Air ambulance rescues injured teenager after fall near Bellingham on remote Pennine Way
An injured teenager was rescued by an air ambulance following a fall in rural Northumberland.
At around 3pm on March 23, Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT) and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were requested by Northumbria Police to assist a young man who was injured after falling in a remote area along the Pennine Way, north of Bellingham.
Using PhoneFind technology, the casualty’s location was quickly established at Callerhues Crag. The team vehicles were deployed immediately, and volunteers were mobilised.
Due to the challenging terrain, a forward rendezvous point was established with the invaluable support of a local farm, allowing personnel and equipment to be transported closer to the scene.
On arrival, the casualty was being treated by a North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Community Paramedic, who had been assisted to site by a local farmer.
Remote Rescue Medical Technicians worked alongside the paramedic to assess and treat the casualty, who had sustained injuries consistent with a fall in difficult ground.
Given the remote and inaccessible location, the Great North Air Ambulance Service was requested.
The aircraft was able to land nearby, and the casualty was carefully packaged onto a stretcher and carried across very wet, boggy terrain to the helicopter for onward transfer to hospital.
A spokesperson for NNPMRT said: “This incident highlights the importance of effective multi-agency working in challenging environments.
“Thanks to the swift response and coordination between Northumbria Police, NEAS, GNAAS, local farmers, and our volunteers, the casualty was evacuated to definitive care within a short timeframe.
"We’d like to thank all those involved for their teamwork, professionalism, and rapid response.”