0:00:02 > 0:00:04Rural Britain has some of the most
0:00:04 > 0:00:07challenging environments in the world. In Scotland,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09the mountains, lochs and coastline encourage
0:00:09 > 0:00:12tourists and locals to get out into the wilds.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But with that comes danger.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16SIREN WAILS
0:00:22 > 0:00:24The emergency services north of the border
0:00:24 > 0:00:28have to deal with extreme challenges every day.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30They keep coming. We need to get through.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32SIREN WAILS
0:00:32 > 0:00:36From severe weather and treacherous terrain...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38- Is the pain getting worse, do you think?- Yes.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..to covering huge distances on country roads
0:00:41 > 0:00:43with time against them.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46I don't know if it's a collapse on the high street in Lockerbie.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48They work around the clock,
0:00:48 > 0:00:52battling against some of the most difficult situations.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56We'll be right at the heart of the action.
0:00:57 > 0:01:02Side by side with air rescue saving lives,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05on the road with paramedics caring for the injured
0:01:05 > 0:01:07and following the police fighting crime
0:01:07 > 0:01:12as the emergency services work together to pick up, patch up
0:01:12 > 0:01:16and protect the public in rural communities.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18This is Countryside 999.
0:01:36 > 0:01:42Coming up, the Royal Navy race to save a critically injured walker.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Wintry roads cause chaos for police in Dumfries.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Nobody in their right mind should've attempted to drive through this.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- SIREN WAILS - And paramedics face the challenge
0:02:00 > 0:02:03of reaching the elderly in scattered communities.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06- Is she usually a lot more responsive? - Definitely.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08She's actually got a lot worse since I got her up.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Britain's countryside is a magnet for people seeking
0:02:20 > 0:02:22the pleasures of outdoor life.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27But adventure can sometimes lead to accidents.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32In the Lake District, between 2006 and 2011,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36there was a dramatic 50% increase in hill rescues.
0:02:36 > 0:02:392010 was the busiest year, with 600 incidents.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Taking the strain are emergency services like
0:02:45 > 0:02:49the Royal Navy search and rescue team at HMS Gannett near Prestwick.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55They cover a huge area to the top of Scotland
0:02:55 > 0:02:59across to Northern Ireland and down to the Lake District.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01TELEPHONE RINGS
0:03:01 > 0:03:04It's 12:40pm, when observer, or navigator,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08- Phil Gamble takes an emergency call. - Yeah, I'll take that, yeah.
0:03:08 > 0:03:09Helvellyn.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16OK, we've got a, er...a man with head injury on Swirral Edge.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Conscious, but breathing, but he's worsening.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- Where is it? - Lake District, Helvellyn.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25A 60-year-old hill walker has fallen off a cliff
0:03:25 > 0:03:29at the Lake District's highest fell - Helvellyn.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33His injuries are severe, so the crew must scramble fast.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37RADIO BROADCAST BEGINS
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Good afternoon, readable? Over.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59The team are heading 90 miles south to the eastern fell range.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01The walker has fallen from a ridge
0:04:01 > 0:04:03that's particularly treacherous in bad weather.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18The accident has happened in an extremely remote area,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20completely inaccessible by road.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22With such severe injuries,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25the man's best hope is to be rescued by helicopter.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Emotionally, um, going down there, you're on a high,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44because you know this guy needs immediate assistance.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45'Transit down, the weather was fine,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49'but we had reports of low cloud in the Lakes and snowstorms as well.'
0:04:52 > 0:04:55A local mountain rescue team is with the casualty.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57With the poor visibility,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00they will be crucial in aiding the navy rescue.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18As the Sea King makes the final approach to the ridge,
0:05:18 > 0:05:19it hits a wall of low cloud.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26If there's any hope of carrying out a rescue, they need a weather window
0:05:26 > 0:05:28and they need it fast.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Bad weather affects all our emergency services,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41but rain, snow and sleet can cause havoc on country roads.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48This winter, Britain experienced the second wettest year on record,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51leaving hundreds of homes and cars seriously damaged
0:05:51 > 0:05:53and even some fatalities.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59In Dumfries, the River Nith often overflows in heavy rainfall
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and, when it does,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04the emergency services are the first port of call for flood victims.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06SIREN WAILS
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Police constable of 15 years Matt Tate
0:06:10 > 0:06:14and PC Ross Dickson are responding to a 999 call.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Last November, a man died trapped in his car during a flood,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37so the officers race to make sure no-one's at risk.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Did you see somebody get out of the car?
