Cairngorms hillwalker survives 800ft fall

Posted: January 20, 2014

Posted in: Hand Injuries Personal Injury 

A 25-year-old hillwalker has survived a fall of around 800ft from a cliff edge in the Cairngorms. Ollie Daniel had been trekking in the Coire Sputan Dearg area on Sunday when he fell through the snow off a steep cliff. He and two other men, including his father, had been navigating in “near zero visibility in a white-out” when the accident occurred. He was later airlifted to hospital, with injuries including nine broken ribs.

BBC Scotland asked Mr Daniel about the accident during his recovery at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, whereby he described the sections of sliding and free-falling before reaching the bottom. He said: “As I was navigating I put my foot out and onto nothing, and fell down about 800ft of sheer cliff.” When the falling finally stopped, Mr Daniel described getting into his sleeping bag while waiting for help.

“It’s credit to them”

An RAF helicopter arrived at the scene of the accident two hours later, having struggled to find him in the severe weather conditions. Mr Daniel described feeling both lucky for having survived the fall, and that a mountain rescue team was able to find and assist him. “It’s credit to them”, he said.

Mr Daniel suffered nine broken ribs in the accident, alongside a broken wrist, liver injuries, lung injuries and multiple cuts and bruises. Mr Daniel’s father thanked the Emergency Rescue Service and the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team for their “brilliant” work.

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