Calder Valley Search and Rescue team were called out twice on Sunday, including an incident at Stoodley Pike above Todmorden.
On Sunday afternoon, the Mytholmroyd-based team received a request from Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) for urgent assistance with the evacuation of climber who had fallen about 10 or 12 metres, sustaining suspected spinal injuries whilst abseiling at a popular beauty spot near Otley Chevin.
Working alongside (YAS) Paramedics and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), CVSRT members helped to treat, package and transfer the casualty onto an Alphin stretcher ready for evacuation.
Due to his injuries and the awkward location of the casualty, it was decided that rather than attempting a steep stretcher carry back up the crag, the safest and quickest way to get him to hospital for treatment was by air.
As final preparations to position the casualty on the stretcher were made, RAF Sea King ‘Rescue 128’ from RAF Leconfield appeared overhead and lowered their winch man to the casualty site.
After a quick discussion, it was decided that a Paramedic would accompany the patient to hospital and he was winched into the helicopter, shortly followed by the winch man with the patient. Once aboard, the Sea King flew direct to Leeds General Infirmary.
Then just over two hours later, at 5.45pm, the team received a second request from (YAS) for urgent assistance with the evacuation of male with a lower leg injury near Stoodley Pike, Todmorden.
Here 18 team members were deployed to casualty site and within 25 minutes the team had located, packaged and evacuated the injured man to the waiting ambulance. The team sends its best wishes to the injured climber and walker, and hope they both make a speedy recovery.