0:06:45 > 0:06:50Fortunately, the car is empty, but now they need to find the owner.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Nobody in their right mind should've attempted to drive through this.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Must be a foot and a bit deep, you know.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00You can see, it's all flowing down into the college as well.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05But that doesn't mean some people still won't try.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Before anyone else has the same idea,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Matt and Ross tape off the area and head to a nearby college,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20where they believe the owner, Jacqui, is taking refuge.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26- Jacqueline?- Yes.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29THEY CHATTER, VOICES ECHO
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Your car, what's happening?
0:07:37 > 0:07:41I was going to go on the road from, um, Bankend,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44and the road has been very, very wet,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48I didn't see a flooded sign there, though the road in places
0:07:48 > 0:07:52was flooded, and I was only doing about 20, 15 miles an hour
0:07:52 > 0:07:54and just went in and it just got deeper and deeper
0:07:54 > 0:07:57and, by the time I realised I was in trouble,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01it was too late to go back, and so I was stuck, basically.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Hiya, who's speaking?
0:08:04 > 0:08:08The problem is, once a car gets flooded, the engine can seize up.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Matt calls a specialist recovery truck.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Roger, that's received, just in the log.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I spoke to the recovery agent and they should be about 15-20 minutes,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21so hopefully we'll have it recovered in half an hour.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Once the recovery vehicles arrive,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29the car is salvaged and Jacqui's taken home.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38It's pretty bad. An awful lot of water came off the hill,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40so, yeah, anticipate that,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43but it won't be the last call we'll get today regarding
0:08:43 > 0:08:47that sort of situation, but hey-ho, we just deal with it as it comes in.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Time for a cup of tea.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00In the Lake District, a man was out hill walking with his daughter
0:09:00 > 0:09:04when he fell 100 feet down a cliff. He's very seriously injured.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09The Royal Navy search and rescue team have been called out
0:09:09 > 0:09:12as he urgently needs to get to hospital.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16But bad weather is causing a dangerous delay.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20'When we got there, it was actually a shock how low the cloud base was
0:09:20 > 0:09:22'and we were in a snowstorm as well.'
0:09:22 > 0:09:26And so, it's difficult, um, you see, your adrenaline's high and you just
0:09:26 > 0:09:29want to get straight to casualty as soon as possible,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32but you put yourself and the aircraft in danger if you go into cloud.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41The helicopter gets as near to the casualty as possible,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43but he's on a steep cliff covered in cloud.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48It's just too dangerous for them to fly any closer.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56They have no option
0:09:56 > 0:09:59but to land on boggy ground further down the valley.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Observer Phil Gamble keeps in constant contact
0:10:13 > 0:10:16with the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17They're with the casualty
0:10:17 > 0:10:21and will need to lower him by rope down below the cloud line.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57They must keep the helicopter running
0:10:57 > 0:10:59to prevent it sinking into the boggy ground.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03But with every minute ticking by it's burning up precious fuel.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29The seriousness of the injured walker's condition
0:11:29 > 0:11:32means he has to get to hospital urgently.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35All the crew can do right now is wait.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58With the mountain rescue team finally in sight,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00the Sea King helicopter moves position
0:12:00 > 0:12:03to get closer to the seriously injured hill walker.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Now, every second counts.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Pilot Lloydy hovers the helicopter by the side of the mountain
0:12:29 > 0:12:32as winchman Lee prepares for a rapid uplift.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Easy, easy, steady. Happy position.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38OK, just put the man out.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43The terrain is too steep and treacherous for a landing,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45so they have to lower the winch.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47OK, lower the winch.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Slow things down there, Lee.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Ten feet from the ground.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57And on the ground now, working with the winch.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12First, the mountain rescue team's medic, Dr John Ellerton,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16is winched up to receive the critically injured walker Peter.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17And one man aboard.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Right now, Peter's life is hanging in the balance.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Peter was walking with his daughter Rosie
