A MAN who rescued a stricken German student who lay injured on Cavehill for more than a day, is climbing 12 mountains in Ireland to raise money towards an air ambulance.
North Belfast man Davey McCrum was out jogging close to Napoleon's Nose when he found Sonja Klinger injured. She had been taking photographs when the wind swept her off the hill into wooded area below.
Mr McCrum and friend Richard Lamont found the Queen's University student after coming across her bag and other personal items.
It later emerged she had fallen off the hill and lay more than 24 hours before being found.
A rescue helicopter from Prestwick in Scotland had to be called to winch the 20-year-old to safety and she was flown to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast during the rescue operation last November.
Inspired by the work of the air ambulance crew, Mr McCrum has embarked on a expedition to raise funds for a similar service for Northern Ireland, which is still in the process of being developed.
The annual running costs of an air ambulance for the north are expected to be split evenly between the health service and the ambulance's charity partner, Air Ambulance NI.
In his budget in March 2016, former Chancellor George Osborne announced that £4.5 million, arising from banking fines, would be used to help establish the service.
Last September, Health Minister Michelle said she had made £1.25 million available to cover start-up costs, including recruitment and training and for the purchase of medical equipment.
Mr McCrum and three friends are climbing the three highest mountains in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster in a bid to raise £1,000 towards the new service for the north.
They have already completed Slieve Binnian, Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh last weekend.
"It's only when this happened to Sonja that I realised we actually don't have an air ambulance here in Northern Ireland," he said.
"It's the sort of service we need, so I thought I would try and help raise funds towards it.
"We're climbing the three highest mountains in four provinces of Ireland to help raise money, we're doing 12 in total and have already completed the first province of Ulster.
"It has already been an amazing experience, we are getting so much out of it. We only hope it will raise valuable funds for the air ambulance for Northern Ireland."
Mr McCrum said he was still in contact with Ms Klinger, who is back home in Germany still recovering from her injuries.
"Sonja is doing fantastic, she is still getting a lot of treatment for her injuries," he said.
"She said they hope to be doing physio on her back soon, which was badly injured in the fall, but she's doing amazingly well.
"After seeing first-hand how important the service is and how it helped Sonja, I'm delighted to be able to help."
For further information on the fundraising expedition, please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sherpa-mccrum
