Winter conditions across East Lancashire have once again shown how quickly routine emergencies can become complicated. Volunteer rescuers were called out twice in two days as ice made roads and pavements unsafe. The incidents underline the vital role specialist teams play when normal emergency access is blocked by severe weather.
Ambulance access blocked by ice in Whitworth
The first incident took place early on Tuesday morning in Whitworth. Ambulance crews reached the area but could not safely reach a patient because the road surface had frozen overnight. With conditions worsening, support from the mountain rescue team was requested.
A four-wheel drive rescue vehicle was used to transport paramedics to the property. This allowed medical staff to reach the patient without delay. After an assessment, the individual was carefully moved back to the waiting ambulance on a gritted main road.
The incident highlighted the challenges faced by emergency services during winter. In steep and rural parts of Rossendale, ice can turn short journeys into dangerous obstacles, making specialist vehicles and trained volunteers essential during cold snaps.
Injured walker assisted on remote hillside
The second call came the previous afternoon after a walker was injured on a hillside near Barnoldswick. The person was unable to move and was exposed to the cold while waiting for help. Mountain rescue volunteers were alerted to assist the ambulance service.
When the team arrived, a community first responder was already providing care. Volunteers added extra insulation and a heated blanket to protect the casualty from the cold. A team paramedic then treated the injury, provided pain relief, and secured the injured leg.
The walker was placed onto a stretcher and carried down to an ambulance below. A spokesperson later emphasised that the rescue team operates entirely through volunteers. Public donations help keep the service running all year round, ensuring help remains available across the wider Rossendale area when it is needed most.
