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Injured kayaker in 'risky' rescue | Injured kayaker in 'risky' rescue |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A kayaker was flown to hospital after being rescued from the River Findhorn in Moray. | A kayaker was flown to hospital after being rescued from the River Findhorn in Moray. |
An RAF helicopter had to winch Rachel Walker, from Liverpool, more than 200ft after she capsized in a deep gorge. | An RAF helicopter had to winch Rachel Walker, from Liverpool, more than 200ft after she capsized in a deep gorge. |
The search and rescue helicopter was scrambled after Ms Walker capsized late on Sunday afternoon at one of the river's most inaccessible areas. | |
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said it was one of the highest and riskiest winch rescues the RAF had carried out. | RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said it was one of the highest and riskiest winch rescues the RAF had carried out. |
Ms Walker was given first aid by an off-duty paramedic before being flown to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, with suspected head and spinal injuries. | Ms Walker was given first aid by an off-duty paramedic before being flown to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, with suspected head and spinal injuries. |
Whitewater rapids | Whitewater rapids |
However, her injuries were not as serious as first thought and she was expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. | However, her injuries were not as serious as first thought and she was expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. |
Ms Walker was part of a group canoeing the whitewater rapids from Randolph's leap down to the Mains of Sluie. | Ms Walker was part of a group canoeing the whitewater rapids from Randolph's leap down to the Mains of Sluie. |
Mr Mulford described the risks involved in the rescue. | Mr Mulford described the risks involved in the rescue. |
"When you've got the engines on full power, you've got a lot of height - 225ft - the one thing you hope and pray for of course is not have any kind of engine challenge because really there is no way out of the gorge for you at that point, that is the risk," he said. | "When you've got the engines on full power, you've got a lot of height - 225ft - the one thing you hope and pray for of course is not have any kind of engine challenge because really there is no way out of the gorge for you at that point, that is the risk," he said. |