A North East student put his life-saving training into action when two hikers were caught in an avalanche.
Rowhyn Gallagher, a first-year student paramedic at the University of Sunderland, was enjoying a week of winter mountaineering in the Cairngorms with his partner and friends when the incident occurred.
The group had hiked to Aladdin’s Couloir when they saw the hikers being engulfed by the avalanche.
One of the hikers was completely submerged in snow, prompting Mr Gallagher and his partner, Jasmine, who is also a paramedic, to act swiftly.
Mr Gallagher said: "Jasmine and I slid over and found our friends already digging the patient out.
"Neither of us had realised how serious it was at this moment."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Mr Gallagher remained calm, thanks to his training.
He said: "I thought I would have been more scared, but all the training kicks in all of a sudden and you start doing things."
Mr Gallagher and Jasmine, assisted by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service, began attending to the patient in the challenging snowy conditions.
They continued to care for the patient until she was safely in an ambulance.
This involved carrying the hiker more than three miles to the nearest road, as the freezing conditions and avalanche-prone slopes made it difficult for the ambulance to reach the scene.
Mr Gallagher said: "The training I have had at the University massively helped.
"Even though I’m in my first year, I knew what I needed to do as I had practised pretty much every week leading up to this."
Mr Gallagher has always had a passion for pre-hospital care, which led him to start studying Paramedic Sciences and Out of Hospital Care at the University in September 2024.
Recalling a past experience that inspired his career choice, he said: "In the past, I remember waiting for an ambulance for my mum.
"When the paramedics arrived, they put everyone at ease, and they saved my mum.
"That made me want to be a paramedic."
Mark Willis, associate head of school for nursing and health studies (paramedic practice team) at the University of Sunderland, said: "Rowhyn has demonstrated a high level of skill and professionalism with his care and support in what can only be described as a very unique and challenging environment."
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