0:00:02 > 0:00:03Rural Britain has some of the most
0:00:03 > 0:00:06challenging environments in the world.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10In Scotland, the mountains, lochs and coastline encourage tourists
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and locals to get out into the wilds.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15But with that comes danger.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22He's steady. He's on the life raft.
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 > 0:00:30Nobody in their right mind should have
0:00:30 > 0:00:32attempted to drive through this.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36From severe weather and treacherous terrain...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Hello!
0:00:38 > 0:00:43..to covering huge distances on rural roads with time against them.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46The GP's upgraded the call to an emergency.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48They work around the clock,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51battling against some of the most difficult situations.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56We'll be right at the heart of the action.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Side by side with Air Rescue saving lives,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03on the road with paramedics caring for the hurt and injured,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and following the police, fighting crime,
0:01:06 > 0:01:09as the emergency services work together, to pick up,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13patch up and protect the public in rural communities.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16This is Countryside 999.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37Coming up, a Royal Navy Search and Rescue team are on a mission
0:01:37 > 0:01:39to find three stranded climbers in Glencoe.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Are you visual with the aircraft at the moment?
0:01:42 > 0:01:46'No, we can hear it, but we're in the cloud just now.'
0:01:46 > 0:01:49On a country road, police catch a young tractor driver
0:01:49 > 0:01:51using his mobile phone.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53You were clearly on a mobile phone, all right?
0:01:53 > 0:01:55I wasn't on my mobile.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Come on, we'll get in the back of the car and talk about it in there.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02And we join the staff of a rural hospital's
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Accident and Emergency unit during a busy shift.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Caden's unfortunately swallowed a coin.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Over 12 million people live in the British countryside.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Unlike urban populations, scattered rural communities
0:02:23 > 0:02:26are much harder for the emergency services to get to.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32They must negotiate large distances, severe weather,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36and difficult terrain - all of which can affect how quickly
0:02:36 > 0:02:39999 organisations are able to reach people.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45On Scotland's south-west coast is HMS Gannet,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48a Royal Navy Search And Rescue base.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51This rapid response unit covers a large area of Scotland
0:02:51 > 0:02:55and Northern Ireland, and also parts of the North of England.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59A huge area of 98,000 square miles.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01For forty tango and twenty tango that are activated
0:03:01 > 0:03:05for operations of low flying, daily operation hours are published.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Senior observer, or navigator, Richie Lightfoot,
0:03:07 > 0:03:11has 27 years service.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Today, he's leading the four-strong helicopter crew
0:03:14 > 0:03:17on a training exercise in the mountains of Glencoe.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Britain's stunning mountain ranges
0:03:27 > 0:03:30are a playground for the outward bound,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34attracting hundreds of thousands of walkers and climbers each year.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40But being on these mountains can be a treacherous business.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44In the last nine months, HMS Gannet has rescued over 90 people,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47off mountains like these, in Glencoe.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Back only three yards, just off his dispatcher.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55He's now clear of his dispatcher and lowering.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02On their way back to base, a call comes in from local police,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04a few miles south of Crianlarich.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10This is Rescue 177.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14We are visual with the two police cars that are in the lay-by,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18I'm assuming that that's your current location, over.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23Yes, yes, I'm dealing with an ongoing incident on Beinn a'Chroin,
0:04:23 > 0:04:30with three climbers in the mist, lost at the summit.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34The three men began the 3,090 foot walk up
0:04:34 > 0:04:37the rocky Beinn a'Chroin in clear weather.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40But, at the top, the cloud quickly closed in.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Without a compass or map,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45relying solely on their mobile phone for navigation,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47the men have got completely lost.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52Crew winchman, Mike H Henson, could be going down after them.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Walking the hills is dangerous any time of year, however,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58it's October now, the nights are drawing in,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01so navigation isn't easy at the best of times, even with a map
0:05:01 > 0:05:06and compass, you know, that you can, you can use. However, these guys
0:05:06 > 0:05:10were walking with just a smartphone which is never a good idea.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Kinloss Rescue Navy 177,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16now we've just been contacted by a police unit
0:05:16 > 0:05:20currently involved in a mountain rescue incident,
0:05:20 > 0:05:25looking for three climbers in the Beinn a'Chroin area
0:05:25 > 0:05:28just to the east of Oban.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32we're currently in the area and have...
0:05:32 > 0:05:36They've asked for our assistance.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38The visibility is extremely poor.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40With limited daylight left,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45the situation could turn very serious, very quickly.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Back on the ground,
0:05:49 > 0:05:54and 160 miles south of Glencoe, is the town of Dumfries.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58The local police here cover a huge area of rural villages,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02towns, farmland and coastline.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05From its winding, country roads...
