Whilst team members were deployed to provide standby rescue cover on the Rivington Half Marathon today, at 11:15 we became aware of a runner who had collapsed in the vicinity of Anglezarke Reservoir. A crew of four team members and a vehicle were immediately on hand to assist the 31 year old male runner, who was suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia.

A picture of the incident location – shortly before the three accidents occurred!

A second crew of three team members and another team vehicle were also quickly despatched from nearby White Coppice to assist the first crew, who also found themselves simultaneously dealing with two competitors with ankle injuries – all three incidents occurred at roughly the same location and at the same time!

Thankfully one of the two lesser-injured competitors had only sprained his ankle, and with the help of his running partner was able to continue on the race. The second runner with a slightly more severe ankle injury was treated and placed onto our BM1 ambulance whilst the attention of all seven team members was now focused on the collapsed male, who was unsteady on his feet and was found to be dehydrated and mildly hypothermic.

Due to concern over the male’s condition he was taken directly to the Royal Bolton Hospital in our BM4 ambulance, arriving at 12:12, where further treatment was given by hospital staff.