Girl breaks her thigh in sledging accident
A HUGE rescue operation was launched after a girl broke her thigh bone while sledging in a Huddersfield village.
Paramedics and mountain rescue teams descended on a hill in Shelley after the teenager suffered painful injuries.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon and after paramedics were unable to reach the casualty, Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team stepped in to help.
Preparing a bell stretcher – a canvas with four handles designed for mountain rescue – the team were forced to sledge their patient up an icy slope.
Both Yorkshire Air Ambulance and HM Coastguard were unable to help as they had already been deployed elsewhere thanks to the snowy conditions spread across the county.
The emergency services thanked the public for their patience and understanding as the ambulance caused problems with road routes and the rescue meant many walkers had to stop.
The injured girl was taken to hospital along with her parents, while the team decontaminated both the kit and uniforms, in line with Covid-19 safety and were debriefed by the roadside. Witnesses were quick to wish the casualty a speedy recovery.
One said: “I was there yesterday and I really felt for the poor girl. I really hope
I was there and really felt for the poor girl. I really hope the young
lady is ok now.
the young lady is doing ok now.” Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team were also praised for their work. A witness said: “It was an amazing job, a fantastic effort.”
While the heavy snow has already brought much of the county to a standstill, worse could be to come with a major weather event predicting another ‘Beast from the East’
There is set to be a sudden drop in temperature, likely due to a major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event which is developing high above the Arctic and is similar to that which triggered the big freeze – or Beast from the East – three years ago.
It is likely to result in the whole country being covered by heavy snow fall and sub-zero temperatures by the end of the month into the beginning of February which could hold out until spring.
Temperatures are also expected to drop as low as -9C in northern parts of the UK with milder weather on the way next week.