Latest news with #mountainrescue
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
British climber is killed after 'falling from his rope' on glacier during descent from 12,500ft mountain in French Alps
A British climber has died after falling from a glacier during a descent from a 12,500ft mountain in the French Alps. The mountaineer, who has not been named, was reportedly coming down the Grands Couloirs glacier when he fell at around 11am on Sunday. The man, in his sixties, reportedly 'fell from his rope' during the descent, above the town of Pralognan-la-Vanoise, in Savoie. Initial reports said that the victim had been joined by a climbing companion, also English, on their hike. The two had not been attached by climbing ropes before the fall, France3 reports. Emergency services were called, battling against the piercing wind to reach the scene within minutes. The victim was already dead when they arrived, local media reports. Mountain rescue services are investigating to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. The pair had taken a 'normal route' in the Vanoise massif to come down the mountain on Sunday, according to the prosecutor's office. A helicopter and teams of firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Weather conditions on the mountain were 'very difficult' due to strong winds, Le Dauphine reports. In April, a 27-year-old British man was killed in an avalanche in the Savoie prefecture. The victim was found buried under the snow at the entrance to a ski resort. He was taken to Grenoble Hospital and later pronounced dead. As many as four landslides were reported in Les Menuires and Val Thorens in quick succession, Ludovic Trautmann, director of the Savoie prefecture, said in a statement. In February, a British skier was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in the French Alps after reportedly falling from a height while returning from an après ski party. The 23-year-old was found in the popular resort above the town of Morzine, France. It is believed that he had been skiing with friends before attending a party in Avoriaz, and then became lost when trying to ski down the mountain alone. Friends reported his disappearance when he did not return home, prompting a desperate search by rescue teams. Last year, another British skier died in an accident after hitting a tree at the Avoriaz resort. French media reports at the time suggested that the man left the Covagnes piste after swerving to avoid hitting a group of skiers blocking the way. But a fellow British skier who witnessed the accident claimed the icy conditions on the route had caused the victim to lose control even before the accident occurred. The 68-year-old was found unresponsive by rescuers on March 26, and despite their best efforts could not be resuscitated.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'You just do it because it helps people'
Most people celebrating their 80th birthday do not run the risk of being called away to a work emergency - but that will be a possibility for Gari Finch. The soon-to-be octogenarian from Great Ayton, in North Yorkshire, has been a volunteer at Cleveland Mountain Rescue for 54 years, and so far he has at least 1,500 call-outs to his Mr Finch's teammates know better than to suggest that after this latest milestone, he should hang up his distinctive red uniform and enjoy says he will continue in the volunteer role he has done since the early 1970s "as long as I'm still of some use"."I'm still in my 20s in my brain - it's the rest of my body that's not there," he says. Cleveland Mountain Rescue was established in 1965, and is run entirely by a group of about 70 volunteers, with no paid members of staff. A keen climber and walker, Mr Finch says he was inspired to join in 1971 to "put a little bit back into society"."I thought, if I fall off a crag or have an accident, I would like someone to come and help me," he told Naga Munchetty on BBC 5 Live."So, consequently, when the opportunity came, I joined up."Alongside his full-time teaching job, he was a search and rescue officer for over 25 years, responding to accidents and incidents across the North York Moors, the coastline between Sandsend and Hartlepool, and the Tees Finch was even part of the team sent to Scotland to help recover debris from the Lockerbie disaster in 1988, the UK's deadliest terror atrocity, when a bomb in the hold of a Pan Am flight to America exploded above the town. In 2013, Mr Finch received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his dedication to mountain rescue services - although, according to him, it was "a team effort". Mr Finch says his late wife, Sandy, also played a vital role in the operation of Cleveland Mountain Rescue, "taking up the reins" and speaking to emergency services in his absence if an urgent call came died nearly six years ago, and Mr Finch credits the friendships he has formed at the mountain rescue organisation for helping him through that difficult period."Apart from helping people, the camaraderie and banter and friends I've made over the years is brilliant," he explains."That's what's keeping me going, to be perfectly honest." Cleveland Mountain Rescue has also reached a significant anniversary this year - 60 years in operation, making Mr Finch its longest-standing Greive, public relations officer at Cleveland Mountain Rescue, says: "Gari joined the team in 1971, and 54 years later he is still an active member. "He epitomises what volunteering is about: giving up his time, using his skills to help others."To this day, Mr Finch still plays an active role in the team as a radio operator, helping to coordinate search and rescue efforts, as well as using his skills to train others."I think I'm still of some use," Mr Finch says."I'm still on the call-out list, so when there's a call-out, off I go to the base to prepare the Land Rovers and the radios."You don't do it for money or anything, you just do it because it's there to be done. It's something useful and it helps people." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Bodies of two hillwalkers found on the same day as death toll on Scotland's peaks rises to four in a week
