FALL OVER PRECIPICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 5

FALL OVER PRECIPICE

MAN HANGING BY ROPE. SAVED BY MATE’S PLUCK. Held in a perilous position by a rope attached to another climber, a London visitor to the English Lakeland was lately rescued in dramatic fashion on a famous Cumberland mountain. He was Mr. John Whitehead, aged 19. He was taken to Keswick hospital suffering from a double fracture of the right arm, a fractured right thigh and injuries to the right side of the head. It took four and a-half hours to convey Mr. Whitehead on a stretcher to the village of Seathwaitc, four miles from the scene of the accident. Two women helped the -rescuers, who numbered 40.

Mr. Whitehead, with a party consisting of Miss O’Brien, Mr. D. G. Ritson, both of Crewe, and a Manchester man, was making the severe 200 ft. climb on the Great Gable mountain. When near the top of Torpct Bastion, he stepped on a loose stone and fell 100 ft. down the face of the rock. In his fall he struck the precipice and jutting pieces of rock, but fortunately the rope held, and he hung half-way down.

Mr. Ritson pluckily jumped to the other side of a ledge, and held Mr. Whitehead, and the Manchester man also climbed down and helped Mr. Ritson to lower Mr. Whitehead to the bottom.

Mr. J. E B. Wright, chief of the Lakeland Mountain Guides, was climbing on the Gable with another party, and Miss O’Brien sumoned him. There were a number of other climbers about, and one, Miss Craven, a nurse assisted Air. Wright to attend to the injured man after he had been removed to a more comfortable position. The accident occurred at half-past two, and the Borrowdale ambulance men covered six miles, including the stiff climb up the Sty Head Pass ami along the Gable traverse, to reach the spot. By half-past four—wonderfully quick work, especially as they were carrying a stretcher—they had posted relief parties on the way. It was dark by the time Mr. Whitehead was put on the stretcher. The journey to Seathwaitc was very difficult and dangerous. A slip would have sent him rolling down to certain death. “I was roped to Mr. Whitehead,” said Mr. Ritson in an interview. “When he fell I jumped across the ledge and dropped into a crevice which gave mo a firm hold. Fortunately the rope did not break, and I was able to hold him. I was holding him for five minutes before, assistance came and he was lowered.” The Great Gable rises to a height of 2949 ft. and is a favourite peak with climbers in the Lake District.