AN INJURED walker has been rescued from close to the summit of a hill near Biggar.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team members were part of a multi-agency response to the incident on Culter Fell on Tuesday (January 24).

The walker’s location was pinpointed within two minutes using ‘PhoneFind’ technology.

But cloud cover and poor visibility prevented a helicopter, referred to as R199, from getting to the site.

A Moffat Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson said: “On arrival at the scene the teams were assisted up the hill by local farmers and gamekeepers with quad bikes.

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“Unfortunately, due to cloud cover and poor visibility R199 was not able to reach the casualty location directly, therefore 17 team members were taken part-way up the hill in five waves with the aid of R199 shortening the distance required to transport the necessary equipment on foot, with Moffat MRT’s paramedic in the first wave.

“Upon reaching the casualty, pain relief was administered and the injury managed using a vacuum splint on the hill. The casualty was then packaged into a vacuum mattress, casualty bag and stretcher before being carried from the hill.

“Due to worsening weather conditions it was decided that R199 would return to base and the casualty would be transported to hospital by road.”

The teams were stood down shortly before 6.15pm, around five hours after the original call for assistance.