Latest news with #LomondMountainRescueTeam
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dog sparks major rescue mission after falling in Scots Outlander gorge
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Lomond Mountain Rescue Team and Police Scotland all rushed to Finnich Glen, near Killearn, Stirling, after a dog fell in to the gorge on Monday morning. A dog fell in to a glen at a beauty spot featured in hit TV series Outlander. The dog fell in to the Devil's Pulpit, also known as Finnich Glen, near Killearn, Stirling, on Monday morning. It's understood the two-year-old female pet skidded on some mud and slid down in to the glen. Fortunately, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) team were conducting a training exercise nearby and quickly sprung into action. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 11.32am on Monday, 21 July, to reports of a dog stuck in the Devil's Pulpit, Killearn. 'Operations Control mobilised two appliances and specialist resources to the scene to support our emergency service partners. "The dog was safely rescued from the glen. "Crews then left the scene at 1.27pm after ensuring the area was safe." Police Scotland were also called to the scene. A spokesperson said: 'Around 11.20am on Monday, 21 July, 2025, officers received a report of a dog having fallen at Finnich Glen. 'The dog was safely recovered.' Lomond Mountain Rescue Team (Lomond MRT) were also called out, dispatching seven of their volunteer team members to the scene. David Dodson, of Lomond MRT, said: 'She was cold and looked a bit shocked about it all, but was otherwise well.' It's not the first time a dog has sparked a major rescue operation at the spot. In December last year, we told how a dog had a miraculous escape after plunging 100-feet into the gorge. Lomond MRT were called out after the pet dog, named Margot, suffered the fall. A spokesperson for Lomond MRT said: 'Once on scene, a rescue plan was agreed and a rigging system was quickly and efficiently organised to lower a team member down to the dog. 'The dog; Margot, was very cooperative with its rescuer, and was soon hauled back up onto the bank, where it was reunited with its owner and taken to be checked over by a vet. 'Amazingly, little Margot has only some bumps and scrapes to show for her adventures!' Margot's relieved owner Clare Denton posted: "Thank you so much for rescuing our Margot!! You really are all amazing and we will forever be grateful to you!" Nick Denton posted: "Thank you for rescuing our Margie. From Granny and Grandpa." A number of rescue missions have been sparked within the Devil's Pulpit in recent years, with fire and rescue, police and mountain rescue teams being drafted in to help free people trapped within the glen after its popularity soared when it featured in Outlander as The Liar's Spring. In April 2021, a man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after plunging 100-feet into the gorge. The 24-year-old from the Dundee area was understood to have fallen when he attempted to snap a photograph of the glen and was treated for spinal and chest injuries. And in July 2020, a couple from Fife had to be rescued after getting stuck while taking part in 'canyoning' - a craze which can be carried out across a variety of terrain and involves scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and swimming - through the Carnock Burn which runs through the glen. They became stuck and unable to make their way out of the glen and became stranded for several hours before being rescued. In June 2017, a 55-year-old man fell 50 feet into the glen and had to be rescued and just months later, rescue teams were called to the location again when two swimmers – clad only in swimsuits – were pulled to safety after being trapped for three hours.