0:06:08 > 0:06:12..to an arterial route, bridging Scotland and northern England -
0:06:12 > 0:06:16road accidents are one of the area's biggest problems,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18causing over 400 casualties last year.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26PCs Ross Dickson and Stewart Rae have just started their day shift.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31They're part of the Landward team,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33who specialise in policing rural areas.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Ross has lived in Dumfries all his life
0:06:37 > 0:06:41and knows that on these country roads, you have to be vigilant.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Today, the officers have spotted a traffic offence.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52It's an accident waiting to happen.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56So we've been holding a road check, looking for any offences,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00mobile phones etc, and, as luck would have it,
0:07:00 > 0:07:05a tractor towing a trailer has driven by us, and,
0:07:05 > 0:07:10the young boy driving the tractor has been using his mobile phone.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13So we're just going to follow the tractor
0:07:13 > 0:07:16and find a safe place to stop, and we'll get out and deal with it.
0:07:18 > 0:07:2322% of road deaths are caused by 17 to 24-year-old drivers.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Tends to be young boys, you know, that are driving the tractors
0:07:29 > 0:07:31that tend to be using their mobile phones.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Driving a tractor, it's a very large vehicle,
0:07:35 > 0:07:40towing a long trailer, it's completely unacceptable.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44It puts other road users at risk, so he'll be suitably advised
0:07:44 > 0:07:49regarding that, as well, as well being issued a fixed penalty ticket.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Weighing up to 24 tons,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54tractors are a common hazard on rural roads.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56The driver of this tractor could be
0:07:56 > 0:07:59facing a fine and a few points on his licence.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- How are you doing, you all right? - You all right?
0:08:05 > 0:08:07I'll come round here and speak to you.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Do you know why we've stopped you?
0:08:09 > 0:08:10No, sorry.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Right. Think about it.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15You're driving up, you're driving up the 701, right,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19what are you holding in your hand driving...looking at?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21- Nothing.- Mobile phone.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25No, you were clearly on your mobile phone, all right?
0:08:25 > 0:08:26I wasn't on my mobile.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Come on, we'll get in the back of the car and we'll talk about it in there.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33During his four years service, Constable Ross Dickson
0:08:33 > 0:08:36knows all too well that people will say anything
0:08:36 > 0:08:37to try and get out of trouble.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41This young tractor driver is no exception.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Me and Stewart, both seen you, clearly, driving,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47looking at a mobile phone.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I was, I had, there's a phone thing there,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54but I don't bring my phone to work, I get a works phone.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Well, you had a mobile phone in your hand.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01It wasnae, I was checking something in my wallet but,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04honest, I did not have my phone in my hand, like.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Over one million people have been caught using their mobile
0:09:07 > 0:09:10whilst driving since it became illegal nine years ago.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12You werenae looking at the road ahead.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16You were looking down, at a mobile phone.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19It wasn't your wallet you were looking at.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21I got a text, yeah, about, from my boss, but...
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Right, so you were using your mobile phone?
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I just flicked it off and then put it back.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Aye. Listen. You're still using a mobile phone, all right?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32If you're reading a text while you're driving a tractor, or driving
0:09:32 > 0:09:37anything, you're driving that, and you're towing that trailer, right?
0:09:37 > 0:09:41No clever, all right. Got any points on your licence?
0:09:41 > 0:09:42- Yeah.- How many have you got?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44- Three.- You've got three.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Right, unfortunately it's another three points.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48BLEEP
0:09:48 > 0:09:50How long have you had your licence?
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Just, well, nearly a year now.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Getting six points in your first two years of driving
0:09:57 > 0:10:00can mean a day in court and the loss of your licence.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Listen, you cannae be using a mobile phone when you're driving, all right?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Especially, especially, you're driving something like that,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09it's not the most manoeuvrable vehicle in the world, OK?
0:10:09 > 0:10:14The slightest wee deviation off the road and you've lost it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17As PC Dickson lays down the law,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19he's interrupted by a 999 call.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22133 - go ahead.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26'This is a report of a lorry,
0:10:26 > 0:10:31'log lorry that's lost one of the logs on the A75
0:10:31 > 0:10:34'just near to the roundabout at Cast.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39'Apparently the log has struck another vehicle.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42'Requesting police, we're just trying to get information from her,
0:10:42 > 0:10:43'we lost her call.'
