Skye mountain rescue veteran Paul calls it a day after 40 years
Long-serving Skye Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) member Paul Rosher has decided to hang up his boots after nearly 40 years’ voluntary service, writes Mark Entwistle.
A memorable character, like many of his colleagues, he joined the team in 1984.
In an online post this week, SMRT said: ‘He could have you in stitches or shaking your head in wonder with tales of his misspent youth, or keep you awake half the night on some God-forsaken ledge with his incessant Geordie chatter!’
Paul took part in numerous epic rescues, many of which are now part of team folklore. A strong man, he was always willing to hump the stretcher or other heavy gear up the hill, which always endeared him to his team-mates.
He designed the Secure Casualty System – an ultra warm casbag with extra protection for the patient. This was tested and developed with teams across the country and he was subsequently awarded a Winston
Churchill award and a placement with Yosemite Search and Rescue.
Once, famously, Paul was on the winch wire when it was cut due to the helicopter aborting its hover. Fortunately he was still close to the ground.
‘Most people would never have gone near a helicopter again after that, but it didn’t put Paul off.’
SMRT added: ‘Exhilarating helicopter rides, satisfaction at jobs well done, embarrassing cock-ups and the sadness and frustration at less than happy outcomes – when you’re on this rescue team as long as Paul has been, you go through it all. And he did, for even longer than the rest of us.
‘Paul, we salute you for your long contribution to the team. We hope you will treasure a lifetime of happy memories of all your friends and colleagues in Skye MRT and wish you, Meg and Tom all the very best in the future.’