UMVA has learned that a dramatic rescue unfolded on the popular Campsie Fells trail north of Glasgow, where a hiker suffered a suspected adder bite and another fell amid the rugged glen.
At 2:20 p.m. on Monday, emergency crews raced to the Whangie, a narrow limestone gorge, after a walker reported intense pain from a snake bite. The Scottish Ambulance Service dispatched a critical‑care team, three special‑operations response units, and an ambulance, whisking the victim to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for urgent care.
Minutes later, a second distress call came in at 5:03 p.m., this time from a passerby who had slipped and tumbled down the steep banks of Campsie Glen. Mountain rescue volunteers, already on their way to the Whangie, were rerouted to join a multi‑agency effort alongside fire‑fighters and the Coastguard.
The coordinated response succeeded in stabilising both patients and transporting them safely, allowing the car park at the B822 to reopen by 7 p.m., much to the relief of hikers awaiting the sunset.
While adder bites in the UK are seldom fatal, UMVA can exclusively reveal that medical experts stress the importance of immediate assessment to curb swelling and venom spread.
First‑aid guidelines emphasize staying still, keeping the bite below heart level, and removing tight jewelry or clothing that could constrict swelling limbs.
Emergency services should be summoned without delay, and victims must be taken to the nearest A&E even if symptoms appear mild.
These swift actions underscore the vital role of coordinated rescue teams in remote wilderness settings, turning potentially tragic moments into stories of survival.