The bodies of another two hillwalkers have been found in the Highlands as the number of people who have died in Scotland's mountains this week rose to four. The tragic incidents happened in a week that saw blizzards hit some of the country's highest peaks just weeks after a spring heatwave had created perfect climbing conditions. The latest tragedy took place on a 2,920ft hill in Wester Ross. A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Around 1.20am on Saturday, June 7, the body of a 70-year-old man was recovered by mountain rescue teams from An Ruadh-stac. 'There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.' The climber has not yet been named. The police statement came just hours after officers announced that a body had been found in the search for a hillwalker who went missing on the Isle of Skye. Roddy MacPherson was last seen walking towards Sligachan Bridge. The 67-year-old had not been heard from since, sparking a major search. Police have said a body was found at Harta Quarry in the Cuillins on Friday. It was spotted by a mountain rescue team and extracted by the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter. Neil Urquhart, leader of Skye MRT, said it appeared the hillwalker had fallen. His team had searched for three days in what was their seventh call-out in six days. A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'There would appear to be no suspicious circumstances. Formal identification has yet to be made. 'The family of Roddy MacPherson, 67, who had been reported missing from Skye on Wednesday, June 4 have been informed.' It comes after the death of two other hillwalkers this week. On Thursday a 46-year-old climber plunged 650 feet to his death on Ben Nevis. His female companion was rescued by visiting members of Cockermouth MRT who were on the UK's highest mountain at the time. Members of Lochaber MRT and a Coastguard helicopter from Prestwick extracted the body of the climber who was on the Great Tower of Tower Ridge – about 600 feet below the 4,413ft summit. Astie Cameron, deputy leader of Lochaber MRT, said. 'It was very difficult conditions – a return to winter. It was a full-on blizzard. 'The chap must have fallen 200 metres [656 feet]. Fortunately, there were mountain rescue team members from Cockermouth nearby and they were able to get the other climber to safety. 'But because of the conditions we had to get the man's body round to Observatory Gully so the helicopter could get in. It was very difficult.' Police Scotland said it was made aware of a hillwalker having fallen from Tower Ridge around 1.45pm on Thursday, June 6. It said the Coastguard attended and located the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A body was also found on Monday in the search for a missing Swiss hiker who was on a long distance trek through the Highlands. Bernard Trottet was last known to be at Corryhully Bothy near Glenfinnan on May 27. The 65-year-old had been heading north towards Kinloch Hourn in Knoydart on the Cape Wrath trail. Police discovered a man's body in the water of the Kinloch Hourn area. Again, there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances. While formal identification is yet to take place, Mr Trottet's family has been informed. It is believed Mr Trottet may have been trying to cross a river when he was swept away.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Roddy MacPherson: Body found in search for missing walker on Skye
A body has been found in the search for a walker, four days after he went missing on the Isle of MacPherson, 67, was last seen on Monday outside Sligachan Hotel, walking in the direction of the Sligachan Scotland said the body of a man was discovered by officers and local mountain rescue teams on the Cuillins on Friday force said the family of Mr MacPherson, who was reported missing on Wednesday, had been informed. Formal identification has yet to take place but officers said there would appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the MacPherson was described as an "experienced walker" in a previous police appeal.A spokesperson for Skye mountain rescue team said "extensive searches" had been carried added: "Around midday on Friday, with improved weather and cloudless tops, a body was sighted on a grassy ledge high on the cliffs between Harta and Lota Corries." The team expressed its condolences to Mr MacPherson's family and friends.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Runner who injured ankle evacuated by boat from Lake District location
A runner who injured their ankle in the Lake District had to be evacuated from their location by boat. Penrith Mountain Rescue Team were called to respond to the incident on June 1 by the runner who requested assistance following an injury sustained on the lakeshore path beneath Hallin Fell. Patterdale Mountain Rescue launched their rescue boat which allowed team members from both organisations to transport the runner across Ullswater to Watermillock. A spokesperson for Penrith MRT said: "Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team asked us to respond to this incident for them as they had an event on at their base. "A runner in an organised event had sustained an ankle injury on the lakeshore path beneath Hallin Fell and requested mountain rescue assistance. "The Patterdale team launched their rescue boat, and 2 team members along with a Penrith team member went to the scene to assess and stabilise the casualty. "A further 8 Penrith team members were transported from Howtown via the boat direct to the scene to evacuate the casualty to the boat. "The casualty was taken across Ullswater to Watermillock and transferred to the waiting ambulance. "Our thanks to Patterdale for sending the boat as this removed an awkward carry along the lake shore path to Howtown." The rescue involved ten Penrith team members and two from Patterdale - it took just over four hours.
