Teamwork pays off in dramatic thunderstorm rescue

The Oldham Mountain Rescue team do what they do best, this time in Ashton's Stamford Park

Fifteen intrepid members of the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team were involved in a dramatic rescue at the height of Wednesday’s thunderstorm.

They were contacted by North West Ambulance Service attending a male who had fallen down a vertical rock face in Stamford Park in Ashton, suffering serious head and potential spinal injuries.

Due to the precariousness of the injured man’s position, and the difficult extraction route, the crew on scene requested the team’s assistance.

Working alongside the NWAS paramedics to stabilise the casualty, the mountain rescue team packaged him in their  immobilising vacuum mattress and maneuvered him onto their specialist stretcher. 

This was attached to a back-up rope and lowered down to level ground. 

Once on more stable terrain, further treatment was possible before the man was placed on the stretcher and wheeled to the waiting NWAS ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

Said OMRT leader Rob Tortoiseshell: “This was an excellent example of teamwork on challenging terrain, in the middle of a thunderstorm.

“Everyone came together to formulate and carry out a plan which gave the casualty the best possible care.

"We send him our wishes and positive thoughts for a speedy and full recovery.”

The rescue team were involved for more than an hour-and-a-half.

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