A WALKER who was hit by a tree brought down by Saturday’s high winds has been released from hospital despite suffering three fractures in her back.

New details have emerged about the dramatic rescue that took place after Carol Holdsworth was struck by a falling ash tree while walking with her husband, Graeme.

Mrs Holdsworth, 37, a teaching assistant from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, was airlifted to hospital after the accident, near Keld, in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, after being stabilised by the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team.

Mr and Mrs Holdsworth had planned to go for a bike ride on Saturday but decided instead to go for a walk because of high winds.

Mr Holdsworth said: “We thought carefully about where we would go because of the weather and didn’t walk through woods or on the high ridges because it was too dangerous.

“We were walking along the riverside where there are few trees, but just as we walked past a huge ash tree I heard a crack and ducked. Carol didn’t hear it, didn’t duck and, unfortunately, the tree hit her.”

Although Mrs Holdsworth was not crushed, she was caught underneath the tree and was bent double under a large branch, which Mr Holdsworth managed to free her from.

He said: “I knew I couldn’t move her again and the path was deserted, so I had to go for help.

“After the tree hit her we had exceptional good luck and I came across a school group who were training for the Duke of Edinburgh award and they were able to run for help.”

The mountain rescue team arrived within 20 minutes and co-ordinated with the police, the air ambulance and local farmers who used quad bikes to ferry equipment.

“I think the whole community must have come out to help us,” said Mr Holdsworth.

“Everyone was wonderful and I can’t thank them enough.”

Mrs Holdsworth was found to have three fractures in her spine. She is expected to recover within six to eight weeks and is resting at home.

Mr Holdsworth would like to contact Keith and Jim, two of the teachers with the Duke of Edinburgh group, to thank them for their help. They are asked to call reporter Vicki Henderson on 01609-771023.