CLIMBER AND WALKER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL

A cliff climber who was hit by a boulder and fell down the 130 foot sheer rock face at St Govans Head was  rescued from the bottom of the cliffs by coastguard rescue teams and airlifted to hospital this evening.
The 28 year old woman was climbing the cliff face with a group when she was hit by a boulder and fell to the base of the cliffs. A man who was walking at the top of the cliffs heard her friends shouting for help and called 999 and asked for the coastguard at 8.30 pm. The member of the public spoke to Milford Haven Coastguard who requested the Tenby, St Govans and Castle Martin Coastguard Rescue Teams to attend the scene along with the South Pembs Coastguard Sector Manager.  The rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled.
The coastguard rescue teams were guided to the scene by the member of the public who was standing at the top of the cliff. The teams set up their cliff gear and two coastguards descended the cliff and administered first aid. A paramedic joined them shortly afterwards, and following assessment of the injured climber the woman was stabilised and taken up the cliff then transferred onto the waiting helicopter.
At 9.30 pm Swansea Coastguard received a call from the Welsh ambulance service to request assistance for a 60-year-old woman who had sustained an open fracture of the leg at Pennard Burrows. Swansea Coastguard sent the Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team to the woman’s aid and diverted the helicopter, which had just airlifted the climber at St Govans, to assist the woman. The Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team cleared the site ready for the helicopter to land and assisted the helicopter paramedic with preparing the woman for airlifting. The 60-old-woman was then airlifted to Heath Hospital in Cardiff along with the climber.
Andrew Hodgson, Milford Haven Coastguard Watch Manager says:
“The member of the public was instrumental in enabling us to get help to the climber quickly by giving the teams good directions about where the woman had fallen. If you know that someone is in trouble along the coast call 999 and ask for the coastguard. Remember that you can call 999 even if you have no credit on your phone or if the phone is locked. Tell the coastguard what the problem is and where you are. You may need to stay on the line to direct us to the scene.
Bev Haigh, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager says:
“We do not know how the woman sustained her injury, although we know that she had been walking around the old castle. We would like to remind members of the public to take care when walking at the coast and to wear appropriate footwear.”

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