RESCUE HEROICS
FOUR-HOUR OPERATION TO FREE STUCK MAN Abseiling coastguards pluck climber from cliff
THIS dramatic picture shows a climber being rescued from a sea cliff in a complex operation involving abseiling coastguards and a helicopter.
The near four-hour rescue, which ended at 12.20am on Saturday, was described as “one of the most technically challenging” missions ever seen in the Western Isles.
The man, who was on his own, became wedged in a gully in the sea cliff at Bragar on the west side of the Isle of Lewis and phoned for help.
Coastguard teams from areas including Bragar, Stornoway, Ness and Harris were scrambled after the alarm was raised around 8.30pm on Friday.
The Stornoway-based coastguard search and rescue helicopter winched a paramedic down to the
injured climber. A spokesman said: “Due to the casualty being wedged in a gully they were unable to extract them.
“Coastguard rescue teams began a prolonged and challenging technical rescue to extract the casualty via rope rescue system. As the casualty’s injuries and location extended the rescue effort into darkness, the decision was taken to task more assets.
“Hebrides Mountain Rescue Team and Stornoway Lifeboat were requested to provide more options on scene should the initial rescue effort prove unsuccessful.”
The man was eventually winched to safety by rope rescue teams just before midnight.
He was then evacuated for treatment to hospital in Stornoway.
The spokesman added: “We would like to thank all services for their assistance in this incident, which is one of the most technically challenging we have seen in the Western Isles.
“We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.”
The climber’s condition and the distance he fell are not known.