High-altitude heroes

For Darren Williams, who is 27, getting an ordinary job was never an option. “I couldn’t stand working indoors- I’d be safer and warmer maybe, but also incredibly bored. Yes, my work is dangerous, and the pay isn’t great but it’s never dull or predictable! What’s more, in an average year I might help hundreds of people, and even save lives. How many office staff can say that?” Darren Williams works for RAF Mountain Rescue which is based in the UK but regularly sends teams to destinations around the world. “Basically, we are here to help mountaineers when things go wrong.” Last year, Darren won a bravery award for his part in a rescue in the Scottish Cairngorms. “A climber had fallen while crossing an icy crevasse. He was left hanging by his safety harness for seven hours, in -20°C temperatures. The only way to reach him to fly in a helicopter while someone dangled from a rope. As the lightest member of the team, that “someone” was me!” Fortunately, the rescue attempt was successful, and Darren and the climber were pulled to safety.

Darren is always willing to help anyone in need, but he admits he can feel frustrated with climbers who fail to take proper precautions. “People admire great mountaineers like Sir Edmund Hillary and Cesar Perez de Tudela, and they want to have a go themselves. But they don’t want to put in all the hard work and training. Sadly, every year between 20 and 40 inexperienced climbers die before we can get to them.”

However, Darren reserves most of his criticism for time-wasters. “I remember the time when we had to “save” a woman who had set off up a mountain wearing sun dress and flip-flops! We have also had to rescue drunks, and one man even rang for help because he was going to be late for a party. We were so cross, we thought twice before picking him up. We are an emergency service- not a taxi service!”