A physiotherapist and the person whose life she saved after he collapsed on Britain’s highest mountain have returned to lastly make it to the summit collectively two years on.
Trevor Botwood, 63, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Ben Nevis in August 2020, mentioned he determined to make the climb with Courtney Ferguson to “put the incident to mattress”.
In addition they wished to boost cash for the mountain rescue service.
Mr Botwood mentioned he owes his life to the off-duty NHS Lothian physiotherapist, who seen him in issue as she walked up along with her sister.
He had set off to climb Ben Nevis in August 2020 for the primary time together with his sister, Irene, in reminiscence of his nephew, and deliberate to position his nephew’s picture on the prime.
Ms Ferguson, 27, from Edinburgh, mentioned: “The mountain was busy with vacationers, everybody was encouraging each other to maintain on going. I noticed a person across the midway level leaning into his strolling poles, I finished to supply some encouragement when he tumbled forwards hitting his head off the rocks.”
Ms Ferguson was unable to discover a pulse on Mr Botwood and knew he wanted pressing remedy.
Mr Botwood had suffered a cardiac arrest, though this was not recognized on the time.
The physiotherapist, who works at Bonnyrigg Well being Centre, in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, mentioned: “All my earlier coaching simply kicked in and I went into autopilot. I managed to get one other passer-by to assist maintain Trevor’s head to help his airway, whereas I began doing chest compressions.
“My sister, Brogan known as 999 and alerted Trevor’s sister who was additional down the mountain.
“When Trevor lastly regained consciousness, I used to be ready to make use of what I had realized throughout my time in ICU all through the Covid-19 pandemic, and knelt behind him holding him till the helicopter bought there as he was fairly distressed.
“It felt prefer it had solely been round 10 minutes however, really, I carried out chest compressions for almost 20 minutes.”
Mr Botwood was flown to the Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in Glasgow for remedy and was later transferred to a hospital in his hometown of Leeds the place he made a full restoration.
The pair have stored in contact because the incident and have turn into good associates.
On August 6 this 12 months, they returned to Ben Nevis to hike up it collectively together with their family and friends to boost cash for Scottish Mountain Rescue.
Mr Botwood mentioned: “I owe my life to Courtney, she’s a wonderful particular person inside and outside.
“I made a decision that in an effort to transfer on and put the incident to mattress I needed to try to climb Ben Nevis once more.
“I'm often a match and wholesome particular person and go on many walks – it simply so occurred that on that day in 2020 one thing went flawed.
“Heading again up Ben Nevis with Courtney two years after she saved my life felt actually particular. If it wasn’t for her and her swift actions, I wouldn’t be right here at present.
“It was good to lastly attain the highest, it was like an enormous weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“We’ll be planning our subsequent journey to fulfill Courtney and her household once more quickly.”
Mr Botwood was in a position to lastly place a photograph of his nephew on the summit, together with that of one other nephew who has since died.
Scottish Mountain Rescue represents 25 volunteer Mountain Rescue Groups, together with two Search and Rescue Canine Associations, the Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation and the Search And Rescue Aerial Affiliation – Scotland, who can name on greater than 850 volunteers.