Radcliffe

Apr 3 2016

Incident 39/2016 – mountain biker with head injury at Outwood

We were called out by the North West Ambulance Service at 11:59 today to assist in the rescue of an injured mountain biker, who was initially reported to be in the vicinity of Philips Park, Prestwich.

On our arrival at Philips Park at the same time as resources from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), we were diverted to an alternative rendezvous point at Lower Heaps Farm, Outwood.

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The female casualty was initially reported to have fallen down a slop following a fall from her mountain bike; however on our arrival she was “walking wounded”, albeit with a head injury, some distance down a wooded track.

The casualty, whose injuries had been bandaged by her friends, was treated by BMRT members (who were on foot), whilst Fire & Rescue service staff used their tools to open a gate into the woodland to allow our vehicle access.

With a BMRT vehicle and NWAS paramedic on scene, the casualty was driven back up to the road for onward transport to hospital.

By • 2016, Incident • • Tags: ,

Feb 20 2016

Incident 26/2016 – Fallen Horse Rider, Prestolee, Kearsley, Bolton

Prestolee seems to be vying with Rivington as a regular location for the team to respond to incidents!

Early this afternoon, NWAS (Manchester) responded to an incident involving a female horse rider who had fallen from her mount sustaining a head injury.

Upon the arrival of the NWAS Rapid Response Vehicle, it was thought that due to the poor surface nature of the track leading to Oak Hill Farm, Prestolee, the assistance of the team maybe required with one of our Land Rover Ambulances.

We were paged at 15.22hrs, with our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE liaising with NWAS EOC Parkway to further determine the exact location and incident details.

Following a full team pager call out at 15.50hrs our first responding team member, Phil Crook, arrived on scene at Oak Hill Farm, quickly followed by our Team Leader.

Phil established the team was no longer required, as an NWAS Emergency Ambulance had managed to access the farm, and a pager stand down was made at 15.52hrs, with all responding vehicles and members stood down, some just as they were arriving at the farm.

The following resources were involved in this incident;

  • NWAS (Greater Manchester Area); EOC Parkway, one Emergency Ambulance, with two crew, and one Rapid Response Vehicle with one crew member.
  • Bolton Mountain Rescue Team; Three Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulances, call signs Bolton Mobiles 1,2 and 3. Two team members stood down on scene and thirteen team members stood down responding.

By • 2016, Incident • • Tags: ,

Jan 17 2016

Incident 17/2016 – Snow Sledging accident at Stand Lane, Chapel Field, Whitefield

At 14.42hrs this snowy afternoon, whilst still present at Incident 16 at Rivington, we were paged by NWAS (Cumbria and Lancashire) Broughton EOC, to respond to assist with a snow sledging accident in fields near to Stand Lane, Whitefield, within Greater Manchester.

The call was answered by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, with team members being diverted from the previous incident at Rivington, to lend assistance to NWAS with the stretcher evacuation of the injured 50 year old woman sledger.

By 15.28hrs our first Land Rover was on scene at the Stand Lane, Chapelfield, roadside RVP, and essential equipment started to be despatched to the casualty site very quickly, where the woman concerned, had suspected back injuries, and was being treated by responding NWAS personnel.

By 15.44hrs a mountain rescue stretcher evacuation was commencing, part carry and part sledge, when the third consecutive call of the day came to the team from NWAS.

As with Incident 16, team members from this incident were immediately diverted to deal with this third incident.

By 15.55hrs the injured woman was safely evacuated to the Stand Lane RVP, and quickly in to the warmth of the NWAS Emergency Ambulance and on route to Royal Bolton Hospital.

By 16.02hrs this incident was completed and remaining members at this location went on to respond to Incident 18.

During the response to this second incident of the day, and in the general Whitefield area at the time, whilst traveling on ‘blues and twos’ (Emergency lighting and sirens activated) with poor conditions during a snow fall, a youth within a group of youths threw a deliberately aimed large compacted ice ball, at the front windscreen of our Incident Control Vehicle.

