Major rescue near Lancaster after man falls 40ft into river
and live on Freeview channel 276
Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team received a call from North West Ambulance Service at around 6pm on Sunday August 30, to reports that a man had fallen down a slope.
The full team of 21 members rushed to the scene and said it was "very clear from the beginning that this wasn’t going to be a normal call out incident."
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Hide AdThe location of the man was initially unknown, so a search was launched, and he was found on some fallen trees in a river 45 minutes later.
A spokesperson said: "After approximately 45 minutes of searching the area, which included very steep ground and a river, team members located him.
"He was found in the river and had landed on some washed up trees and leaves, he had fallen some 40 foot, the last part being a vertical drop.
"Due to the very steep ground, which was hampered by fallen trees, the rescue team had to use rope rescue equipment to evacuate him.
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Hide Ad"After a medical assessment by our Team Medical Officer and Team Doctor, he was then packaged up into a mountain rescue Vacuum mattress and then pulled up the steep ground on the mountain rescue Bell stretcher using rope systems and manpower!
"Due to his injuries, we requested the help of the Coastguard helicopter to evacuate him once we had successfully rescued him to a point where we could transfer him into the helicopter and then onward to Preston Royal Infirmary.
"A big thank you to our Team members and the Coastguard for what was a very difficult rescue last night."