Teenager safely rescued by Coastguard helicopter from deep crevice waterfall

A 16-year-old teenager who became trapped in a deep crevice whilst crossing a river near Ben Nevis has been safely rescued by the Inverness Coastguard search and rescue helicopter.
 Just before 5pm today (20 June) Police Scotland requested HM Coastguard helicopter assistance from their UKARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) after receiving reports from a Duke of Edinburgh walking group that a teenager needed urgent help.  The teenager, who was one of a group of approximately 15, had attempted to cross a river but had become stuck whilst taking an alternative route.   One of the group did an awesome job and walked for over an hour to get a signal on their mobile phone to call for help. 

 The Inverness Coastguard helicopter was sent to the scene alongside the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.  Once on scene it was quickly established that the Mountain Rescue Team were unable to reach him safely as he was trapped in a precarious position in a steep gully near a fast flowing waterfall. 

 After some careful manoeuvring and several attempts on a 160ft winch line, Paramedic Winchman Scott Sharman was able to reach the young teenager and safely put the strops on him. 

 Winchman Scott said:  'He did well to hold on in difficult conditions for nearly two hours until we arrived. He seemed pretty relieved to be on dry ground when we got him out.'The teenager was taken to Belford Hospital with mild hypothermia but otherwise thankfully uninjured.  We wish him a speedy recovery.




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