Fortunately this hit the passenger side of the front windscreen, but still caused considerable distraction for the driver, both from the shock and sound of the impact and from obscuring the view out of the windscreen albeit temporarily.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was present in the front passenger seat at the time, and comments that this was an extremely foolish and dangerous act that endangered the response being made.

The driver, our Training Officer Alistair Greenough equally commented on this act, which was totally unexpected and had the real potential to endanger all present in the vehicle.

The following resources were involved in this incident;

  • NWAS (Greater Manchester Area); EOC Parkway, Emergency Ambulance and two crew from Rochdale Ambulance Station, one Rapid Response Vehicle with solo crew / Paramedic.
  • NWAS (Cumbria and Lancashire); EOC Broughton.
  • Bolton Mountain Rescue Team; Two Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulances, Volkswagen Sprinter Incident Control Vehicle, seventeen team operational members on scene.

By • 2016, Incident • • Tags: ,

Dec 26 2015

Incident 98/2015 – Major flooding event on Riverside Drive, Prestolee, Kearsley, Bolton

Whilst assembling at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to standby at the request of NWAS Greater Manchester Area, on this Boxing Day of stormy weather, at 11.41hrs, GMP contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, for the team to respond to a very serious flooding incident, affecting a large number of properties in the Riverside Drive area of Prestolee, Kearsley, Bolton.

IMG_3081GMP informed further that no GMFRS resources were immediately available due to other tasking’s, on this day that was already beginning to stretch and test the Greater Manchester Emergency Services.

In torrential rain, and once more members had arrived, the team departed our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at 12.08hrs, arriving at the Prestolee area at 12.20hrs, with the River Irwell almost touching the underside of Church Road Bridge, way above its normal flow height.

Turning in to Riverside Drive, our responding members were met with an inundated housing estate, alongside the River Irwell, with residents cars already partially (and some totally) submerged.

027Some immediate rescues and self rescues had already taken place, with team members immediately involved in ‘dynamic rescues,’ including wade rescues, whilst others speedily launched our SAR Boat, which commenced further rescues from flooded properties.

Our Incident Control Vehicle became the focal point for the joint GMP / Bolton MRT rescue effort, with listings being compiled of those residents requiring evacuation.

A GMFRS Pump Appliance arrived next, with its crew lending their assistance.

A female resident with a medical condition had to be stretcher evacuated from her property to an NWAS Emergency Ambulance, via the rabbit warren of rear gardens, as flood waters over 5 foot deep were preventing any vehicular access.

022In order to safely and quickly evacuate this lady, whilst avoiding the flood waters, a number of adjoining residents took out or broke down their high garden fences to allow us access and egress.

Thanks are expressed to three members of the public who kindly assisted us with this stretcher evacuation.

With a rapidly developing flooding situation, and at this early stage a still unknown number of persons requiring evacuation, at 12.53hrs we called out Cheshire SART to assist us, who were already on heightened standby.

By 13.45hrs, all known persons requiring evacuation had been taken from their flooded properties to a place of safety, by Bolton MRT members using our SAR Boat.

003At this stage a GMFRS Rescue Boat arrived on scene, and commenced further checks of properties.

By 15.00hrs, Cheshire SART arrived on scene, just as all emergency vehicles were moved from Riverside Drive, to the higher point of Church Road at its junction with Market Street, alongside the Grapes Public House, as there was a real worry that all the responding emergency vehicles might become trapped by rising river water – thankfully after we all moved, the river level actually dropped slightly.

Cheshire SART then commenced deployments in the local area, checking out other nearby properties, in answer to a considerable number of calls for assistance from nearby concerned members of the public, as the flood waters started to threaten their properties.

018By circa 15.30hrs all the GMFRS assets on scene departed for other priority tasking’s, whilst the Bolton MRT and Cheshire SART remained on scene, with a considerable GMP presence, in case of further need.

