Climber airlifted to hospital after falling off cliff near Lancaster
Bay Search and Rescue crews were on a rescue of people cut off by the tide when they were flagged down by a member of the public who had found a fallen climber near Arnside.
On Tuesday, February 10 following a callout from Holyhead Coastguard to suspected people cut off by the tide near between Arnside and Silverdale in the afternoon, teams from Bay Search and
Rescue, Arnside and South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team, Morecambe Lifeboat, Morecambe Coastguard Rescue Team and Cumbria Police were tasked and responded.
BSAR launched the Amphibious Rescue Vehicle from The Bob-In Cafe Arnside and headed toward Silverdale.
After a short period it was established that both persons suspected of being cut off were safe and well, and were met by members of Arnside Coastguard Team.
The Sherp and the team from BSAR headed back toward the base at the Bob in Cafe, only to be met by a member of the public frantically waving his arms, who had found a fallen climber, which was a completely unrelated incident to the original callout.
The climber had fallen some significant distance from the cliff top, possibly some fifteen or twenty feet landing on rocks and a limestone ledge about four or five feet from the base of the cliff.
The casualty was in a lot of pain and it was suspected that he had broken his right femur and possibly had suspected pelvic injuries.
The Northwest Air Ambulance arrived on scene and managed to land away from the soft sands.
The Air Ambulance paramedic assessed the casualty thoroughly and prior to getting the casualty into a stretcher the decision was made to administer some morphine for pain relief before log rolling and applying a pelvic splint and a traction splint to the injured limb.
The casualty was carried by the team and the two crew from Arnside CG to the Air Ambulance where he was carefully loaded into the aircraft and taken to the trauma centre at Preston Royal Infirmary.
A spokesman for BSAR said: “Our thanks to everyone involved especially the crew from BSAR and the Arnside CG team great work and we hope the casualty makes a full recovery.
“If you suspect someone is in difficulty on the coast do not hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”