All-action heroes

THE dedication of Oldham’s Mountain Rescue Team was put to the test as it took part in four dramatic incidents in three days.

The spate of emergencies began when the team scrambled to help the police. A police helicopter located an unconscious woman at Pots and Pans, on the hills above Greenfield. The team of 11 delivered her to paramedics.

The team was back in action on Saturday, at Piethorne Reservoir, where a cyclist was injured after falling from his bike.

Mountain Rescue leader Mick Nield said: “Two other riders found his bike and a pool of blood.. They found him in a pretty bad state.” The man, in his 30s, was airlifted to hospital.

Later that evening the team was out again, searching for a missing man in North Reddish.

A stranded, nine-year-old boy who had tumbled down a hill at Dovestone reservoir proved the final test on Sunday afternoon. Rescuers worked with paramedics to treat him for suspected spinal injuries.

Leader Mick Nield said: “So far this year we have had 20 call-outs, so to get four in such a short space was a lot. It’s a brilliant feeling to be able to, in some cases, save someone’s life.”