Towards the end of Saturday afternoon on June 29, The Severn Area rescue Association’s rope rescue team was called out to Wintours Leap near Chepstow.

A climber had fallen a short distance in the area below The Broadwalk ledge, and was initially thought to have broken a leg. This was a real multi-agency response, with HART paramedics quickly on scene together with a SARA doctor, the police closing the road, a Coastguard helicopter on standby and rope team leaders SARA and Fire working out the best solution.

A lifeboat was initially tasked but it was very low tide in the Wye so this was stood down. Once he had been assessed and reassured, the casualty was able to walk, albeit slowly. A rope system was set up to support him, and the attendant helping him, to steadily ascend up ‘Easy Way Down’. From there he was assisted to the waiting ambulance.

A spokesman for the rescue association said it was great work by all involved (several of the SARA team having been at the Tintern Fete all afternoon).

“We felt that the training we have done recently with other agencies really paid off, with a lot of familiar faces. Some of which we plan to see again tomorrow at another training event.”