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Roger. That's all received, thank you.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Anyway, you're going to have to get on your way the now,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52cos we've got a 999 call to go to, all right?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Clear left.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59The accident is seven miles away.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02A log has fallen off a lorry and hit a car,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05so the officers need to get there fast.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25In the West Highlands of Scotland,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29the Royal Navy Search and Rescue team have arrived in Glencoe.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33They are searching for three missing climbers, but visibility is poor.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Now looking at it, you've got this high peak,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and then one, well, you've got this peak here at the one o'clock
0:11:40 > 0:11:43and it's between the two, which will tie in at two miles.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47The cloud cover is making the search difficult,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50and their fuel is running low.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Police mobile whisky 17, we've been cleared to assist,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57we have approximately one hour on the scene before we need to go
0:11:57 > 0:12:00and refuel, but we will proceed to the grid as you've passed.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07So far, they don't know if any of the party are injured,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10which could make the rescue more complicated.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Police have given Richie Lightfoot a mobile number.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15He hopes it will lead straight to the climbers.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18'Hello?'
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Hello, this is rescue helicopter 177.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23We're actually searching for a party of three climbers.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Are you one of those climbers, over?
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Are you visual of the aircraft at the moment?
0:12:32 > 0:12:34You're in the cloud.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37OK, are you on the path at the moment?
0:12:41 > 0:12:46Are there any injuries, with those in your party?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51OK, that's copied.
0:12:52 > 0:12:57They sound like they're OK, but they've just got completely lost.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59It's pretty steep around here if they...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02He says he's got less than 50 metres visibility,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04he's right up on the top.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Daylight is dwindling and the temperature's plummeting.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11The crew decide they must persevere to locate the missing climbers
0:13:11 > 0:13:14before the chance of exposure escalates.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Later, it's a tense game of hide and seek
0:13:27 > 0:13:30when the search and rescue team and the lost climbers
0:13:30 > 0:13:31try to find each other.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32Hello!
0:13:34 > 0:13:36That's the log there.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40In Dumfriesshire, the police catch a lorry driver
0:13:40 > 0:13:43carrying a dangerously unsecured load of timber.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Technically, that could be a charge of
0:13:46 > 0:13:49a vehicle in a dangerous condition, all right?
0:13:49 > 0:13:53But first, we join the staff on a busy shift at a rural A&E.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Caden's unfortunately swallowed a coin.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08The emergency services in rural areas like this
0:14:08 > 0:14:12work together to prevent as many serious accidents as they can.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17But, when they do happen, the injured are taken
0:14:17 > 0:14:20to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary...
0:14:21 > 0:14:27..which covers a huge geographical area of 2,400 miles.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Compare that to Manchester,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35where you're never more than five miles away from an A&E department.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
0:14:39 > 0:14:44serves a scattered, rural population of 148,000 people,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47many of whom are fishermen, forestry workers and farmers.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Helping to run this hectic department as smoothly as possible
0:14:52 > 0:14:55is nurse practitioner of 13 years, Kevin Fergusson,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58who's tending to a rather unusual farming incident.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02What happened?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Just a slight farm accident. I was clearing a forage wagon,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10it had blocked up with silage, with a Grape, and was working
0:15:10 > 0:15:14with my left hand and trying to clear the silage and it slipped.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Just one of these cases of more hurry and less speed.
0:15:18 > 0:15:24A Grape is a sharp pronged implement used to break up soil on the farm.
0:15:24 > 0:15:25It may not look as dramatic
0:15:25 > 0:15:28as a stab wound found in an urban hospital,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32but, because it happened on a farm where the risk of infection is high,
0:15:32 > 0:15:33it could become serious.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Farmer Kenny drove the half hour journey himself from his farm,
0:15:41 > 0:15:4413 miles away in the village of Cummertrees.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47It's now been four hours since his painful accident.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52How deep did the fork penetrate your hand?
0:15:52 > 0:15:54I don't know, actually.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- I don't think it's gone in that far, actually.- OK.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Kenny's also had an X-ray done
0:16:00 > 0:16:03to check for any broken bones on his right hand.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06This is where the metal fork penetrated the hand,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09so if there was any fracture there with the puncture wound,
0:16:09 > 0:16:14it would change the management, cos it'd be classed as an open fracture.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17But the X-ray looks great and there's no fractures seen.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20We're basically treating this as a soft tissue puncture wound,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24with the risk of tetanus with it being a dirty wound.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28So the main concern with the wound is obviously the fact that
0:16:28 > 0:16:31it's been in a farm, and the risk of tetanus.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a serious infection
0:16:37 > 0:16:42caused by bacteria found in soil and animal waste.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45If not treated, the bacteria can create a poison,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49which affects muscles and nerves.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52OK, so what we'll do is put some local anaesthetic in
0:16:52 > 0:16:56round about the wound, and give it a good clean. Then we'll have to
0:16:56 > 0:16:58give you a couple of vaccinations,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00one of them being an active tetanus vaccination, OK,
0:17:00 > 0:17:06- so a couple of jags for you, if that's OK?- Aye.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09First, Kenny gets an injection of anaesthetic.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Bit stingy. That OK?
