The team has been made aware of an accident which has occurred recently to Oldham Mountain Rescue Team very experienced and long serving Team Call Out list member Phil Beard.
The following statement has been made public today by Phil’s colleagues in Oldham MRT via social media and is reproduced here in full;
“On Sunday 27th April, shortly after 14:30, an Oldham Mountain Rescue Team member took a fall of some 40 feet whilst out training with the team in Upperwood Quarry, on the A635 above Greenfield.
The person injured, Phil Beard of Uppermill, is a long standing team member with many years experience in the team and a wealth of knowledge and experience of rope work, training people and organisations both in the UK and abroad.Other emergency services were quickly on scene and Phil was flown by air ambulance to Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester.
Whilst he is quite widely injured and will require some surgery, none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening and Phil is stable, alert and awake but in some pain and discomfort.
Phil’s exceptionally good condition is thanks to the immediate attention he received from both his team members, police and the ambulance services. A team spokesman commented “we train exhaustively for just this type of incident, but it’s not something you ever expect to happen to one of your own. Phil’s colleagues demonstrated their medical and rescue skills in the most professional manner, under extremely difficult circumstances.”
At this time, the accident is not believed to involve any equipment failure, but a full investigation is underway to establish the precise cause and make recommendations where appropriate.”
Many in Bolton MRT, both past and present members, have benefited greatly from Phil Beard’s rope work training and his ready kindness in passing on his considerable knowledge, over a great many years of joint exercises and training courses, including the ‘Oldham weekend.’
All in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team pass on our best wishes to Phil for a full and speedy recover back to good health and a return once more to mountain rescue activities with Oldham MRT.
Get well soon Phil.
