Disabled pensioner rescued from loch
A DISABLED pensioner had to be rescued by firefighters after she plunged down a verge in her electric wheelchair at the side of Linlithgow Loch.
The woman, 62, who was part of group visiting Linlithgow Palace on Monday, was travelling along the scenic path on the other side of the loch from the palace with her carer at the time when it suddenly toppled eight feet down an embankment.
The frantic carer raised the alarm at around 12:10pm and comforted the woman until the emergency services, including two ambulances, three fire appliances, police and Historic Scotland rangers, raced to the scene.
The loch is just five feet from the verge and luckily for the victim she fell in an area where the water is further out from the side.
Firefighters took just under an hour to rescue the stricken woman using a basket stretcher and ropes to hoist her out of the reeds next to the loch.
Graham Inglis of Lothian and Borders Fire service said: "We have specialist line rescue crews for this type of incident and two attended from Bo'ness and Tollcross.
"She was still in her wheelchair when we arrived on the scene and we managed to pull her up to the path where she was carried to the ambulance. It was quite a walk to access where the incident happened.
"I believe she may only have suffered a shoulder injury but you can never be too careful and she was treated on the scene in case there was a spinal injury."
A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland added: "One of our rangers was alerted to an incident by the loch that afternoon, involving a woman in a wheelchair.
"The ranger helped the emergency services to gain access to the visitor, who was conscious and responsive and in an upright position. A line rescue team was called to the scene to help lift her back to the path before being taken to an awaiting ambulance.
"The visitor was part of an independent tour and the rest of her party were taken to the palace where they were given access to facilities and a place to wait."
The woman was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston and was treated for suspected shoulder and spinal injuries.
A fisherman who was on the loch at the time said: "I didn't see what actually happened but the bit where she fell is very steep.
"There's no railing or anything there either and able bodied people would have difficulties if they stepped the wrong way at that bit.
"She's lucky she fell at that bit too because the water is further out. It could have been much worse if it was down a bit because she would have been in the water."
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "We received the call first and two units attended the incident before we eventually took the woman to hospital.
"The emergency services took precautions in case she was suffering from any spinal injuries, but this is normal in these types of incidents."
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Weather for Bathgate
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