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Aye, it is a wee bit, but, aye, it's fine.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Kevin gives Kenny's hand a thorough clean
0:17:16 > 0:17:19to make sure there's nothing dangerous left in the wound.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Although the wound looks small,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24it's really the depth of how deep the fork's went
0:17:24 > 0:17:27that's the worry because the bacteria go into the hand.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30So obviously, the most important thing is a good clean.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Once sanitised, the wound is dressed.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Farms can be hazardous places,
0:17:41 > 0:17:46with over 1,000 recorded injuries to farm workers last year alone.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51A lot of folk getting caught in machinery and one thing
0:17:51 > 0:17:54and another, but that's really just stupidity, while mind you,
0:17:54 > 0:17:58can't be any worse as that, but, it's just one of these things.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Two anti-tetanus jabs later, he's good to go.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07We'll let you get away home now.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Good, good, good.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Rural A&E departments deal with a different range of cases
0:18:12 > 0:18:16than city hospitals, but some accidents are universal,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19as we will see later, when two-year-old Caden
0:18:19 > 0:18:21has swallowed something he shouldn't have.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I was sitting on the sofa and he came round and he said,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26"Mummy, penny, lost."
0:18:26 > 0:18:28And I was thinking, "Oh, it's under the sofa."
0:18:28 > 0:18:30And he said no, "Mouth, belly."
0:18:30 > 0:18:32And I was like, "No, he can't have."
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The British countryside is stunning.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51But the emergency services
0:18:51 > 0:18:54don't always have time to take in the scenery.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02PCs Ross Dickson and Stewart Rae have been dealing with
0:19:02 > 0:19:05a young lad using his mobile phone whilst driving a tractor.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08They're now on a 999 call
0:19:08 > 0:19:11to another road incident that's just come in.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18We're off down to the A75. There's a wood lorry that's been
0:19:18 > 0:19:22transporting logs, it's shed... One of the logs has fell off
0:19:22 > 0:19:27and it's struck another vehicle, so we're making our way there just now.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30We haven't got any more details than that, so we don't know
0:19:30 > 0:19:32if anyone's injured or not, so we're just going to try
0:19:32 > 0:19:36and get there as quick as we can and see what's happening.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Southern Scotland has woodland areas as big as the whole of Cornwall,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and the sight of a log lorry on the road is commonplace.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47A large vehicle spilling logs onto roads like this
0:19:47 > 0:19:49could easily cause a pile-up.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Do we know if the log is off the road?
0:19:56 > 0:20:00'Roger, sorry, we're unaware of that.'
0:20:07 > 0:20:12There were nearly 48,000 accidents on country roads last year,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16and most fatalities happen on roads exactly like this one.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18We're hoping that the road is going to be clear,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21there won't be any obstructions on the road.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Make sure there's no damage hopefully,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25too much damage to the vehicles, no injuries.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27SIRENS WAILING
0:20:27 > 0:20:30There's the log there.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38We've just passed the log in the road
0:20:38 > 0:20:42that's caused the damage to the vehicle and it's off the actual road,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45off the carriageway, so it's not causing any obstruction,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48so that's certainly a bonus.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52The vehicles involved are parked just ahead.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56Everyone OK?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Well, everyone's still standing.
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Still standing, OK.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Fortunately, the damage to the car is relatively minor,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07concentrated around the front right wheel arch.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09If the log had gone through the windscreen,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12the outcome could have been much more serious.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Constable Stewart Rae gets the driver's version of events.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22For James in the car behind, it was quite an alarming ordeal.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24It happened that quick, like.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28The log was on the road, virtually coming towards us.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32And, my front wheel has run over it, doing damage to the vehicle.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36So I'm OK, like, but it was a bit of shock, this log coming off.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I'm pleased it stayed on the road and didn't bounce up in the air.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46The log lorry driver thinks he knows the reason for the accident.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50With all the rain on the trees, made the trees slippy,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and I pulled up to that roundabout, they slipped forward.
