’Copter rescue as Peak walker struck by heat
MET OFFICE EXTENDS ITS AMBER ALERT INTO NEXT WEEK
A WALKER who collapsed on a popular Peak District route during the hot weather was rescued by an air ambulance.
Other walkers at Grindsbrook Clough called in help for the casualty as temperatures across England rose to the low 30s on Monday afternoon.
Mountain Rescue Team volunteers from Buxton and Edale arrived in vehicles despatched from Dove Base and Buxton Fire Station. On arrival in Edale, team members were shuttled to the Nag’s Head pub. The volunteers then continued on foot in the very warm weather conditions, which made for an “extremely unpleasant walk” up the valley just before 3pm.
They called for the air ambulance to attend before arriving at the scene towards the top of Grindsbrook Clough. After getting support from the volunteers and being placed on a stretcher, the casualty was flown down to Edale, before being loaded into an ambulance from East Midlands Ambulance Service.
A spokesperson for the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team said: “On arriving at the casualty’s location, it was established that the walker had succumbed to the heat and was unable to walk. During the walk-in, a request was sent for assistance from the air ambulance service, which landed on the plateau above.
“The casualty was assessed, cooled with water, given some glucose gel and placed on the stretcher for a difficult carry up the steep rocky scramble to the helicopter.
“The casualty was then loaded on board the helicopter and flown down to Edale and loaded into an awaiting land ambulance from East Midlands Ambulance Service.
“We’d like to thank all team members for their assistance in some difficult and hot conditions. We’d also like to send our thanks to all the walkers who assisted and cared for the casualty until our arrival.
“We’d further like to highlight the need for caution when heading out during these extremely hot conditions, and the Met Office has now issued an amber weather warning for heat on Sunday.”
Since then the Met Office has extended its extreme heat “danger to life” weather warning for Derbyshire. The Government forecasters’ amber warning covers the city and the entire county and was originally in force for Sunday only. It has now been extended to cover Monday as well.
Forecasters are expecting temperatures to build again later this week and over the coming weekend, likely peaking on Sunday and shifting into Monday, when some exceptionally high temperatures are possible.
Temperatures of 31C are currently forecast for Derby and Derbyshire, and the Met Office says this could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.
The national weather service has warned of population-wide adverse health effects. Potential “serious illness or danger to life” is possible, a Met Office spokesperson confirmed when announcing the weather warning yesterday.
The warning spans from the very south of the country right through the entire Midlands region and up to Middlesbrough to the north of England.
The Met Office spokesperson said: “Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potentially serious illness or danger to life. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only. Seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
“Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines are likely to be required. Significantly more people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents.
“Delays on roads and road closures are possible, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with the potential for significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays.”