BADLY injured, frightened and freezing, the victims of a mountaineering accident try desperately to keep each other going as they pray salvation will arrive.

The relief on the faces of these injured is palpable, as the brave men and women arrive at their side to treat their wounds and evacuate them from the treacherous location.

Thankfully though, this is not a recollection of an event in Helmond Province, but a training exercise involving a University of Cumbria paramedic team, mountain rescue volunteers, and members of a specialist army medical unit.

This team will help those taking part save lives for real one day.

A variety of realistic scenarios were used at the university’s Ambleside campus, with members of 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment joining Kendal Mountain Rescue Team and university paramedic trainers in tackling a series of incidents involving casualties suffering from “life-threatening” conditions.

Ian Corrie, principal heath and nursing lecturer and Honorary Colonel of 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment said: “Collaboration between the services and the university is essential. Many of the reservists have previous army experience and the majority now work within the NHS.

“To be able to offer our expertise means that lessons learned on operations can be transferred to civilian life and vice-versa.”

Major Rob Instrell, the unit’s clinical lead for this training weekend, explained that the partnership was invaluable.

He said: “The expertise of the UoC lecturers and the professional leading skills of the Kendal Mountain Rescue Team adds a realism to training that is difficult to reproduce and will be remembered by unit personnel for some time to come.”

As well as taking part in practical scenarios, the weekend was also used for leadership and development training for senior members of the regiment.

Paramedic lecturer and army reservist, David Bates added: “The benefit for the university is that we’re taking the experience of these different grounds plus our own experience which we can then use in our teaching.”

Mathew Benson, a volunteer with Kendal Mountain Rescue Team and a serving technician with North West Ambulance Service, said the event was a welcome opportunity.

“It was a great opportunity to share skills and kit as well as teaching methods”, he explained.

“Good experience and good practice.”

The Ambleside campus will be used for another exercise early next year. Paramedic students will join policing and forensic science colleagues in attending a ‘major incident’ event.

Since its formation in 2005, the regiment has been deployed on operations in Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2017, 35 army ranks were involved in training exercises alongside the US army in Germany.

While this year ranks were involved in Poland and the USA. In addition, 35 more ranks are preparing to deploy to Germany next year.