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Devil's Pulpit warning after student's body pulled from water in three recent incidents
Lomond Mountain Rescue Team were called again to the Devil's Pulpit on Tuesday, just six days after Marwan Saliaman Al Balushi drowned at the beauty spot. A warning has been issued to the public visiting a Scots beauty spot after mountain rescue teams were called to three incidents there in recent weeks, with the body of a student pulled from the water on one occasion. Lomond Mountain Rescue Team returned to the Devil's Pulpit on Tuesday, May 28, just six days after Marwan Saliaman Al Balushi drowned at the beauty spot. The latest medical emergency was reported at Finnich Glen, near the bottom on Conic Hill in Stirlingshire. The crew worked with a ranger from the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and family members to transport the latest casualty on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. No more information is available on their condition at this stage. On Wednesday morning a spokesperson for Lomond Mountain Rescue Team issued a warning over the deep pools with hazards not 'visible from the surface' at the Devil's Pulpit. They said: "Whilst we may have been quieter on social media, three of the recent callouts have been at Finnich Glen (The Devils Pulpit). "We understand the wish to visit this beautiful and interesting geological feature but would highlight that in addition to the parking/road traffic issues ~ there is no easy access to the gorge itself. "The main gully steps has suffered a further collapse and would not be recommended. In addition, the gorge edge has a number of areas that are loose and actually overhang the gorge. Despite the recent dry spell leading to an apparently low water level, there are a number of deep (2m to 3m depth) pools that can contain entrapments hazards that are not visible from the surface. "If visiting, please consider the potential consequences of a slip, wear appropriate footwear and above all stay safe." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It comes after the body of Strathclyde University student Marwan was tragically recovered on Wednesday, May 21. The 21-year-old student from Oman was enjoying a day out with friends when disaster struck. It is understood Marwan attempted to cross a deeper section of the current and drowned. One friend tried to desperately save Marwan by jumping into the water to save him. Sadly despite their best efforts Marwan was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Daily Record
Tragic discovery of body at rural Stirling beauty spot amid safety fears
The Finnich Glen area has been the subject of rescue attempts in recent years - with the latest incident taking place on Wednesday. Tragedy struck at a rural Stirling beauty spot this week after a man died in the water at Finnich Glen near Killearn. The Devil's Pulpit, made famous by the TV show Outlander, has become a popular tourist attraction for walkers and nature lovers. But safety concerns have been raised at the site, with multiple rescues carried out by emergency services and mountain rescue teams in recent years. The latest incident saw police and other teams called out to the area at around 1.30pm on Wednesday afternoon. Surrounding roads – including the A809 from Croftamie to Finnich Toll and the B834 at the junction to the A81 – were closed to allow emergency services' access to the area, with locals also reporting on community pages that an air ambulance had been spotted in the area. It was sadly announced on Wednesday evening that the body of a man had been recovered from the water at the Devil's Pulpit. A Police Scotland statement added that the man was pronounced dead at the scene and that there were 'no suspicious circumstances' arising from the death. They said: 'Around 1.30pm on Wednesday, May 21, we received a report of a concern for a person at Finnich Glen, Stirlingshire. 'Emergency services, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and a mountain rescue team, attended and the body of a man was recovered from the water at Devil's Pulpit.' A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Finnich Glen was most recently involved in a rescue attempt in January this year when a dog, Margo, plunged down the 100 foot drop at the gorge - sparking a major mission. The dog was hauled to safety courtesy of the efforts of Lomond Mountain Rescue Team and emergency services who employed a winch system. In 2022, a walker messaged his family 'to say goodbye' after slipping down a steep gorge and into freezing water at the beauty spot. Dan Crank, a farmer from the Preston area of England, admits he 'would have died' if it wasn't for emergency services and mountain rescue volunteers saving him. Dan stopped to take a picture when he slipped and fell into the icy Finnich Glen water. Before then, the Devil's Pulpit had come under scrutiny for safety after Lomond MRT were called out to the area four times in the space of three weeks in 2021. One incident required a technical rescue of two men who were stuck in the gorge who couldn't move forward nor retrace their steps due to the slippiness of the rock and depth of the many pools in the gorge. A rescuer had to be lowered down on ropes to the two casualties and then hoisted each back up to the cliff top. The two men dressed in t-shirts, shorts and trainers were effectively 'canyoning' and were missing the wet suit and flotation device that those who pursue such activities routinely wear. Visitors to the beauty spot were also criticised last summer after piles of rubbish and drug paraphernalia were discovered in the scenic waters. The litter had been dropped from the top of the bridge overlooking the gorge - with a local tour guide labelling the behaviour as 'selfish'.
