Assynt Mountain Rescue Team officially received their new ambulance Land Rover, funded by the care charity St John Scotland, today.
MRT Ambulance Land Rover (photo: Assynt MRT)
Specially converted, this vehicle is vital for Assynt Mountain Rescue Team to continue to operate as one of the third emergency services. Providing vital support to communities in Sutherland and Caithness, Assynt Mountain Rescue can assist those in rural or mountainous areas. They were the first of the Mountain Rescue teams to receive a Land Rover Defender 110 in 1998 through St John funding. This new vehicle in 2014 continues to ensure there are ambulance resources for mountain rescue in the Highlands.
Formed in 1976 following a number of local incidents, Assynt Mountain Rescue now covers Sutherland and Caithness, and provides support to Police Scotland when required. Based at Inchnadamph in Assynt, and with a mobile unit in Thurso, the original Defender 110 was the first of many handed over to the mountain rescue teams based throughout Scotland. Having seen over a decade of service, involving rescuing many walkers and climbers, the fleet of vehicles are coming to the end of their useful life. The Order of St John continues to help fund replacement vehicles to Mountain Rescue teams throughout Scotland.
Bob Fullerton, Highland chairman of St John Scotland said: “It is with great pleasure that St. John Scotland is continuing its support of Scottish Mountain Rescue. In not only assisting financially in supplying new vehicles, but also, the replacement of those vehicles which have provided a sterling service over the last 12 or more years. St John Highland is only too aware of the value of this voluntary service and is happy to be involved.”
Sue Agnew, Team Leader of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team said: “We are extremely grateful to the Order of St John for their continuing support of Scottish Mountain Rescue. This generous funding is vital. We are all volunteers, who through police Scotland, are available on-call to our community. Our old vehicle was becoming costly to keep running. This converted Land Rover is able to evacuate casualties by stretcher, we can now continue to provide a vital rural service when we are needed, any time, any day, any weather”.