The Bolton MBC responding ‘On Call Officer,’ did a sterling job keeping residents informed and advised as to what help was coming and what to do immediately, whilst the local Church opened up to provide shelter, and a rest centre.

Just after 16.00hrs it was established there was little else required from a rescue perspective, and we began to pack away our kit used, in readiness for other possible deployments elsewhere as the rain once again commenced.

011At circa 16.30hrs in a mixed Bolton MRT / Cheshire SART convoy, we departed to attend another priority tasking (see Incident 99)

During our time at Riverside Drive, we would like to make mention of an appropriately equipped and experienced young man who assisted us with water rescues and checks on flooded properties.
With utter devastation all around and all too obvious to see, and a great many totally flooded properties, with many families made immediately homeless, we were humbled at the thanks we were receiving from so many we had assisted and also from the general public present witnessing our efforts.

Throughout it was heartening at what should have been after all a happy festive time of the year, to see so many kind local people offering help, and there was no shortage of offers of sandwiches and hot drinks, from local residents, not just to us the emergency responders, but also to other members of the community rallying around to help in whatever way they could.

IMG_3092zoomOur records show that we in Bolton MRT directly rescued 14x persons, 1x Dog (evacuated from a flooded property in a wheelie bin – as was at least one person!) 4x cats and a budgie!

At least two of those rescued had medical conditions warranting being taken to Hospital by Emergency Ambulance.

A further additional 14x persons were checked upon, but wished to remain in their flooded properties.

Regardless of who and what we in Bolton MRT did, this was truly a multi agency / multi team rescue incident, with all agencies present, MRT / SART / Fire / Police / Ambulance / Local Authority, working seamlessly together to assist this stricken community.

005From all of us at Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, we extend our thoughts to all at Riverside Drive affected by these terrible events of Boxing Day, and we hope that the path to recovery will be a quick one.

During the latter stages of our involvement in this incident, team member Diane Blakeley present in our Control Vehicle, received a telephone call that her Bradshaw home was at risk of imminently flooding.

Colleague team member Phil Horner took her home, and along with neighbours moved furniture and other items upstairs.

Thankfully the surrounding waters did not enter her home, and she returned with Phil later to partake in our Incident 99.

015The following resources were directly involved at this incident during the ‘rescue phase’;

  • Bolton Mountain Rescue Team; 22x operational members, 4x Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulances, Ford Transit Minibus Ambulance, VW Crafter van based Incident Control Vehicle, 3.4m semi rigid inflatable SAR Boat, 6x large canoes.
  • Cheshire Search and Rescue Team; 18x operational members, Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger Ambulances, Control Vehicle and Incident Support Vehicle, 1x inflatable SAR Boat, 1x inflatable rescue sled.
  • GMFRS; 1x Pump Appliance with a Watch Manager and four crew from Stockport Community Fire Station (actually on relief standby at Bolton Central Community Fire Station) 1x Water Rescue Unit Appliance and Rescue Boat / with supporting Pump Appliance, all from Heywood Community Fire Station.
  • GMP; Numerous Divisional Officers and vehicles, at least two full Tactical Aid Units with vehicles, Senior Officers in the role of ‘On Scene Incident Commanders.’
  • NWAS Greater Manchester Area; 2x Emergency Ambulances and their crews, 1x Operational Area Manager / Paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle.
  • Bolton MBC; 1x On Call Emergency Officer / Civil Contingencies Unit.

By • 2015, Incident • • Tags: ,

Jun 6 2014

Incident 56/2014

At 17.35hrs this very warm and sunny, fine early evening we were paged by NWAS (Manchester) EOC for our assistance.

The call was immediately answered by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, whilst our Deputy Team Leader Chris Greenhalgh and two other team members (Steve Fletcher and Dave Marsh) all made their way to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ and GMFRS Bolton Central Community Fire Station garage, to make ready two of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances for the required response.

