WATCH: Cairngorm rescue team members stretcher ill woman to safety
It was a long day for Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team members yesterday who were able to put into good practice their training from earlier in the day in a six-hour rescue operation.
Twenty-three members of the team were involved in stretching a women off the hills by Newtonmore after she became ill whilst bagging Munros in Badenoch.
The call was raised at around 6pm when the woman – who was with three friends – began suffering from exhaustion.
A CMRT spokesperson said: "It was a long day for some of the team after a training day followed a call out last night.
"A female walker became ill whist descending from the mountains around Newtonmore.
"She was stretchered off by 23 members of the rescue team after being kept warm and dry by her walking companions.
"Team members were back at base at around 12.30am, a little wet from river crossings during the six hour rescue."
Team leader Iain Cornfoot told the Strathy that the group of four women had been on an expedition bagging Munros when the casualty became ill.
He said: "This was our first proper call-out of the new season and it was a good opportunity to go through some of the coronavirus protocols which we have put in place."
Mr Cornfoot said that team members were training in small social bubbles in order to reduce risk of coronavirus transmission.
Volunteers had been brushing up on their skills working in groups in the Grantown area and in the Cairngorms yesterday before the call-out.
Mr Cornfoot said wherever possible the rescue team was keeping to Scottish Government guidelines.
He explained: "We are trying as best possible to keep team members in their bubbles such as for travel but there are times in rescues when we can not adhere to this such as when we need more hands for carrying a stretcher."
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