peaky BLUNDER
Munro bagger Scott tells how he celebrated conquering 282nd and final peak with champagne.. then fell and broke his leg yards from his car
HAPLESS hillwalker Scott McCormick has revealed how his moment of glory turned to disaster when he bagged the last of Scotland’s 282 Munros – then tripped and broke his leg.
The unlucky 52-year-old, who had just toasted his success at the summit of Sgurr na Banachdich on Skye with champagne, was a few hundred yards from his car when he slipped on a rock and snapped his leg in two places.
Printing account manager Scott was planning a huge party to mark his lifetime achievement after he scaled all of the country’s Munros, which are mountains over 3000ft.
But he was left howling in pain after his tumble over a small rock on the path down.
Scott, 52, from Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, said: “I could not believe it. I was with some pals and my girlfriend Linda Henderson and we had just been talking about how most injuries happen on the descent.
“We were really enjoying the day, the weather was good and we were all looking forward to the after-party. When I fell, I just knew it was broken. The pain was terrible and I heard a snap so I just knew.
“My pal had to co-ordinate the rescue as I was in so much pain that I couldn’t move.
“It was just as well that I was with such experienced climbers. Our intended ceilidh celebratory party in Port na Long in Skye didn’t happen.
“The mountain rescue were great, though, as were the medical people at Broadford Hospital in Skye who operated on the leg, along with staff in Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where I was transferred.
“I was gutted because it will be 12 months before I’m back on the hills.”
Eight members of Skye Mountain Rescue Team were scrambled to help Scott on Saturday. Team leader Gerry Ackroyd said: “He broke his leg just above the ankle and was in a lot of pain. He was in good spirits in the end. It was just bad luck.”