Helmsdale.org

Helmsdale man is lucky to be alive

POLICE say a Helmsdale man is lucky to be alive after he was pinned underneath an all-terrain vehicle while on a deer stalking trip earlier this week.

The man, who has not been identified, was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, where he received treatment for a fractured pelvis.

The incident happened on steep mountainside at Craggan, Glen Loth, around 1pm on Tuesday.

The four-strong stalking party got into difficulties while driving out onto the hill in a Scot Track all-terrain vehicle which was pulling a trailer.

A police spokesman said: "The terrain at Craggan is very, very steep and the vehicle reached a point where it would not go forward so the driver tried to reverse. It got stuck and jammed suddenly. Two people were thrown out of the front window and one was thrown out the back.

"The vehicle rolled and then landed on its wheels with one man underneath. He was stuck underneath the front wheel of the driver's side."

Efforts to free the man were at first unsuccessful and the vehicle eventually had to be reversed.

A Sea King helicopter was called and the injured man was winched aboard and taken to hospital.

The police spokesman said: "He is very lucky indeed to be alive."

Published on Friday 1 August 2008 by David Mason