In reply to Rob84: We could see the MRT headtorches coming in along the path beside the lake and I can tell you those guys know how to move quick, and considering the kit they have to lug in with them just makes it all the more impressive. At this point the adrenaline was probably wearing off a bit and my memory is a bit hazy so I might not have all this in the right order, but the MRT advance party arrived and started making their assessment of the situation and getting me ready to move. Also a RAF Sea King was trying to get in to me and may have dropped off more MRT guys but I’m not sure – either way their downdraft was kicking up too much spindrift too close to the cliff for them to winch me out from where I was so they backed off. I was given morphine, my legs were tied together and I was lowered down the gully and slopes below until a point where the MRT guys had kicked out a platform in the snow to get a stretcher set up. (I should probably mention that the approach gully to the climb isn’t really very steep at all – you wouldn’t think too much about it walking up it but once you have to work on it you realise its steep enough to make things really awkward – everything slides off if not tied down which must have made the MRT’s job a real pain.) They got me into the stretcher and fully clipped in/blanketed up and I started to warm up a bit. I was then lowered down past (I think) another 1-2 belay stations they had setup to a point where the chopper could get to me.
Soon after I was winched up and whisked off to Bangor A&E where they took great care of me - relocated my dislocated ankle and saved my foot, got me stable, x-rays done etc and I was in surgery the next morning. The final tally of injuries was a broken femur, tibia, fibia, dislocated ankle, possible broken ribs and a few other minor cuts and scrapes to my head, arms and legs. The rest of the week isn’t a particularly interesting story – just me recovering in hospital and gradually getting up and about on crutches etc. I’m obviously very grateful for all the help I was given by the hospital staff.
Most importantly, I might not be here now (and certainly not in such a good way), had it not been for the help of many people. Massive thanks to:
- Alys (my climbing partner) - who was awesome throughout, kept a cool head in tough circumstances and must have been borderline hypothermic by the end of it after giving me her down jacket
- The climbers (Diggler, Jonah Jones and friends) who helped me out in the bottom of the gully, got me on a belay, got some warm kit for me and kept me talking and awake – cheers guys you were great and again please get in touch if you see this.
- Ogwen MRT - total heroes the lot of them, consummate professionals, slick, very undervalued and all volunteers who do this just because they like helping people out. Total legends along with every other MRT in the country.
- Search & Rescue from RAF Valley - likewise utter heroes, especially as apparently the chopper was icing up and almost had to ditch on the way to A&E – they obviously pulled out all the stops to get me out in less than ideal weather
- The A&E staff who managed to get my kit off me without cutting off too much plus pretty much saved my foot after it got frostbite and went black from the dislocation/cold - very happy about that obviously!
- The surgical team who did an amazing job patching me up
- The physios who got me back on my good foot pretty damn quickly
- Mel, Andy, Nik and Alys who came to A&E on the night to bring me some clothes, see how I was doing and say hi
- Nik for getting my car and kit back to Cardiff for me – you’re a star, cheers mate!
- My mum who has been awesome, drove up to visit and has surprised me by not getting too freaked out (I think she has now accepted the fact that I'm an idiot climber with limited mental capacity and won’t be stopping anytime soon!)
- My mate Gareth who is a medical student based up in Bangor for the next few months and kept coming to have a chat in hospital before and after his shifts as well as lending me Cold Climbs to keep me entertained
- Sarah (my housemate) who drove to Bangor after a night shift yesterday to pick me up and endured a 12hour round trip in crap driving conditions - I love you mate!
- Everyone who has sent me messages/texts to keep me entertained throughout
I think that's everyone but if I missed anyone out apologies and I do appreciate it! I'm planning on running the Welsh 14 peaks/similar in the summer to try and raise some much needed money for Ogwen MRT providing my recovery goes ok so I may be on here begging later in the year. Cheers, Rob