Barra Island RNLI rescues injured rock climber on Mingulay Island
Barra Island RNLI rescued a rock climber who fell between 10 to 15 meters off a cliff on the Northwest tip of Mingulay.
At 2.50pm on Wednesday (9 August), Barra Island RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat with a volunteer crew of six launched following a request from the UK Coastguard to the aid of an injured rock climber on the uninhabited island of Mingulay, south of Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
Weather conditions at the time were fair with some mist and breeze picking up on location.
On arrival, the crew were informed that the climber had fallen between 10 to 15 meters off the cliff and into the sea. The climber had managed to pull himself onto a lower ro]ck where he was assisted by fellow climbers to a higher ledge. The climber was considered to have sustained multiple injuries but was still conscious.
The RNLI crew dispatched the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable daughter Y Boat to take a stretcher to the climber’s colleagues who pulled the stretcher up the rocks by means of ropes. He was then safely lowered and placed onboard and then onto the all-weather lifeboat.
The casualty was subsequently transferred to the UK Coastguard helicopter which had been tasked to the location and airlifted to Inverness to receive medical assistance.
The RNLI all-weather lifeboat then returned to Castlebay at 6.45pm where it was refuelled and placed back on service.
Speaking following the call out, Eoin MacNeil, Barra Island RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The casualty had managed to pull himself ashore where his fellow climbers assisted him to a higher ledge before lowering him to the safety of the smaller inflatable boat on scene and then transfer him to the all-weather lifeboat. We would like to wish the casualty a speedy recovery and commend his fellow climbers who went to his aid initially. We also thank our colleagues in the Coastguard.’
ENDS
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