0:21:54 > 0:21:55Saw it in me mirror.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Actually didn't know I'd hit that car, but we'll sort it out,
0:21:59 > 0:22:00with the insurance.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04But securing the load is the pressing concern,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06to stop this from happening again.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13His load's unsafe, so what he's doing is just trying to make it safe
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and then he can strap it better before he can go on on his journey.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23The driver adjusts the logs with the crane attached to the lorry.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28But Ross can't leave it at that.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's still your responsibility to make sure that that wagon is safe
0:22:31 > 0:22:34all right? And technically that could be a charge of
0:22:34 > 0:22:36vehicle in a dangerous condition.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Either that or you're going too hard up to the roundabout,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41which I think is probably the case, cos these other women stopped
0:22:41 > 0:22:43and told us you were maybe going a bit hard,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47so watch your speed and make sure that they are strapped down.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Just for the record, they were strapped, like.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52OK, I'll take your word for it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:53Yeah.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59After consulting with police HQ, Ross decides there's only one option
0:22:59 > 0:23:02in this case - to press charges.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06Just, due to the circumstances, the fact that the load shouldn't have
0:23:06 > 0:23:09came off, it has to get reported to the court, OK, sir?
0:23:09 > 0:23:13So basically that's a charge of the vehicle being a dangerous load,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16which is Section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, OK?
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Do you have any reply to make to the charge?
0:23:19 > 0:23:21No. No point, is there?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Thank you very much, sir. I'll let you get on your way now.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26I'll no doubt hear from you.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29You might not hear from us, you'll hear from the court probably.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Thank you, sir.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32All right, OK. See you then.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37The decision's been made to charge the driver of the vehicle.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40It's his own company anyway, it's his own vehicle.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45He drives it, self-employed so he's in charge of the vehicle
0:23:45 > 0:23:48being secure, making sure the load's safe and secure.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52He hasn't done that because one of the logs has fell off
0:23:52 > 0:23:56and you heard him say there that the logs are slippy and they were wet.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00He should have made extra care that the logs were secured.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02There's also the possibility
0:24:02 > 0:24:05that his driving hasn't exactly been perfect.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Ross and Stuart aren't even halfway through their shift
0:24:09 > 0:24:12when they get another 999 call to a fire
0:24:12 > 0:24:15near a residential area ten miles away.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34160 miles north, the Royal Navy search and rescue team
0:24:34 > 0:24:38are trying to find three lost climbers on a mountain in Glencoe.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Stuck in cloud, with just a phone for navigation,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46the climbers are lost, cold and tired.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52100 yards? Good?
0:24:52 > 0:24:55'Look for the driest bit.'
0:24:55 > 0:24:59The helicopter fuel is getting low, and there's limited daylight left.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Senior observer Richie Lightfoot decides to land the helicopter
0:25:03 > 0:25:05at the foot of Beinn a'Chroin.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07They'll work together with local police
0:25:07 > 0:25:10and try to pinpoint the exact location of the three men.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15What we could do is have another quick search.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19We've got about an hour's worth, to get fuelled and then...
0:25:19 > 0:25:22They're in the cloud at the moment, but they're on a path.
0:25:22 > 0:25:27Now, do you have a map with a position on it or a grid?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I've got the grid reference, it's back in the vehicle right enough.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Have a quick look and then....
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Using their smartphone, the climbers manage to give the police
0:25:36 > 0:25:38coordinates of their rough location.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42But the thick cloud meant they can't see or be seen
0:25:42 > 0:25:44by the helicopter.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47What I think they've initially done is they've gone a wee bit to
0:25:47 > 0:25:50the east, and then they've got themselves not quite crag-fast,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53but they've got themselves in the top of the crags.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58To be crag-fast means to be stuck. Unable to move up or down.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Since these climbers can move, the police think they might be able
0:26:03 > 0:26:06to get to a place where the helicopter can pick them up.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12If they moved back to the summit, where they've given us...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14You reckon they're just here?
