Long Mynd walker who broke pelvis in fall thanks his rescuers
A walker who broke his pelvis after a fall down a hillside while walking in Shropshire has thanked those who rescued him.
Ian Dutton, 71, had to be carried down off the Long Mynd by firefighters after his fall into a stream at the popular walking spot near Church Stretton.
The retired IT manager from Liverpool said ambulance staff and firefighters both helped lift him from the icy stream.
"They gave me oxygen, put me on a stretcher, and six firefighters had to carry me for an hour the rest of the way down along a narrow path. It was surreal," he said.
"I want to express my thanks to the firefighters who carried me down the mountain. They were very professional, reassuring and positive under what must have been very difficult circumstances. I want to convey my sincere thanks to them."
He and his party were on the first day of a four-day holiday and had stopped for lunch in Carding Mill Valley at the picturesque Lightspout Waterfall, with its four metre water cascade.
"We were on our way down from the waterfall when I lost my footing, fell about 10ft and ended up sitting in a stream at the bottom," he said.
"The pain was excruciating."
Fellow hikers called 999 but they didn't have map co-ordinates of exactly where they were.
Fortunately three young men, who came to help, had maps and compasses and pinpointed the spot for the emergency services.
After being carried from the scene Mr Dutton was put on the back seat of a National Trust Land Rover to get him to a waiting ambulance.
Church Stretton fire crew manager Daran Chard
praised his "on call" team which included a postman, mechanic, shop assistant, garage owner, school caretaker, builder and fitness instructor and thanked the National Trust for helping to co-ordinate the rescue by transporting equipment.
The drama took place on April 19. Mr Dutton spent two week in hospital.
