Lost quad bikers rescued by RAF helicopter 30/9/14
islanders were rescued by a RAF helicopter Three islanders were rescued by a RAF helicopter after getting lost in the middle of the moor.
They were all airlifted to hospital -
A major search operation was launched when the trio realised they were in danger when they could not find their way to safety on the moor between Ness and North Tolsta, Lewis.
They got into trouble after setting off on a spin on quad bikes just before dusk and in poor weather.
The quads got stuck in the wet, boggy ground which was soaked after recent rain.
Disoriented and wearing lightweight., unsuitable clothing for the conditions, they wandered around the moor for four hours.
A lack of a mobile phone signal compounded their dilemma, but eventually they were able to call 999.
Coastguard teams assisted by Hebrides Search and Rescue combed the area.
Stornoway and Lochs coastguard volunteers set off from Tolsta while the Ness team headed south from Skigersta.
They got within “shouting distance” when a rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth arrived.
The three casualties were winched up into the aircraft and taken to the accident and emergency department at the Stornoway airport.
A coastguard spokesperson said one man was a type one diabetic and very quickly became ill with hypothermia.