0:13:30 > 0:13:34when he fell 100 feet down the rocky mountainside.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39This photo was taken just minutes before he fell.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43His foot just went from under him.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48He fell out onto his side and, um, I thought,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52"Oh, he'll get back up in a minute," but he kept going and kind of rolled
0:13:52 > 0:13:55and, as he rolled, he obviously built up some momentum.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I knew straight away that it was serious. I just knew in my stomach.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00I just knew.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Stretcher's attached. Raise the winch, raising the winch.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Left only three yards, slowly.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Roger. So raising the winch, raising the winch.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Two hours after the navy received the emergency call,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Peter is finally on board the helicopter.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20And lower the winch. Lower the winch, lower the winch. Stop the winch.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Peter's been lifted from the hill.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32But the battle is far from over.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Rosie has to travel to the hospital by road,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43leaving medic John battling to save her dad's life.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59The wide expanses and long winding roads of Britain's countryside
0:14:59 > 0:15:02can provide challenges for the emergency services,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06particularly when it comes to reaching the older generation.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14In Dumfries and Galloway, over 30% of the population are aged over 60.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Many live in remote areas.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22For paramedics here, the time taken to reach these patients
0:15:22 > 0:15:25can mean the difference between life and death.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Dumfries trainee ambulance technician Hayley Skinner
0:15:30 > 0:15:34has always wanted to be at the front line of saving lives.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37It was always one of these dream jobs that I seen,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39that I never actually thought I could do.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42And then eventually I said to myself, you know,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44"If you want something hard enough, you'll get it."
0:15:44 > 0:15:46So I did it, and here I am.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48And loving it.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51A 999 call has just come in.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Hayley is responding, along with her colleague, Elaine May.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Got a call to a 90-year-old female with a query stroke.
0:16:01 > 0:16:06Casualty is apparently conscious and breathing.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09The patient, Nancy,
0:16:09 > 0:16:14lives a mile and a half away from the ambulance depot in Dumfries.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Elaine puts her right foot down and gets there in four minutes flat.
0:16:22 > 0:16:2690-year-old Nancy is sitting up, but unresponsive.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29A stroke is a strong possibility.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Nancy, this is just going to squeeze your arm, OK?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35And take your blood pressure.
0:16:35 > 0:16:36OK?
0:16:37 > 0:16:41- Is she usually a lot more responsive?- Oh, definitely.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Blood pressure's OK.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Yesterday, Nancy had a fall.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48When her carers came in this morning,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51she wasn't her normal, talkative self.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53They immediately called 999.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Do you think that she's worse today than she was yesterday?
0:16:57 > 0:16:58When you took her to bed yesterday...
0:16:58 > 0:17:01She's actually got a lot worse since I got her up.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Elaine checks if Nancy is able to communicate clearly.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09A possible symptom of a stroke.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Hayley spots another possible symptom.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Weakness in Nancy's hands.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- Nancy? Can you squeeze my hand?- Mm...
0:17:26 > 0:17:28That's good. And what about this one?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Can you squeeze this hand?
0:17:31 > 0:17:32Can you squeeze it?
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Unable to grip and clearly confused,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Nancy has almost certainly had a stroke.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42She needs to get to hospital.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Take you to the hospital, OK?
0:17:47 > 0:17:52One, two, three... Up we go, there we are.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Mm. Just onto this chair. You're on.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58That's you.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Pop your feet on there.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Nancy's home is five minutes' drive from Dumfries hospital.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10But in this rural area not everyone lives so close.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16There have been times we've been out to very rural places,
0:18:16 > 0:18:21where people are really old and very unwell, and sometimes you think,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25"Is it time to get into the town, get closer to hospital?"