0:26:14 > 0:26:15I reckon, yeah.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19- From, between the two there. In about there somewhere.- Right.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Carrying out this kind of rescue in darkness
0:26:23 > 0:26:27could mean major risks for the aircraft, mountain rescue team
0:26:27 > 0:26:29and the missing men.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Richie is determined to find them
0:26:31 > 0:26:34before they lose any more light or need to refuel.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40So what we'll do is we'll go back and have another search.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46If you could see if you can't get either a more accurate position
0:26:46 > 0:26:48off them, where they actually are right now.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I reckon we've got about another half-hour, 40 minutes
0:26:51 > 0:26:54that we commit before we have to go to fuel.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58With the mountain rescue team on standby,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00and the police trying to narrow down the search area,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Richie hurries back to update the crew.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36The weather's getting even worse,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40so Richie phones the climbers again to check on their rough position.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42- Hello?- Hello, yes, we're hovering over the path,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46this is about as high as we can get due to the cloud base.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Are you visual us and can you hear the aircraft? Over.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00If you could walk down the path towards
0:28:00 > 0:28:04the sound of the aircraft, hopefully you'll come down eventually
0:28:04 > 0:28:07below the cloud line, and this is where we will be.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12With the threat of darkness, and the weather closing in,
0:28:12 > 0:28:17Richie decides their best option is to land the ten-ton Sea King helicopter,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19close to where they think the men are.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25OK, you are clear left, look over to your left.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28There's a quite large rock just under my window at the door.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Go down slowly.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Three feet to the tail, two foot to the tail.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Coming down now. Now.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43The landing has been carried out safely.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Now the job is to try and find the three lost climbers.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59At Dumfries Royal Infirmary, the accident and emergency department
0:28:59 > 0:29:02have to deal with a range of injuries.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Nurse practitioner Kevin Ferguson has patched up a farmer,
0:29:05 > 0:29:09who managed to stab himself with one of the sharpest tools on the farm.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Working alongside Kevin is Doctor Niall Campbell.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16You've got some blood on your hands.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Is that cos you've cut them or from your face?
0:29:19 > 0:29:24Niall is two and a half years into his first consultancy post.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Getting to grips with the mix of cases that rural A&E can throw up
0:29:27 > 0:29:29has kept him very busy.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Today, Niall is dealing with two-and-a-half-year-old Caden,
0:29:36 > 0:29:38who has swallowed a coin.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41I was sitting on the sofa and he came round and said,
0:29:41 > 0:29:43"Mummy, penny, lost."
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I was thinking, "Oh, it's under the sofa".
0:29:45 > 0:29:49And he said, "no, mouth, belly", and I was like, "no, he can't have".
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I phoned the doctor and the doctor said that
0:29:52 > 0:29:56if it's not, like, in his windpipe, it should just pass
0:29:56 > 0:29:57when he goes to the toilet,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00and then I just kind of worried cos he said he had sore stomach,
0:30:00 > 0:30:02so I came up to A&E.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04We'll just come on round to....
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Caden's X-ray results are just in.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15On the X-ray, we can see that Caden's unfortunately swallowed a coin.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19The good news is this won't likely result in any problems.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23It's a 1p and anything up to about a 50p in size
0:30:23 > 0:30:25should just pass itself.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Mum, you don't need to watch his toilet. It should just pass itself.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30In the unlikely event there's any problems,
0:30:30 > 0:30:33if he was getting abdominal pain or getting constipated
0:30:33 > 0:30:35or you were worried,
0:30:35 > 0:30:38you just bring him back any time and we will have another look at him.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40How long will it take to come out?
0:30:40 > 0:30:42It could take anything up to a few days.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45It's not necessarily going to be the next time goes to the toilet.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47If he's going to the toilet as normal and eating as normal,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50you've got nothing to worry about.
0:30:50 > 0:30:5380 children every day are taken to hospital after choking,
0:30:53 > 0:30:58and coins are the most common non-food cause for toddlers.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Thankfully for Mum and Dad,
0:31:00 > 0:31:02the penny has passed safely into his stomach.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Children will tend to swallow things they shouldn't,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08sort of put things they shouldn't into their ears or their nose.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11My own son's done something similar,
0:31:11 > 0:31:15and, yeah, so it's not a rare thing to occur,
0:31:15 > 0:31:20and usually, and fortunately if it's a small coin like this,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23it's going to just resolve and not result in any problems.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26But getting things stuck where you shouldn't
0:31:26 > 0:31:29isn't just a pastime reserved for children.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Consultant Pete Armstrong has ten years' experience
0:31:34 > 0:31:38dealing with all the challenges a busy A&E department throws at him...
0:31:40 > 0:31:45He's got a wound across the middle phalanx on his ring finger.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50..including the fiddly minor ones.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Just going to go and see the next patient,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57who's a 20-year-old lady who's got a cotton bud stuck in her ear,
0:31:57 > 0:31:59so we're just going in here.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Is it Greta? Hi, Greta. My name's Pete Armstrong.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05I'm the A&E consultant on tonight.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07You've got a cotton bud stuck in you. How long has it been there?
