WATCH: Anglers speak out on River Ness rescue of elderly man
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Members of the Inverness Angling Club gathered for a cup of coffee at their hut had to spring into action to save a man from the cold waters of the River Ness earlier today.
The group was gathered at the Fisherman’s Hut on Bught Road when they noticed someone in the water – at first they thought it may have been a wild swimmer but quickly realised it was someone in distress.
One of the members of the club Graham Mackenzie charged into the water to drag the unidentified man onto the bank, fortunately the current took him to a spit of shingle so he could be reached.
Mr MacKenzie, a former paramedic, assisted by other members of the club, dragged the man who was estimated to be in his 70s out of the water and immediately checked his vital signs and covered him up with their jackets.
Fortunately, there was also a nurse passing at the time and she assisted in helping to revive the man while the specialist Pre-hospital Immediate Care and Trauma Team (PICT) was on its way.
By the time the specialist PICT team finished the man’s condition had slightly improved before he was taken to Raigmore Hospital – his current condition is unknown.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.50am to attend an incident at the River Ness. One ambulance and a Pre-hospital Immediate Care & Trauma Team (PICT) were dispatched to the scene. One patient was transported to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.”
