EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD Newlands
COASTGUARD volunteer Jamie climbed down a cliff in storm force winds to save a stranded teenager in a race against potentially deadly conditions.
Two friends had got into difficulty after climbing down the 130ft cliff to the sea in Fethaland on the north tip of Shetland. While one of the young men had managed to climb back up, the other, Ellis Sutherland, was stuck at the bottom.
By the time the Coastguard were called in, he had already been there for two hours, it was dark, the tide was rising and the weather was deteriorating.
A helicopter was first to arrive but could not fly close enough to the cliff face in turbulent conditions to attempt a rescue. The helicopter and the Aith Lifeboat then used searchlights to illuminate the scene so that a rope rescue team could set up their equipment.
Rope technician Jamie, 36, a volunteer on his first major rescue operation, descended the cliff in storm force winds, rain and heavy squalls to pull Ellis to safety from the incoming tide, taking him back to the top where he could be winched aboard the helicopter and taken to hospital where he recovered from hypothermia.
Jamie said: “Looking over the edge was like looking into darkness. I was going to have to go down into darkness. You’re trying to think of getting to the boy, not how you’re feeling because you’re the one who’s having to keep calm through everything. With the weather conditions, if we hadn’t gotten to him, he probably wouldn’t be here today.”
Jamie was speechless when Simon Neil, lead singer of his favourite rock band Biffy Clyro, ambushed him with his Pride of Scotland award.
Jamie thought he had been interviewed for a documentary about rescue services, and was taking part in a photoshoot to help promote the programme.
In fact Simon was waiting in the wings with his award, telling him: “You are some man, what a hero. What you did was unbelievable and you deserve this award very, very much.”