A MOUNTAIN rescue team saved the day when an ambulance got stuck in ice as it tried to reach an 80-year-old grandmother who slipped outside her home.
After Joy Harrison fell, husband Derek and neighbours dialled 999. But when the ambulance got stuck, Bolton mountain rescue were called in.
A crew of six arrived in 4x4 vehicles at the house in Woodlands Avenue, Swinton, and, using specialist equipment, dragged Joy to safety on a sledge.
The rescue was captured on camera by Joy’s son Nick, 52, a freelance photographer.
He said: “They were all equipped with crampons and the other sort of equipment normally associated with hill and mountain rescues.
“But they did a splendid job in getting mum on to a sledge and up the road to the ambulance, which they had also rescued from the ice.”
Joy was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where she was treated for bruising and a chipped elbow before being allowed home.
She thanked the team for their ‘speedy and professional help’.
Now Joy, a former lady captain at Worsley Golf club, is looking forward to celebrating the New Year at home with her family.
The rescue comes just days after Jenny Kenyon, from Hyde, gave birth in the back of a mountain rescue vehicle when paramedics could not reach her.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Thank god for 4 x 4s.
When the roads get covered in snow and ice we need to ban the gas guzzling 2 x 4s off the road. They wheel spin on the ice, drive slowly holding up other vehicles and thereby increase production of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Thank god it wasn't GMP - they'd have put the bill at a couple of million quid for this!
Touche Hamish Macbeth!
Good dig on behalf of the 4*4 community. As a former BMW X5 owner, though, I have to say you are wrong. 4*4's are good in bad weather, but really no better than a front drive car, best of all one with narrow tyres. Indeed, a front-drive car with snow tyres will match anything a 4*4 can do on the roads (not off road though, obviously). The reason why you don't see this on UK roads is really bad technique. Some of my family live in the Peak District and I am amazed that even there, drivers spin their tyres (perhaps in second gear) in the hope of gaining traction. Really they should observe the advice of the Highway Code and drive gently in the highest possible gear.
I traded in my X5 last year, mainly because it was just too big and unfriendly on the school run. However, I will contemplate another 4*4 when I change cars again. I am not convinced by the green arguments against them. One thing for sure, though, is that they offer no real advantage in snow. Any minor tractional advantages are lost completely when braking. Then the great big fat tyres are a serious disadvantage, like big fat ski's underneath the car.
Her son is a freelance photographer ? Did he take thses pics ?
May i first say well done to all the emergency services including the mountain rescue team who helped this lady, the bill for this emergency should go to salford city council,this unfortunate accident could of been prevented if they did there job correctly and gritted as many roads as possible, i myself slipped and fell during this week on the ice and fractured my elbow crossing a very icy un gritted road, i also had to cancel plans to visit my family as i was not able to get my car out of my drive as the roads and paths were too dangerous to drive on let alone walk on as salford city council found out when they didnt empty bins again because it was too dangerous for there employees to go out, which again we will not recieve deductions in our council tax for more days our bins havent been emptied this year,salford city council is a waste of space and public money
bob forde, Coventry or Andalucia - what part of the 'green arguement' are you not convinced about? Surely it all comes down to facts and figures with regards the amount of C02 created doesn't it? Or do you just not believe that mankinds recent global industrialisation has anything to do with climate change?
Thank god for 4 x 4s.
When the roads get covered in snow and ice we need to ban the gas guzzling 2 x 4s off the road. They wheel spin on the ice, drive slowly holding up other vehicles and thereby increase production of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield
Having lived in southern michigan, close to Lake Michigan in fact, where 'lake effect snow' can be 7 or 8 inches deep on roads and pavements everyday for around four months of the year, I can tell you for a fact that front wheel drive is the only way to go in snowy conditions. In 18 months driving a ten year old Pontiac, with snow sometimes coming higher than the front bumper, I have never been stuck. I have helped plenty of guys push their 4x4's out of less however.
Fair comments salford rat...but 4x4 are usless if the driver cant use them correctly.
Quite amusing watching the Chelsea tractors slipping and sliding the other week.
Four wheel drive does not equal four wheel stop.
Like Salfordrat I have first hand knowledge of real winter condition having lived in Vermont for 12 years and Connecticut for 11.
The two most important things when it comes to winter driving are tyres and the skill of the driver.
After a short break to Finland, i was surprised to see virtually no 4x4's out there. With snow on the roads from October thro to April /May, they rely on 2 wheel drive cars, but have winter tyres with a different tread pattern - oh - and they can drive properly!!!