0:18:25 > 0:18:27But they're just so independent,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30just want to be living in their own house,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and they just take that on board,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36that they're just going to have to wait for an ambulance.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37OK, do you want to stand up with me?
0:18:37 > 0:18:39- To stand up?- Yes, thank you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- OK.- That's it.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43That's you, Nancy.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Just a wee spring over onto there. That's you.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49The old ones are absolutely fantastic,
0:18:49 > 0:18:55they never complain and take so much more pain than the younger people.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Such lovely old people.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59OK, Nancy, I'm just going to give you a wee drop of oxygen.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02It'll just help you breathe a wee bit better, all right?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05I just need to place this over your face, all right?
0:19:05 > 0:19:08- Yes.- That OK?- Yes.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10There you are.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Placed her on a little bit of oxygen just now,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16just to aid with her oxygen saturation and her breathing.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19And we're just a short distance form the hospital
0:19:19 > 0:19:22so we'll be up in the hospital in a couple of minutes.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26OK, that's us here. We'll just get you out, all right?
0:19:26 > 0:19:29OK, thank you.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33Nancy's swiftly delivered into the hands of the hospital team,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35who'll be able to thoroughly assess her condition.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50Over 90% of Scotland's landmass is rural,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54with the vast majority of the country classified as remote.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57So the onset of winter can provide serious challenges
0:19:57 > 0:19:59for the emergency services.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06Flooding here is treacherous enough, but, as temperatures plummet,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09ice has the potential to turn many of our roads
0:20:09 > 0:20:11into lethal skating rinks.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17It's eight o'clock in the morning, and PCs Matt Tate and Stuart Rae
0:20:17 > 0:20:21are carrying out routine winter checks.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Then a call comes in about an accident just south of Dumfries.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Got a report that a driver's just driven off the road
0:20:28 > 0:20:32and gone through someone's front fence into a garden.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07It's not difficult to spot the problem.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15A car has skidded off the road and into William's garden.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19I was in bed when I heard the crash.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21"What the heck was that?" You know?
0:21:21 > 0:21:24I rushed to the window, and of course my first thoughts
0:21:24 > 0:21:27was for whoever was in the car, you know?
0:21:27 > 0:21:30She seemed all right, just a wee bit upset.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32I told her not to worry,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34that the main thing was she's here to tell the tale.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- Do you want to come and...?- Yeah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Matt questions the driver of the car, 20-year-old Amy.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Basically, it's a legal requirement,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45I'm asking you to identify who was driving that car, please.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51It's possible that ice wasn't the only factor involved in Amy
0:21:51 > 0:21:53losing control of the car.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Before he establishes exactly what happened,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Matt needs to check if alcohol's involved.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Do you agree to provide a specimen of breath,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and if not, what is your reason for refusing?
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- OK. Been breathalysed before? - No.- No.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11So, I'll ask you to put your mouth around the end of the mouthpiece.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Take a nice deep breath, form a good seal, and then start to blow.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Little bit longer. Bit more... That's fine.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Works in a traffic light system. Zero, pass, one, fail.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- OK.- Yep, that's fine. You've passed.
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Right, Amy. I'm going to advise you,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27I'm going to ask you questions
0:22:27 > 0:22:29in relation to the incident this morning,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and any answers that you do give may be used in evidence.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- Do you understand that?- Yeah.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38I tried to brake, but the car just sort of spun,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41and I ended up...in the fence.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Well, I think I hit a post first, actually.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- So you tried to brake, and the car just spun?- Yeah.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53It was like I had no brakes at all.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58- And you hit a post and then went into the front garden.- Yeah.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Blatantly obvious that it's been caused by the hill
0:23:02 > 0:23:06and the icy road conditions this morning. OK?
