Mull people praised after major incident

A ROAD traffic accident involving two coaches on the narrow single-track road near to Pennyghael on the Ross of Mull saw three casualties taken to hospital.

The community on Mull has been praised by emergency services for the way in which it dealt with a major incident at first involving 15 casualties.

A report from Craignure Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) said: ‘ Full team paged today by Stornoway Coastguard to assist with a multi-agency incident at the south end of Glenmore.

‘There had been an RTA between two buses with around 15 casualties.

‘Once arrived on site spoke [with] Police Scotland, requested to set up a helicopter landing site (HLS) for incoming Rescue 199.

‘[ Helicopter] Helimed five was already onsite along with Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland.

‘Two members of the CRT went to organise HLS while one team member plus senior coastal operations officer continued to help onsite. Also paged were Tobermory and Ross of Mull CRT to assist with comms and later with the transfer of casualties to Rescue 199.

‘Passengers from the two buses were ferried to the nearby Pennyghael village hall to wait assessment by paramedics.

‘Rescue 199 from Prestwick landed in field next to the road and five further medical personnel made their way to the hall.

‘The road was successfully reopened after a couple of hours and thankfully only three passengers required a trip in a helicopter to Oban hospital.

‘The response from all the emergency services was amazing and a credit too all. The incident could have been far worse, a speedy recovery to all involved in the accident.’

The incident commander praised all the local volunteers who helped, including community first responders, the Coastguard, Pennyghael hall committee, Pennyghael residents and those who were working at the art exhibition in the village hall.

This was the 40th call- out for Craignure Coastguard Rescue Team, and the first time the Coastguard helicopter (AW189) has been seen on Mull.