A Peterhead man feared he would never walk again following a cliff jump gone wrong while on holiday to Aviemore.
Harris Hamilton, 28, was enjoying a white-water tubing holiday with his family when disaster struck on the River Feshie.
The optician had attempted a cliff jump into a pool of water but stumbled on the cliff edge and smashed into a jagged rockface on the way down.
Harris knew he was in trouble as soon as he hit the water.
“I fought my way to the surface and shouted – ‘help, my leg, it’s snapped, it’s snapped’,” he said.
“I felt my leg break as it smashed off the rock. As I plunged headfirst into the deep water, I worried I would never walk again.”
Family members, instructors and others nearby could only watch on as they heard a “sickening crunch” when Harris made impact with the rocks.
Harris continued: “People jumped into the water to help support me and pull me to the side of the pool, but the sides were too steep to get me out.
“I was woozy and clammy and just wanted to drift off to sleep but people at my side were urging me to stay awake.
“I knew that my leg was smashed but could feel no pain.”
Aviemore leg break scrambled air ambulance crew
Those at the side-lines immediately called 999.
A multi-service response was quickly on scene, involving water rescue experts from the fire service, paramedics, Mountain Rescue and HM Coastguard.
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) were also scrambled with a specialist doctor-led trauma team.
Rescue teams entered the water with medics giving Harris pain relief, but cutting into his wetsuit revealed a bleeding open fracture.
Concern then turned to Harris potentially developing an infection.
He continued: “There seemed to be dozens of emergency service workers, all trying to find a way to get me out of the water without causing me serious harm.
“I was in a wetsuit, but it felt like I had an extra leg joint halfway down my shin.”
‘Without hero emergency services, I don’t think I’d be here’
The emergency services were presented with steep rocky banks on either side and downstream rapids blocking their route to the hospital.
This meant Harris had to be floated downstream where others hoisted him onto a stretcher.
“I was told the air ambulance was coming and I felt a huge sense of relief when SCAA arrived,” he said.
“I was a bit overwhelmed to be honest – all these people turned out for what was a silly mistake on my part. Everyone was absolutely wonderful and the teamwork to rescue me was just exceptional.
“I had heard the chatter about infection and blood flow and, as I discovered later from the hospital doctors, SCAA’s speed and efficiency probably helped save my leg.
“I truly believe that without the care everyone showed at every stage – but primarily the doctor and paramedic team with SCAA and the speed of their airlift – I would have faced a very different outcome.”
Peterhead man on course for full recovery after cliff jump
Now, after a double operation, stitches, skin grafts and a rod inserted into his tibia – Harris is finally on the mend.
He is expected to regain full mobility in his leg in the the coming months.
“It’s been a lengthy process, but the prognosis is great,” he said. “But I often think when I’m visited by the night terrors – what if?
“What if SCAA and her expert crew hadn’t been there that day?
“SCAA is an invaluable service. I really don’t know what I would have done without them.”
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