East Kilbride News

Rope rescue team in bridge fall SOS

EK firefighte­rs haul woman to safety

- Andrea O’Neill

Firefighte­rs from East Kilbride staged a daring rescue when a young woman fell 20ft from a bridge.

The rope rescue unit were alerted to the tense scene at Glasgow’s Clyde Street bridge last Tuesday afternoon.

A 25-year-old woman was lying unconsciou­s on an embankment at the edge of the River Clyde with suspected neck and back injuries.

Using a specialist Larkin frame and rescue stretcher, the local crew of eight took just over half-an-hour to reach the casualty and haul her to safety in what has been described as a “difficult and complicate­d” operation.

She was checked over by paramedics at the scene and taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she was treated for non-life threatenin­g injuries.

East Kilbride fire chief Eddie Kelly told the News: “The rope rescue team were called out to assist the Calton fire service at Clyde Street Bridge at around 3.45pm on Tuesday, May 8.

“Initially we thought it was a water rescue but when we arrived the female was lying on the embankment, twitching and unconsciou­s.

“Due to the limited access and suspected neck and back injuries, the rope rescue team set up a haulage system using a Larkin frame and rescue stretcher.

“The casualty was unresponsi­ve and was taken to the Royal Infirmary with suspected neck and back injuries that were not expected to be lifethreat­ening.”

He added: “This was quite a difficult and complicate­d rescue due to the limited access but the rescue was successful.”

 ??  ?? Delicate operation The young woman had fallen 20ft and needed to be rescued
Delicate operation The young woman had fallen 20ft and needed to be rescued
 ??  ?? Answering callEast Kilbride’s rope rescue team get to work at Glasgow’s Clyde Street bridge
Answering callEast Kilbride’s rope rescue team get to work at Glasgow’s Clyde Street bridge

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