Air ambulance rescue for Ailsa in Argentina
A mountaineering record attempt by a young woman from Collingtree is still on course despite a last-minute rescue by air ambulance from Aconcagua in Argentina.
Ailsa Wright, 18, suffered a knee injury at 6,700 metres up Mount Aconcagua, her second climb in a bid to become the youngest female Briton to climb the tallest peak in each continent.
An air ambulance was called as Ailsa was only 200 metres away from the summit of the second tallest mountain in the seven peaks challenge to airlift her back to ground level before she returned home on Sunday.
The teenager, who returns to school this week to face A level exams, said: "I had an accident a few days before the summit bid and being the stubborn person I am, I decided to continue. I got to 6,700 metres and my knee swelled up like a football. I was airlifted out and I was full up with medicine but it was amazing to see all over the Andes.
"Luckily it's not anything really bad, nothing is broken and it probably just needs a few days to recover. It was obviously disappointing but when you're up there, you have to think about getting down as well and no mountain is worth dying for."
A return trip to Argentina is already planned for next December but not before Ailsa tries her luck with Mount Kosciuszko in Australia over Easter, and Mount Elbrus in Russia in June.
Last October, Ailsa reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro as part of the challenge, which aims to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The young mountain climber is also currently training with the charity organisation as a volunteer fundraiser. More information about sponsoring Ailsa is available at www.justgiving.com/missioneverest2009
donna.bowater@northantsnews.co.uk
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