Walkers injured on the Wrekin

Sunday 21^st April 2013 – 7.00pm – Claire Brown.

Two women have been taken to hospital after they were injured whilst walking in Shropshire this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to an area of The Wrekin, off Spout Lane, Little Wenlock, shortly before midday today (Sunday). An off duty community first responder came across the two injured women and administered first aid until two ambulances, Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedics and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a doctor on board attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The two women, believed to be in their 50s, had been out walking with a group of people when both reportedly fell.

“Due to the location of the women on the hill, the air ambulance had to land ½ a mile away and walk the rest of the way on foot. Land crews, unable to drive to the location, also made their way up the steep hill on foot.

“One woman suffered a fractured lower leg whilst the other had a suspected fractured ankle. Crews administered pain relief to the women before they were fully immobilised in a specialist fabric integrated body stretcher, designed to be easy to carry across difficult terrain.

“The crews then carried the women part way down the hill to HART’s six-wheeled all-terrain POLARIS vehicle which conveyed the woman, in turn, the rest of the way down a steep track to the awaiting ambulances.

“Both women were then taken by land ambulance to Princess Royal Hospital for further treatment almost four hours after the initial 999 call.

“The steep and inaccessible location meant this was a difficult and protracted case for crews however, their team work ensured the women received the best pre-hospital treatment and were rescued safely.”

Ends

Pictured: HART paramedic treating one woman on The Wrekin.