0:32:07 > 0:32:09About half an hour. I feel so silly.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11OK. These things happen.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14You know that the smallest thing you should put in your ear is your elbow?
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Tell me, was there any bleeding or anything coming out?
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- No. No.- OK, fine.
0:32:19 > 0:32:20Just a bit sore.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22Cotton buds might seem harmless,
0:32:22 > 0:32:26but 7,000 of us end up in hospital because of them every year.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30OK.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33You sometimes feel a little bit of a scratch just as this goes down.
0:32:35 > 0:32:36Ow.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Sorry. I might just have to get a slightly different...
0:32:42 > 0:32:45I think we'll need to get a slightly... There we go.
0:32:45 > 0:32:46Yay!
0:32:46 > 0:32:48I feel really silly.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51- I don't think you'll want it back, will you.- No!
0:32:51 > 0:32:53SHE LAUGHS
0:32:53 > 0:32:55With Greta, it was relatively straightforward.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58You could see the cotton bud very easily,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02and just with some fine forceps was able to lift it out
0:33:02 > 0:33:04and remove it very simply.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Greta seems glad it's all over, but something as seemingly benign
0:33:09 > 0:33:12as a cotton bud can be really bad news for your ears.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18I mean, usually what will happen is
0:33:18 > 0:33:21you can cause sort of localised trauma to the ear canal,
0:33:21 > 0:33:22which can cause some cuts.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25If you couldn't get it out, it could become infected.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27If you push it down far enough, one first thing,
0:33:27 > 0:33:31if there's any wax in there, you'll actually push that down against
0:33:31 > 0:33:34your eardrum which will reduce your hearing in the short-term,
0:33:34 > 0:33:38and if you keep pushing far enough, you can actually burst your eardrum.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42So, all in a day's work.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55In Dumfries, south-west Scotland, PCs Ross Dickson
0:33:55 > 0:33:58and Stewart Rae are nearing the end of a very busy shift.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03They've already pulled over a young lad for using a mobile
0:34:03 > 0:34:07whilst driving a tractor, and they've charged another driver
0:34:07 > 0:34:09after a log fell off the back of his lorry,
0:34:09 > 0:34:13damaging the car behind and narrowly avoiding a more serious incident.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Now they're racing at speeds of over 60 miles an hour
0:34:20 > 0:34:21to another emergency call-out.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24SIRENS WAILING
0:34:25 > 0:34:28We're currently en route to New Abbey.
0:34:28 > 0:34:33There's an electrical substation on fire. Fire service are attending so,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37we've also got to attend, make sure that it's not near any property.
0:34:39 > 0:34:44Eight miles south of Dumfries, New Abbey is home to around 800 people.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46If the fire is in a built-up area,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49they may need to evacuate people from their homes.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52Roger, that's all received, thank you.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Just had further information there that the fire's actually
0:34:55 > 0:34:58at a sawmill, so, again,
0:34:58 > 0:35:03potential for it being quite a large scale fire could be pretty big.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07There is some residential houses near this sawmill, so...
0:35:07 > 0:35:12Hoping the fire will be contained to the actual substation itself.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15When it comes to any fire,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18a stockpile of dry wood is the last thing you need.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21So a fire at a sawmill could be catastrophic.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26This is us just entering New Abbey just now.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32Can see there's some smoke, quite a lot of smoke actually.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39The sawmill has a large amount of timber on-site,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42so the effect on business could be devastating.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Ross and Stewart are first on scene.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51Through thick smoke, they must find the source of the fire.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Just trying to get everyone away from this.
0:35:57 > 0:35:58SIRENS WAILING
0:35:58 > 0:36:02The sirens signal that the fire service is not far away.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05The police officers ensure the area is evacuated.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08One, three, three, Oscar three.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10'Go ahead.'
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Roger, sarge, just for information,
0:36:12 > 0:36:17it's an electrical fire within one of the sawmill buildings.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21The workers are telling us that it is bursting into flames
0:36:21 > 0:36:23every now and again and they're continually putting it out.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27Fire service are just approaching now.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30I'll give you an update once they can assess the situation.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35This type of fire isn't unusual.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Around 60% of accidental house fires
0:36:38 > 0:36:40are caused by electrical equipment.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44Thankfully the fire fighters have arrived to take charge of the scene.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Basically, one of the workers over there
0:36:48 > 0:36:50has been told to start a machine up.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53As he went to the power source to start it up,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55it's just burst into flames,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58so everyone's been evacuated from the building.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00We're just here to make sure that people are OK
0:37:00 > 0:37:03and everyone's fine so it's up to the fire service now
0:37:03 > 0:37:06to make sure it's safe. It's a good morning. Good morning.
