At 14:32 on Sunday 25th March the team was called to assist North West Ambulance Service and the North West Air Ambulance Charity at a serious incident in the Tockholes Plantations, Roddlesworth, near Darwen.

A 35 year old male had suffered a cardiac arrest whilst out mountain biking with friends. Early CPR on the man was started by members of the public, before crews from NWAS and NWAA arrived on scene.

A team member coincidentally out walking nearby went immediately to the scene, and further team members already at our base responded in team vehicles, departing within 3 minutes of the initial call.

The team carried the man on a mountain rescue stretcher, back to the road, whilst resuscitation attempts continued. He was then transferred to Royal Blackburn Hospital in an NWAS ambulance for further treatment.

Sadly despite the best efforts of NWAS, NWAA and Bolton MRT we learned that the man later died in hospital.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.