TWO CLIMBERS who fell 15 metres had a lucky escape when a tree broke their fall and emergency services were found training nearby.
The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) of West Midlands Ambulance Service and Rope Rescue Teams from Malvern and Droitwich Fire Stations took part in the unexpected rescue by Tank Quarry in the Malvern Hills yesterday (Tuesday) at 11am.
They were about to embark on their joint training exercise when a member of the climbing group approached them and said two women from their team had plummeted between a fir tree and a rock face about 20 metres away.
They quickly found the pair at the bottom of the cliff, lying in the undergrowth and the firefighters were able to rescue the two for the HART team to asses them.
One was treated at the scene for minor facial injuries while the other, a woman in her twenties, was taken to hospital via ambulance.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “She was immediately treated by paramedics at the scene and with the help of the fire service was rescued from her precarious position. The woman was treated for back and neck pain and was also given pain relief.
“The woman is fortunate that they were already extremely close by at the time on a training exercise.”
Station Commander Phil Griffiths added: “The pair were very lucky as a nearby fir tree broke their fall and prevented the incident from being much worse.
“Fortunately, both services were able to respond quickly and efficiently which reinforces the importance of the joint exercises that we regularly undertake. We wish them both a speedy recovery.”
