Sue's first day on rock, so we were off to Kern Knotts in brilliant sunshine. A quick blast up the track from Wasdale Head and soon enough we were chatting and photographing a team on Buttonhook Route before we moved around to the Napes face and Kern Knotts Chimney.
On Buttonhook Route, HVS, Kern Knotts
I was on the first belay with Sue about halfway up when we heard the shout, thump and groans following a leader fall around the corner. The lad had ripped 3 cams and decked from about 20 feet. One of his partners appeared asking, urgently, for any first aid kit which we might have while we focussed on finishing the pitch and getting off...
Sue was great, completing the pitch calmly and in no time. Even better, she was completely unfazed with my "this is an abseil and this is how you do it, so go - now" approach to coaching. Once on the ground, Sue flew round and started an evaluation, spurring another of the team, a member of the local MRT, into action. I joined them moments later and watched as the scene unfolded.
This isn't the place to go into too much detail, but the injured climber was conscious throughout, face down, bleeding heavily from a lower back / abdominal injury, though this stopped pretty spontaneously and he became increasingly mobile, trying to make himself comfortable without moving too much. Thankfully he appeared (and proved to be) reasonably stable; there was a common sigh of relief when the lad asked exactly what "controlled drugs and smoke" were available...
We gave him co-codamol and paracetamol from my first aid kit, covered him in spare fleeces, down jacket and bivvy bag and waited as various elements of the Team arrived and, after a little delay (to ensure availability of a stretcher), requested helicopter support. An hour later we were asked for smoke and the RN Sea King from Prestwick, arrived on scene.
A very welcome sight... (and I don't mean the pub in the background)
The RN paramedic was winched down and kept a professional eye on proceedings as the Team members assembled the stretcher, immobilised the casualty and secured him ready for the lift. Three members of the RAF MRT arrived, so we were only lacking a couple of squaddies!
Just a case of watch and wait....
Another 30 minutes or so and it was all down to the helicopter crew. The stretcher was whipped away, very close to the crag and Carlisle A&E had another customer on the way.
Once the adrenalin wore off and everybody collected kit together, it was time for the off. As we approached Great Hell Gate on our way to Napes Needle, Sue asked "is it lunchtime yet?"- funny how being busy can be so distracting! To finish our day we threaded the Needle (after sarnies!) and staggered down the scree to Gavel Neese, the pub and shandy!
The good news is that our lad wasn't too badly injured and is expected to be out of hospital in a matter of days. One incredibly lucky boy!
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