OUTDOORSmagic Members In Helicopter Rescue Drama

OUTDOORSmagic.com regular Julie Vine - better know to forum users as 'Jules aka Tigger' was unfortunate enough to be the subject of a helicopter rescue after a climbing accident on the Gower earlier this week.

Jules was climbing on Overton Cliff and leading a small overhang on a route called South West Corner when a hold gave way causing her to fall. The rock also narrowly missed hitting her belayer, another OM regular, Stu - aka 'Stu the climbing bank manager'. Although she only fell a short distance, Jules was unlucky enough to impale her left leg on sharp spike of rock protrudiing from the face.

The squeamish might like to look away now - Julie, and we quote, suffered a "deep stab wound, blood was pumping out and a large bulge of fat was coming out of the wound".

Fortunately Julie was close to the top of the route and was able to struggle across the final traverse to the top. Stu ran to the top of the crag and phoned the emergency services, as Julie was almost passing out with the pain and shock and was in no position to walk the two miles back to the car. The Coastguard sent a helicopter that airlifted her to Morriston Hospital in Swansea where she received five stitches in the wound before being released.

Worryingly another woman had been airlifted from the same route the week before with a shattered leg and it seems that while Overton Cliff is a popular climbing crag, many of the routes appear to be suffering from rotten rock and loose holds. In this case the piece of rock that gave way causing the accident had seemed secure during a previous visit. The accidents and state of the route have been reported to the SWMC, but if you are climbing there, be aware that the rock can be loose.

The good news is that Julie is on the mend and cheerfully looking forward to showing off her scar at July's OUTDOORSmagic SuperMeet. More about that next week, but fittingly, part of the meet will be an auction of used and new gear with the proceeds going to mountain rescue teams in the Lakes. Incidents like this underline what a vital job they do.

Best wishes to Jules for a speedy recovery from everyone at OM, hope you'll be back on the rock before long. Amd to everyone else, be careful out there :-)