Child rescued after falling 200 feet down steep slope near Westbury
Emergency services collaborated to save an injured boy from rough terrain
A coordinated rescue effort saved an injured child who fell approximately 200 feet down a steep slope near Westbury.
The incident occurred just after 6pm, requiring complex rescue efforts as around 45 personnel collaborated to ensure the child's safety. Wiltshire Search and Rescue and DWFireRescue joined the Ambulance Service's HART paramedics and local crews to assist in the challenging operation.
Wiltshire Search and Rescue dispatched 25 volunteers, including a Lowland Rescue Incident Commander, with crews arriving 19 minutes after being called. The team brought essential gear like scene lighting, a basket stretcher, and provided a hypothermia blanket.
The rescue site was located about half a kilometre from the nearest track. While off-road driving was possible part of the way, the final leg had to be completed on foot, with a “breadcrumb trail” of cyalumes laid out to guide the way back to safety.
As fog rapidly descended, a helicopter extraction was considered but ultimately ruled out. Instead, a rope system was used, led by the technical rescue team from Westlea Fire Station, with some assistance from Wiltshire's members. The system used ground anchors to lower an attendant harnessed down the slope, then a mechanical advantage to pull both the stretcher and attendant up about 200 feet.
Once the young boy was immobilised, he was carried over obstacles by a stretcher party to a flat ground where the extraction continued using a stretcher wheel, easing the journey to the waiting ambulance.
Thankfully, his injuries were not deemed life-threatening. Despite the ordeal, he showed notable maturity and calmness throughout the challenging situation.
The team expressed gratitude to Holman staff whose fundraising efforts enabled the purchase of upgraded scene lighting. The newly acquired Peli Light, used operationally for the first time, proved three times brighter than its predecessor, making a significant impact during the rescue.