Teenage girl rescued after canoeing accident at Campsie Linn rapids
A 14-year-old girl was winched to safety by helicopter after a dramatic river rescue in Perthshire on Sunday.
The teenager was rescued by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter.
- By Kirsten Johnson
- Published in the Courier : 28.11.11
- Published online : 28.11.11 @ 01.03pm
Tayside Fire and Rescue confirmed ''disaster was averted'' thanks to a successful multi-agency response by the emergency services.
The teenager and a middle-aged man got into difficulty when their canoe capsized on the River Tay's ''treacherous'' Campsie Linn rapids near Stanley.
A concerned member of the public rang 999 shortly before 2pm after spotting the man struggling to safety on the river banks. The frightened youngster was unable to make it to land and, after freeing herself from the vessel, was forced to scramble on to a small island.
First on the scene, Tayside Police immediately requested the help of Tayside Fire and Rescue's river rescue team and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Four police vehicles, five fire appliances from Perth, Dunkeld and Pitlochry — including the heavy rescue unit — and two ambulances were in attendance. A control point was set up at nearby Burnside car park.
The river was in spate due to 48 hours of heavy rain and it was quickly decided that the best available option to ensure the safe rescue of the girl was to call in a nearby Royal Navy helicopter. She was airlifted to safety shortly before 4pm and rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee with suspected hypothermia.
Although in a state of shock, it is not believed she suffered any other injuries in the incident.
Perth station manager Graeme Hay commended the teenager's ''bravery''.
He said: ''It must have been a terrifying situation, but she remained calm and collected. It was a very successful operation with the best conclusion we could have hoped for — the safe rescue of the casualty and no injuries to personnel.
''It was a joint agency decision that the easiest and best option was to request a rescue helicopter, which thankfully was just 20 minutes away by air in Glencoe.
''The specialist water rescue team from Perth was in attendance and could have rescued the girl using a technique known as the tethered swim, but it would have meant bringing her back through the freezing water.''
The man and girl were not believed to be with a larger group.
Stanley resident Geordie Stewart, who has fished at nearby Burnmouth for more than 50 years, saw the aftermath of the rescue.
He told The Courier: ''I heard all the sirens and knew it must have been something at the river. I was so relieved to hear the girl was okay. It could have been quite a different story.
''Even on the best of days the water at Campsie Linn is very treacherous — it's 90 feet deep and there's a large whirlpool.
''It's become too popular with canoeists, in my opinion,'' he added. ''Only the most skilled should take the risk to canoe on it — it's just too dangerous.''
11.28am - 29.11.2011 gb - perth, UK Report This
Sterling job by trained professionals. Well done. Now lets look at the flip side, weather and flood warnings and people still go on the river. Who pays?
11.12pm - 03.12.2011 Philip Oakley - Glasgow, United Kingdom Report This
Campsie Linn requires great respect, particularly in high water. I'm the blue helmet (providing safety cover) in the Tay Descent Video, and that was the smallest rapid that day, with the level at least a metre higher than the second video. Good to hear everyone is OK. Be prepared.
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