The initial information was in relation to a very recent 999 call reporting an injured male cyclist at Clifton Country Park, Clifton, Swinton.

NWAS EOC informed our Team Leader a Rapid Response Vehicle was on route, and at 17.45hrs a full team pager call out was made, with both our Land Rovers departing soon afterwards.

At Clifton Country Park, near to the River Irwell, an experienced 50 year old male mountain biker, from the Unsworth, Bury, area, had come unseated at a small timber bridge over a shallow depression.

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Initially his female friend, Nicola Latham (A school teacher from Swinton) had apparently missed him, (As she reported to us later) as he was lay injured partly obscured by the small timber bridge.

Nicola then cycled to the nearby Country Park Information Centre car park, in her attempts to obtain a mobile phone signal, with a passing member of the public making the call on her phone which had a signal.

A nearby fisherman, Glyn Berry, also assisted Nicola, and soon the NWAS RRV solo Paramedic was on scene.

At 17.55hrs Phil Crook was our first team member on scene, followed soon by others, and at 18.05hrs both our Land Rovers arrived at the Information Centre car park RVP.

The NWAA Helimed 75, after a period hovering overhead to locate the casualty site, which was under a dense tree canopy, landed nearby at 18.10hrs, and the two crew Paramedics also went to the scene.

incident56_2014b

By 18.08hrs essential mountain rescue equipment to aid in the evacuation was being despatched to the casualty site.

In a joint operation on scene, the injured mountain biker was treated for head, neck, back, and shoulder injuries, with NWAS / NWAA / BMRT personnel all carefully placing the injured man on to a scoop stretcher and then on to one of our specialist mountain rescue stretchers – SAR Alpine Lite MR Stretcher.

The injured man was also given pain relieving gas, to help with his obvious discomfort.

The experienced mountain biker had been wearing a helmet which was damaged in the accident, but protected his head from further injury.

It was decided to evacuate him to the responding Emergency Ambulance, which had arrived nearby, rather than the Air Ambulance, and a stretcher evacuation involving over twenty team members working in relays on the narrow path, commenced at 18.47hrs.

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By 19.00hrs the man was being further assessed and treated in the NWAS Emergency Ambulance, which departed at 19.33hrs for Hope Hospital, Salford.

By 19.45hrs all involved emergency personnel at this incident had left the incident scene.

Our latest update on the mans condition, when we went to Hope Hospital to collect our equipment was that he was being further treated for bruising and rib injuries.

Nicola Latham, the team, NWAS and NWAA would like to thank a nearby fisherman, Glyn Berry, who very kindly assisted initially at the scene of this accident, met our responding members, allowed key access through some barrier gates, and also acted as a guide to the casualty site, your help was appreciated. (Furthermore this kind man offered to look after the injured mans mountain bike until it could be collected later)

The following resources were deployed or involved in this incident ;

NWAS (Manchester) EOC; Performance Managers and Control Room Managers.
NWAS (Manchester) Rapid Response Vehicle from Bolton South (Highfield) Ambulance Station, solo Paramedic.
NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance from Bury Ambulance Station and two crew (One of whom, Tony Berry, is a former Bolton MRT member)
North West Air Ambulance; Helimed 75, City Airport Manchester (Barton) HEMS Paramedic, Paramedic and Aircraft Captain / Pilot.
Bolton Mountain Rescue Team; Two Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, Call Signs Bolton Mobile 2 and 3, twenty four team Call Out list members on scene, and two further members stood down responding.
GMP Force Control Room; Force Duty Officer, who monitored this incident throughout.

As ever we extend our thanks to our colleagues at Bowland Pennine MRT for freely allowing us to utilise their ‘Winter Hill Repeater’ radio channel during our response to this incident, which as always greatly facilitated our intra team radio communications.

This call out was our fourth this year involving a mountain biker – in 2013 we were called out to ten mountain bike accidents in total.

By • 2014, Incident • • Tags: ,

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