Helicopter winches walker to safety after leg break

A hiker was winched to safety by a coastguard helicopter after breaking her leg on Kinder Scout on Friday afternoon.

Seventeen members of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) scrambled to the scene at the top of Crowden Brook after being called out at 1:50pm. 

However, the casualty was in such a remote location that the MRT decided to ask for help from the coastguard, which sent an S-92 helicopter. 

A spokesperson for the rescuers said: “Kinder 1 went to the casualty site and Kinder 2 prepared the rope rescue equipment in case it was needed.  

“As Kinder 1 were on route from Edale Cross, we were informed that the S-92 Coastguard helicopter was inbound and should be on site in 10 minutes.  

“In discussion with the Peak District MRT Duty Controller, we decided to hold off asking for assistance from a neighbouring Mountain Rescue Team until we knew if the S-92 was going to winch the casualty or if we needed to execute a rope rescue and stretcher evacuation on land.” 

The medic from the helicopter winched down to treat the injured walker, who was then attached to a rescue line and lifted into the S-92, which was hovering overhead. 

As the helicopter was running low on fuel it diverted to Manchester Airport where the casualty was taken to hospital in a waiting ambulance. 

The MRT guided her two companions back to Edale Cross and then down to their car in Hayfield.