Coastguard Helicopter, Air Ambulance and Mountain Rescue at Work

[Anmer]

First of all I must declare a personal interest in this story.  Joe is my son's long time friend and, with a few others, they're cycling from London to Paris next weekend to raise money for the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.  I first met Joe a few months after his fall when he attended my son's wedding, still on crutches and evidently patched up from an horrendous fall.

The other day I received a link to Joe's Just Giving webpage and read his own story for the first time.  Until then all I knew is he'd had a fall in the Lake District.  I had no idea how long it took to rescue him and how many injuries he'd suffered.  A Coastguard helicopter and air ambulance were needed along with 19 members of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team who took 8 hours to get Joe off Helvellyn.

If you have time, please read Joe's account of the rescue.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-gilbert3?fbclid=IwAR01hmbno26M3-jRshPPnmSzXbt3gLPKNEW07DWwb6NnQ2Id-2BcJOVRXaw

It still brings a lump to my throat everytime I read it, picturing the massive effort of all those involved, including the medical staff who took care of Joe afterwards.  As Joe says, without them, he would have died on Helvellyn.

The Helvellyn Flyers are trying to raise as much money as possible for the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.  It's a truly worthy cause.

Joe's story is a great example of the fantastic work undertaken by a group of highly trained volunteers working together with other agencies to save lives.  Most of this goes unreported.  I know as everyday I see multiple flights of the local Coastguard helicopters and Air Ambulances on my BaseStation screen.  And rarely do I see an associated news report.

But Joe's fall did get an mention on the BBC website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-cumbria-35855383

This is the first time I've promoted a charity on the forum.  I may never do so again.  I hope you get a chance to read Joe's story and think about it when you next see a Coastguard or Air Ambulance flight on your tracking screen.

[Anmer]

A special Thank You to everyone who made a donation, I know it's very much appreciated.

The Helvellyn Flyers set off for Paris from London at 8:00 am tomorrow, Saturday 11th May 2019.

Day 1 is London to Newhaven to catch the ferry to Dieppe, 126 Km

Day 2 Ferry to Dieppe and then Dieppe to Vieuville, 55 Km

Day 3 is Vieuville to Osny, 96 Km

Day 3 is Osny yo Paris, via Versailles, 77 Km.

Hopefully the team will complete the trip without any major issues.  Maybe the odd puncture and some sore limbs and buttocks?

I've attached a route map.  If anyone else would like to donate, the JustGiving page is still active:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-gilbert3?fbclid=IwAR01hmbno26M3-jRshPPnmSzXbt3gLPKNEW07DWwb6NnQ2Id-2BcJOVRXaw

Thanks again for all your support.

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[Anmer]

The Helvellyn Flyers have just arrived in Versailles and will be continuing to Central Paris this morning.

I hope they took plenty of suncream as it's been blue skies all the way since they set off from London on Saturday morning.

To date, they've raised £5,590.83 for the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.  Thanks to everyone who donated.

And well done the Flyers.

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