Ian Ashfar’s Incredible Mountain Survival

Into the Mist 

At 4 am on May 19th, 2009, Iain and Paul set out from their campsite with the plan to travel fast and light across Cuillin Ridge. Among mountaineers, this 12-kilometre-long, spine-like ridge of black gabbro rock is known as one of the most difficult and dangerous ridge traverses in the UK, linking 22 separate peaks in the Cuillin Hills. It’s also known for wildly unpredictable weather — before this excursion, Iain had tried to cross the ridge twice and had to turn back both times due to poor conditions. This time, however, the weather forecast looked promising — sunny, clear skies, and mild temperatures. But as dawn broke over the ridge, Paul and Iain spotted an issue. 

We could see that our end of the ridge was clear, but we could see clouds further along. It was like the Black Cloud of Mordor hanging over the southern ridge where we were going to start. 

Iain Ashfar

Nevertheless, the pair decided to persist, hoping conditions would improve. They were sorely disappointed, however, when they reached the crest of the ridge around 7:30, only to be greeted by a wall of thick swirling mist. Surrounded by plunging drops on either side and with visibility near zero, Iain and Paul made the disappointing decision to turn back. 

The Fall

Scaling back down the ridge in these conditions was not as simple as retracing their steps, however. Iain scanned the ground for signs of a footpath, but all he could see were broken fragments of rock — uneven slabs that, for all he knew, could lead straight off a precipice. 

Unable to get his bearings in the swirling fog, Iain stepped towards a boulder to check the route ahead. Stabilising himself against its mossy surface, he leaned forward, his eyes searching through the mist. Then disaster struck. 

I can remember quite clearly that feeling of falling into a void. I couldn't see how far down it was. Couldn't see anything. All I can really remember is the sense of falling and the sense that this is going to hurt. And thinking, where's this boulder going to land? 

Iain Ashfar 

Trapped

Iain landed hard on a jagged rock before violently skidding down across sharp slabs for another 20 or 30 metres. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally came to a stop on a slightly gentler gradient, lying on his back amid a jumble of small boulders and mossy tufts. His body was utterly devastated, and blood was rapidly soaking through his clothes from what felt like hundreds of open wounds. 

I knew from first aid training that if there's a lot of blood loss, then the body's reaction is to go into shock. And I thought, I'm going to have to act quite quickly here because I'm not going to be able to do much for myself. 

Iain Ashfar

Though every inch of him screamed in pain, Iain was somehow able to unzip his backpack and pull out his jacket, gloves, and hat. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he began screaming up to Paul, telling him his rough coordinates. Iain knew Paul had brought a mobile phone with him and shouted that he needed to call emergency services. But, high up in the Scottish hills, there is minimal signal. Paul decided the best course of action would be for him to climb down and try to help Iain as best he could. 

A Race Against Time 

As Paul slowly descended, all Iain could do was wait. 

I had a lot of feelings of sadness as I realised that we're so remote here. I could potentially die from this. This could kill me. So I had to lie there with those thoughts, knowing that there wasn't much I could do myself. I couldn't move anywhere. I was relying on others to come to my aid. 

Iain Ashfar 

Finally, after 45 minutes of terrifying uncertainty, Paul appeared from above, abseiling through the mist. Iain’s troubles were, however, far from over. Now the pair faced the daunting task of calling for help without the aid of a radio or cellphone. Their only option was to use the emergency whistle in Iain’s first aid kit. 

They tried this several times, straining to hear a response. Then, in a last-ditch effort, Paul called emergency services again. This time, he thought he was able to get through, but the signal was so poor he couldn’t tell if they’d heard him or not...

Miraculously, maybe 20 minutes later, we heard an answering whistle. We heard a reply, and we could hear it getting close. 

Iain Ashfar 

Two hikers appeared out of the mist. Not the Mountain Rescue team they were hoping for, but a welcome sight nonetheless. They wrapped Iain in a sleeping bag, preserving his precious body heat. Then, in the distance, Iain heard the sound of a helicopter approaching. 

We could hear this helicopter. It sounded far away, way off much further north than where we were. And it was at that point that I thought, they're not going to find us. It's thick mist. Even if the helicopter could get anywhere near us. And then that's when I thought... I'm not going to survive this.

Iain Ashfar 

Finally, Iain heard a calm, authoritative voice calling from higher up the slope. Against the odds, Mountain Rescue had found them. The decision was to place Iain in a stretcher and lower him back down toward the loch so that the helicopter could reach him. But once they strapped him in, another problem arose: he couldn’t breathe. 

Survival Against the Odds 

Gasping for air, Iain was winched up the cliff and carried back down the far side of the ridge — 3,000 feet of slippery, uneven terrain. Each bump of the stretcher sent fresh waves of pain through his shattered body. But reaching the loch meant they were finally below cloud cover. The helicopter could now get in. 

Iain was airlifted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He had made it — just. 

When he awoke in intensive care, the extent of his injuries was made clear. He had a shattered pelvis, fractured spine, multiple broken ribs, a snapped leg, a broken shoulder blade, a ruptured bladder, two collapsed lungs, torn ligaments, shredded fingers, and five pints of internal blood loss. 

Recovery was long and painful. He spent months in a wheelchair before finally graduating to crutches. But Iain had a new reason to fight. After he came to in the hospital, his partner, Karen, told him she was pregnant. 

Slowly but surely, Iain regained his strength. He started walking again, then hiking, and eventually climbing. To give back, Iain later volunteered with the Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue team, helping others in crisis. 

In the years since the accident, Iain has had plenty of time to reflect on the various factors that helped him survive — Paul’s cool head, the courage of the rescue team, his own experience, expertise and inner endurance. But ultimately, when it comes down to it, what Iain owes his life to above all else is something rather surprising. 

I absolutely maintain that that cheese sandwich that Paul made — that was in the lid of my rucksack — that’s what stopped my head FROM hitting the ground. If I’d hit my head on the ground, that would have been it. I was Saved by a cheese sandwich.

Iain Ashfar