FRIDAY the 13th proved to be unlucky for two people who needed rescuing by Hade Edge-based Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team.

The team which recruits mainly from the Holme Valley was first called out at midday to help Glossop Mountain Rescue Team with a 15-year-old girl who had fallen and injured her lower left leg at Bleaklow Head, the second highest hill in the Peak District.

The girl from Norfolk was taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenge when she fell and hurt her leg.

Using the specialist Bell mountain rescue stretcher she was carried the three miles off the hill to Snake Summit on the A57 were she was met by paramedics and taken to hospital in Sheffield by ambulance.

Team spokesman Scott Roberts said: “It was a simple rescue and one which ended well with the casualty being treated and recovered promptly, minimising her traumatic experience, although the gas and air pain relief we gave her must have helped as she was giggling away to herself as we transferred her into the ambulance.”

But just after 4pm on the same day the team was called to assist Yorkshire Ambulance Service who were treating a 66-year-old Sheffield man after he had fallen in Ecclesfield Woods near Sheffield while walking with his wife.

An ambulance was unable to get close to the casualty so they called in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter to assist but that could not get close enough either so they called in mountain rescue volunteers.

The man had suffered a lower leg injury and had already been treated by paramedics. The team carried him the 500 meters to the road ambulance where he was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Mr Roberts said: “Although it wasn’t a long distance to carry the gentleman back to the ambulance it was quite technical.

“We had to cross difficult terrain and carry the stretcher over fences before we were able to get the casualty onto the waiting vehicle.

“The ambulance service don’t have the same equipment as us or enough physical resources to carry a casualty over this type of terrain and distance.

“It’s what we do and we’re only to happy to help. We had 18 team members on scene with most of the guys having to leave work early and some of them won’t get paid as a result so it just demonstrates our commitment to assisting where and whenever we're needed.”