Category Archives: PTSD

High Risks – Climbing to Extinction – Brian Hall

Posted on December 1, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I found this an exceptional book. It took me back to the “ Golden Years” of Alpine and Himalayan Mountaineers.The death toll of these climbers pushing their ambitions and the complexity of their lives is an eye opener. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Family, Friends, Gear, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Sgurr Na Stri Skye only 494 metres it’s tiny but packs a punch! What a viewpoint one of the best and a sad night in 1982.

Posted on November 21, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This was a mountain I hate to say I had never climbed. I was always to busy when on Skye climbing, traversing the ridge and rock climbing. My first ascent was one of the most wildest call-outs I can recall. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Books, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, PTSD, Weather, Well being | 1 Comment

Remembrance Week – A forgotten story of the Wellington crash on Geal Charn near Ben Alder.

Posted on November 12, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

To me this is an incredible story not well known but worthy of being acknowledged as an incredible survival story of one of the crew. This crash site is in extremely remote country access can be wild in winter. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Hard times in the early years. Aircraft crash at Dornie and learning the hard way. Dealing with Trauma in the early days.

Posted on October 18, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

After the call out on Ben Nevis I was put on shift for the whole weekend and no break at all. Then ten days later the team was called out to an aircraft crash near Dornie at Kintail. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Friends, Gear, Health, medical, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Views Mountaineering | 1 Comment

Early Callouts in 1972 – The harsh reality of Mountain Rescues.

Posted on October 17, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

At this time the call outs were fairly simple including a search for missing boy near Kinloss at Randolph’s Leap a popular walk near a steep gorge. We found him safe and well after a night search. The other was … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Equipment, Family, Friends, medical, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Rock Climbing, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

A visit to a gentleman who tried to help us during these dark days of Lockerbie.

Posted on October 4, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today I visited Gordon Turnbull who lead the team of psychiatrists after the Lockerbie Disaster. He was in hospital in Inverness. He was at the forefront at that time of treating PTSD. When I arrived at Lockerbie I was asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Books, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 4 Comments

Interesting call-out. USA USA F111 crash – Lauder. 28 July 1987 – . We had no Communications so the American Airforcec moved a satellite and gave us an early Satellite phone.

Posted on September 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I think this was One of my first aircraft call outs as Team Leader of RAF Leuchars MRT – sadly both crew were killed. We had no communications and when the Americans investigation team arrived not long after the crash … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Equipment, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 1 Comment

Remembrance Week – An Lurg near Bynack Mor and the Wellington crash in 14 August 1944. A past visit with the family.

Posted on August 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

A few years Avon just had an email about this sad incident from the son of the pilot of this crash. We visited the crash site a few years later ot was one of the most heartfelt trips I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Family, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, PTSD, Well being | 10 Comments

Filming in a wet Torridon about the Lancaster Beinn Eighe crash.

Posted on May 13, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I often wonder how many who climb that magnificent mountain Beinn Eighe and do not know that there is a plane crash on the mountain. So many walk by the Lancaster aircraft wreckage that lies in the wild and Cathedral … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 3 Comments

Thinking of those who lost loved ones on the isle of Harris Shackleton crash on this day in 30 April 1990. Also all those involved in the recovery of the crew .

Posted on April 30, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

On 30 April 1990, a Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton AEW Mk II aircraft, of No. 8 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Lossiemouth, crashed into a hill on the Isle of Harris. This crash effected many and will bring memories … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Mountain rescue, PTSD, Weather, Well being | 10 Comments