Walker falls down steep rockface at Loch Lomond in second major rescue in a week

Daily Record

19 hours ago

The man was treated for wounds before being moved onto a boat and taken to Inveruglas where they were handed over to the Scottish Ambulance Service for further treatment.
A hiker had to be rescued after falling onto a rockface along the eastern shoreline of Loch Lomond while walking the West Highland Way – the second significant rescue operation in the area in less than a week.
‌
The man suffered injuries when he fell on the rocks at a section of the iconic route near Island I Vow on Saturday evening.
‌
Loch Lomond Rescue Boat (LLRB) were paged by Police Scotland at around 5.45pm to reports of a walker who had "fallen from a height", sustaining injuries and requiring medical assistance.
‌
The LLRB launched and made their way to the location near Island I Vow on the east side of Loch Lomond – around two and a half miles north of Inversnaid.
An LLRB spokesperson reported: "Once on scene, our crew began assessing the casualty and treating wounds before moving the casualty onto the boat and transferring over to Inveruglus where the patient was handed over to Scottish Ambulance Service for further treatment."
‌
Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team was also on standby, prepared to offer support if required.
The emergency crews were eventually stood down at about 8.30pm that same evening and returned to their base.
‌
The incident is the second major rescue at the location within a week, following an earlier event where two hikers suffered severe injuries.
The pair, along with a third walker, had been navigating the famous trail when all three plummeted down the steep rockface on Tuesday, July 22, afternoon.
LLRB received an alert from Police Scotland at 3.55pm following reports of three people on the West Highland Way who had fallen, suffering serious injuries and needing urgent help.
‌
When rescue crews reached the scene, they immediately began casualty care, assessing, treating and monitoring two patients, while the third walker left the scene, refusing medical help.
Due to the remote location where the two injured ramblers were stranded on the rocks, the LLRB requested backup from Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team (Arrochar MRT).
Two LLRB crew members remained with the casualties to provide treatment, while the boat returned to transport mountain rescue volunteers to the scene.
‌
An LLRB spokesman said: "With the assistance of Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team utilising rope techniques we lowered and loaded the first patient onto the rescue boat and conveyed them to the waiting ambulance at Inveruglus.
"We then returned to collect the remaining casualty and crew before again returning to Inveruglus to meet the second ambulance.
"We wish both casualties a speedy recovery and would like to thank Arrochar Mountain Rescue team and Scottish ambulance colleagues for their assistance."
‌
An Arrochar MRT spokesperson said: "Our team responded to an incident on the east side of Loch Lomond, where two walkers sustained injuries after falling down a steep drop along the West Highland Way. Both walkers were unable to continue their journey and required immediate assistance.
"With help from the LLRB, our team members were transported from Inveruglas to the casualties' location. First aid was administered on scene, and both individuals were stretchered to the boat before being transferred to waiting ambulances in Inveruglas.
"A huge thank you to the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat crew, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service for their swift and invaluable support. We also wish both casualties a full and speedy recovery."