0:23:06 > 0:23:07Amy's not alone.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13In 2011 nearly 4,000 people were injured, and 32 people were killed
0:23:13 > 0:23:17in accidents caused by snow or ice on the road surface.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Just, obviously, you need to be a bit more aware in the mornings -
0:23:22 > 0:23:24I know there's nothing much you can do, but...
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- No, no, the roads are treacherous. - I think, cos there's a bus route...
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Yes.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34- You got any questions for me? - No.- No. That's grand.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41While a recovery vehicle arrives to pick up what's left of Amy's car,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43she waits to be picked up by her mum.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48It's been a nasty experience, but she's had a lucky escape.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54It's going to be put down to the weather conditions.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56There'll be no criminal charges against the girl
0:23:56 > 0:23:59for careless or dangerous driving this morning.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00So, really, that's about it -
0:24:00 > 0:24:04the main thing is that she's walked away unhurt, and it's just a bit
0:24:04 > 0:24:07of minor damage and the insurance companies will pick up that.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10So we'll disappear now and wait for the next one,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13cos I anticipate there's going to be more coming this morning.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17I've double-checked with the control room, the roads department,
0:24:17 > 0:24:20the council's aware and it's on their list of roads to grit. OK?
0:24:20 > 0:24:23I just hope I don't need to phone you again.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24HE CHUCKLES So do I.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27But no, that's us.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42In the Lake District, a hill walker, Peter, fell 100 feet off a mountain,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44leaving him critically injured.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49The Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter
0:24:49 > 0:24:50was dispatched to airlift him.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54But bad weather hampered them, and they lost valuable time.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Peter's daughter Rosie was with him when the accident happened.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11The worst bit was waiting for the helicopter.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It felt like it went on forever, cos I was like, "He's still up there,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16"my dad's still cold,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20"he needs to be in a hospital, that's the best place for him."
0:25:20 > 0:25:22So as soon as I saw the helicopter I was so relieved.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33On board the helicopter, the medics battle to keep Peter alive
0:25:33 > 0:25:36whilst flying directly to Newcastle hospital.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Peter may also have spine and neck injuries.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54His condition is critical.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00They must get him to the nearest major hospital in Newcastle.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Speed is of the essence.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Continue down slowly... And quite good...
0:26:11 > 0:26:14And left, to port ten degrees.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16And easy, steady.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Now, now, now...
0:26:20 > 0:26:2332 minutes after being taken off the mountain,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Peter's delivered into the hands of the waiting team
0:26:25 > 0:26:27at Newcastle hospital.
0:26:29 > 0:26:35I went to see him, and it was just like a scene from TV, it was crazy.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38There was, like, blood on the floor, he had his head in the blocks.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41There was machines going everywhere.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44He broke his spine and his neck,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47so overall there was three spinal injuries.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51He'd hit his head, he'd cracked a few ribs,
0:26:51 > 0:26:52and he'd broken his arms.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57The medical team at Newcastle carried out a 14-hour operation
0:26:57 > 0:26:59on Peter's spine.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01His family feared the worst.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07But he pulled through.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11And now, three months later, he's on the road to recovery.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16So, I still need to wear this corset thing to protect my back.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20But hopefully next week the specialist will be able to say
0:27:20 > 0:27:25whether I have to continue to wear the neck brace and this brace.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28So hopefully next week the answer will be I don't have to.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32So that'll give me a little more freedom of movement.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36He can walk again, he's got no serious permanent head injuries.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38It's absolutely amazing.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42He had a few broken bones and that was it, from a 100-foot fall.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47You know, considering the kind of state I was in
0:27:47 > 0:27:51following the accident, I guess I'm lucky to be alive.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55As for more adventures in the mountains...
0:27:55 > 0:27:59I think my dad'll still go walking, but not mountains.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Just little hills, probably.
0:28:07 > 0:28:12It's been all go for the emergency services in Scotland's rural areas.
0:28:12 > 0:28:1890-year-old Nancy did have a stroke, but is now recovering back at home.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Peter's doing well.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24He's had his neck and back brace removed, and can walk with a stick.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26He hopes to get home soon.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29And you thought it was quiet in the countryside.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd