if I'm honest) may have fallen into the trap of thinking 'I must not move him' not realising that clearing his airway was more important.

Photo also shows how difficult it is to truly represent steepness. It doesn't look steep enough to fall from the red cross to where he stopped. That is a seriously long way when you are constantly hitting the ground.

Like everyone else, thoughts are with him and his family and hope he makes a full recovery. Mountain rescue - absolute stars.