Incident report

The team was called to assist the West Midlands Ambulance Service with a fallen climber at the Roaches, near Leek. The initial report indicated the climber had not fallen to the bottom of the crag but was hanging about half way down.

On our arrival we located the climber, a 24 year old male from the Norwich area, visiting the Peak District over the Bank Holiday weekend. We believe he was the lead climber on a route known as “Amaranth”, who fell about 10 metres, hitting the cliff wall on his way down after part of his protection failed. He suffered back and facial injuries and was treated on site by the ambulance service paramedics. Team members evacuated him on a spinal board to the waiting Midlands Air Ambulance which had landed some 250 metres away. The man was then flown to the University Hospital, North Staffs., for further treatment.

Neil Carruthers, Buxton Team Leader said “This climber was wearing a helmet which undoubtedly saved him from further head injuries”.

Unbelieveably, he turned up whilst we were fundraising in Buxton on Bank Holiday Monday to thank the team personally. Luckily his injuries were not as serious as first thought.