Jacob’s Ladder, Edale

  • Call out for year: 18
  • Date: 25/05/20
  • Time: 1:53 pm
  • Grid ref:
  • Type of incident: Mountain Biker Injured(1)
  • Team members involved: 22
  • Time taken: 2 hours
  • Total man hours: 44 hours

Incident report

While most people were enjoying the sunny weather on Bank holiday Monday, the team was called out to the area of Jacobs Ladder in the Edale valley. We were requested to assist East Midlands Ambulance Service with the evacuation of an injured mountain biker.

The casualty, a male in his 60s, having successfully descended Jacob’s Ladder on his electric mountain bike was cycling at a reasonable speed along the descent to Upper Booth when he hit a rock. This brought the bike to an abrupt stop and he was thrown off his bike, sustaining multiple injuries. Our colleagues in the East Midlands Ambulance Service gave the initial medical care whilst the team set up the evacuation on a mountain rescue stretcher to Upper Booth. During the treatment and subsequent carry-off, we were pleased to see members of the public passing the scene at a discrete distance. The casualty was then taken by ambulance to the Manchester Royal Infirmary for further treatment.

As part of our Covid-19 policies the Site Controller deployed team members in groups to give a degree of separation to help maintain social distancing. Some were kept at the road head as backup, and the stretcher party, who were closest to the casualty, wore the appropriate PPE and then disinfected all of the equipment used before it was packed into the vehicle.

A combination of the recent relaxing by the Government of the lockdown, a Bank Holiday weekend, and stunning weather was inevitably going to bring out the public in large numbers, and due to the number of vehicles in the area of the incident site, traffic was marshalled for a short time to ensure a clear route out for the ambulance. The team would like to thank the residents and visitors to the area for their patience and understanding during the incident.

Our best wishes go to the casualty and hope he is back on his bike soon.

2 comments

  1. Steve Peach

    I have just spent almost 3 weeks in M R I Manchester with multiple injuries from the accident in Upper Booth Edale on 25 May 2020. I suffered a broken pelvis in 2 places, broken nose and rib, lacerations to hand and head and a bleed on the brain. I cannot thank Edale Mountain Rescue team and Ambulance service enough for their help on the May Bank Holiday accident. Their care, organisation and professionalism in treating me that sunny day were second to none. My thanks also go out to various members of the public who donated bits from their first aid kits and Anne who skillfully dressed my wounds. I am making a steady recovery and hope to be back enjoying the Peak District by November.Many thanks once again and as soon as I am able to I will be making a donation to Edale Mountain Rescue Team. All the best;. Peachie

  2. Richard Doran

    Hello Steve, good to hear you are ok. We were pleased that working alongside the fabulous emas paramedics, we could help.
    Best wishes for a good recovery from all of us at Buxton Mountain Rescue Team

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