0:37:06 > 0:37:12And a busy one at that, but now Ross and Stewart's job here is done.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Back in Glencoe...
0:37:25 > 0:37:29..the Navy Sea King helicopter has landed on Beinn a'Chroin.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Now, winch-man, trained medical technician and experienced
0:37:32 > 0:37:36hill-walker H sets out on foot to try and find the three men.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41As we all know in hills, you know,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45while you can hear something coming it can echo off things,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48so my initial worry was that they would end up going off track
0:37:48 > 0:37:51basically, and getting themselves into further danger.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54So, my plan was to go into the distance,
0:37:54 > 0:38:00just to try and cut that gap down, of margin for error down,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03and then sort of guide them visually back to the aircraft.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09He's dropped out. I'm going to try and call him again.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13Richie's on the phone, trying to lead the climbers towards H,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but he doesn't know if they're going the right way.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19The visibility is reducing the higher up H gets,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and in these conditions,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25there's a real risk the two parties might miss each other altogether.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28Hello!
0:38:36 > 0:38:38In very low visibility,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42H has climbed almost 600 feet in 15 minutes.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45At last, he hears a whistle in the distance.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48WHISTLING
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Hello!
0:38:51 > 0:38:53WHISTLING
0:38:53 > 0:38:54I can hear ya!
0:39:05 > 0:39:08I've got a visual now.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Believe it or not, it was the old-fashioned whistle
0:39:16 > 0:39:17that came in handy.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22And actually saved the day because as I was approaching them,
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I was shouting over them, they were blowing their whistle
0:39:25 > 0:39:30and it gave me vectors to be able to eventually get visual with them.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39How you doing? You must be the three missing climbers?
0:39:39 > 0:39:41All right...
0:39:41 > 0:39:43No problem at all, no problem at all.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46We're about, we've got about another sort of ten to 15 minute walk
0:39:46 > 0:39:49down the path, where they're waiting for us
0:39:49 > 0:39:51but we've only got about ten, 15 minutes' worth of fuel
0:39:51 > 0:39:55so we'll have to go as quickly and as safely as possible.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58OK. You guys all fit? There's no injuries or anything, is there?
0:40:00 > 0:40:02The three men are cold and tired,
0:40:02 > 0:40:07but they've still got 600 feet of rough terrain to descend.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10You all right, buddy? You look a bit exhausted.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22At last, they catch their first glimpse of the rescue helicopter.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35After four hours of being lost and stranded in dense cloud,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38it's a huge relief for the three men.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41They won't have to spend a lonely night on the freezing mountain.
0:40:46 > 0:40:47These are your men.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49No problem at all!
0:40:49 > 0:40:52With around 300 call-outs every year,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55rescuing an average of over 300 people,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58it's another positive result for the crew.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Hey, no worries. Take care, all right? Take care.
0:41:01 > 0:41:02Job done.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08- Back for tea, biccies and medals. I think so.- Beautiful!
0:41:08 > 0:41:10And for pilot Geoff "Spuggy" Richardson,
0:41:10 > 0:41:14it's been another good day at the office.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Really, we were quite lucky in the fact that there was just
0:41:16 > 0:41:19a slight break in the cloud that allowed us to land
0:41:19 > 0:41:21about 400 feet below the summit.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28Which then allowed us to despatch our mountain goat, H,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31to go and seek them out, which he successfully did.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35So from our perspective it was great
0:41:35 > 0:41:39that we were able to you know, basically, achieve the aim,
0:41:39 > 0:41:43at quite an early stage before it escalated, before it got dark
0:41:43 > 0:41:48and before the weather deteriorated, so a very pleasing job all round.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52It doesn't get any better than that.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55We managed to get three people off the hill,
0:41:55 > 0:42:00uninjured, before dinner, before dark, so, yeah, great result.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03What started off as a training exercise
0:42:03 > 0:42:06turned into a full-scale rescue of three climbers
0:42:06 > 0:42:09lost at the top of a mountain in Glencoe.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23It's been all go for the emergency services in Scotland's rural areas.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27The young tractor driver pleaded guilty
0:42:27 > 0:42:29to driving whilst using a mobile phone.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32He was fined and got three points, but kept his licence.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38The log lorry driver pleaded guilty to the offence.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42He was fined £100 and received three points on his licence.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47And the three climbers rescued from the top of a mountain in Glencoe
0:42:47 > 0:42:50by the Royal Navy are now safe and well after their ordeal.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54And you thought it was quiet in the countryside.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd