“Dead men don’t wave”

“How could a dead person be waving at me? My eyes must be mistaken. Tiredness and the constant peering into the mist were creating false images. It could not be true, but it was… by hell, it was some surprise.

“Five days ago the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team had started their normal weekend training exercise. This weekend our base camp was in the Arrochar Alps, Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. The team, like the five other RAF MRTs, spend their weekends training around the hills of the UK to maintain their fitness levels and expertise. The usual result is contented and weary outfits who return late on Sunday nights to their units. This Sunday, and the next few days, started to change shape around a place called Crianlarich on our way back to Leuchars.

“Over the radio, we could hear a rescue taking place on the Buachaille mountain in Glencoe. Our offer of help was accepted. The incident involved a ‘crag fast’ climber [one stuck on a rock face and unable to ascend or descend without danger] high on the mountain. In true MR fashion this meant the need to carry the world to the scene, with the hope of not using the multitude of equipment, but reluctant to ascend the mountain in hope alone. Happily the climber was recovered and assisted off the mountain – alive and well – very late on Sunday night. The team, courtesy of a friendly landlord, went to ground in the Kingshouse Hotel on the edge of Rannoch Moor, 4 to a room – 1 snorer per room.

“Monday: the rain lashed down and the windows rattled. Inside the dining room the team tucked into a civilised breakfast, girding their loins for the drive back to Leuchars. Or so we thought. Telephone call – assemble the team and report to Hamish McInnes the civilian leader of the local Glencoe rescue team.

“Two overdue climbers had left yesterday for a route on Stob Corrie Nam Bieth and had not returned. The weather was causing concern. It seemed wise to combine the RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars, Lochaber and Glencoe MRT members and go and find why.

“That day the teams rescued five climbers from the mountain. Three who had never been reported missing, but who needed help, and the original pair who walked in uninjured, having survived an enforced bivouac. The MRT work force had put in a considerable effort due to the gale force winds, difficult ground and snowy conditions. We were too tired to go home so spent another night in the Kingshouse Hotel.

“Tuesday: phone call, report to Fort William Police Station and assist in the search for a missing 17-year-old lad called Garry Smith, lost on Ben Nevis since yesterday.

“Quickly formulated opinions passed through the brain – as yet not for public consumption. Yesterday’s weather, his lack of experience, the statistics of the big bad Ben – this lad was a goner.

“Over 120 people swamped the mountain, and helicopters scoured the visible areas. Danger spots were probed carefully and fearfully. His parents had travelled up from Manchester. This was not another missing person, it was now somebody’s son. Coincidently, I have a son the same age who is capable of the same misguided mountain enthusiasm. Mountains are there for pleasure and adventure. Epics are great if you survive. The trick is only having an epic once and learning from it so you never have that same experience again. Was this lad alive and capable of learning from his mistake? That was the big question.

The team search for Garry Smith on Ben Nevis. © RAF Mountain Rescue Service Association

“We helped to search the Five Finger Gully, a notorious danger spot and expended more nervous energy than physical. Then later in the evening, in a last chance throw of the dice, a night search seemed appropriate. A small group was sent out. A lone Land Rover remained in the Glen, hopefully awaiting a possible radio call. No such call came. The searchers returned to their sleeping bags, depressed.

“Wednesday: new search area but no new information. Tired legs and sad hearts ascended the mountain. No stretchers were carried. Private opinions had been voiced – bodies don’t need rescuing, only finding.

“My team was tasked to search the slopes north of the footpath above the halfway Lochan. Difficult ground to walk on let alone search in the misty and sleety conditions. The area was finally reached, and the separate parties moved slowly across to their designated 500 feet of mountain and started to sweep across.

“I was in the top group, and FIVE minutes into the search I saw a red shape, and an arm waving from it. A mixture of emotions and thoughts raced through my mind – relief, guilt, concern and professional questions on what to do next. Satisfaction would only be allowed if we got him off this mountain alive.

“Though barely conscious, he was alive – just. Soaked through and half covered in a plastic sheet torn to shreds by his crampons. For the next 15 minutes other party members arrived, dry kit replaced wet clothing, sleeping bags, hats and gloves eventually cocooned his body. The message of ‘You’ve been found, but it’s not over yet, hang on, don’t give up now’, was firmly and repeatedly imprinted.

Assisting Garry, who had survived on the mountain for three days. © RAF Mountain Rescue Service Association

“Below us, the news had revitalised everyone involved in the SAR operation. A tremendous combined ‘Will to Live’ seemed to transmit upwards to us and Gary.

“Below too, beneath the cloud line, sat the Wessex of RAF Leuchars ‘B’ Flight, 22 Squadron. Only 60 seconds flying time away, it lay poised, waiting for the opportunity to snatch the casualty and save him hours of bone-jarring manhandling.

“Suddenly, a window of opportunity appeared in the cloud. Rapid plans were made between the ground party and helicopter. A quick in and out, a difficult winching operation, pray for a break – let’s do it!

“The helicopter closed carefully, a constant eye on the swirling mist. The winchman descended into our welcoming arms. Strops were placed. Checks were made – thumbs up. GO, GO, GO! And gone. Gone to live another day.”

Looking back on this incident now, 35 years later, I see it as a wonderful example of the best qualities in people and society; expending their effort and skill towards helping others. My mountain rescue times, and my experience with our ‘troops’ set the benchmark for me regarding what people can do. I hear other military veterans speak highly of their times too. What I believe made the RAF Mountain Service different was that it operated like a meritocracy. It felt like being part of a family. Pete Kirkpatrick

Garry’s interview with a local newspaper after the rescue. © RAF Mountain Rescue Service Association