Beer Coastguard team helps airlift injured walker to hospital

HM Coastguard teams from Exmouth and Beer airlifted an injured walker to hospital at the weekend (Saturday 21 May).

The individual, a male, had fallen on the steps on the east side of Salcombe Hill.

The Beer Coastguard team was the first on scene, at around 1.48pm. A nurse named Rob, who happened to be passing, had also stopped to help the casualty and identify what his injuries were.

The South Western Ambulance Service then arrived, and it was agreed that a helicopter extraction was needed as moving the walker on a stretcher either up or down the hill would cause further distress.

Once the helicopter arrived, the individual was put on a stretcher, winched up, and taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

A spokesperson for the Beer Coastguard team said: "We were first on scene and located the casualty, a passing nurse had stopped to help and examined the casualty and had identified the injuries suffered, with his help we maintained his care until the paramedic arrived on scene and confirmed our thoughts that an airlift would be required as moving the casualty either up or down the steep hill on a stretcher could cause more distress.

"The Coastguard helicopter was requested and was soon dispatched, once on scene and after the casualty was packaged on the stretcher they were winch up and transferred to hospital.

"Thanks to Rob the nurse who helped the casualty at the scene. We wish the casualty a quick recovery."

A spokesperson for the Exmouth Coastguard team said: "A technically difficult extraction so helo support called in and following assessment the casualty was winched to the aircraft for further medical attention and taken to RD&E as nearest trauma unit."

HM Coastguard has also thanked members of the public at the scene who followed their safety instructions when the helicopter was there.