Almost 250 accidents at Scotland’s top tourist sites

By Oliver Farrimond

UNLUCKY staff and visitors at some of Scotland’s top tourism sights have injured themselves almost 250 times since the beginning of last year.

Some 126 members of staff at Historic Scotland and VisitScotland, and 120 visitors to their sites, found themselves hurt in accidents.

Five claims for compensation have followed as a result of the injuries, which include collisions with cannons, falling flagpoles and hogweed burns.

According to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request, more than 100 hapless visitors at Historic Scotland sites received injuries ranging from cracked ribs to dislocated elbows and broken shoulders.

And almost 20 members of the public at VisitScotland sites recorded injuries, including a child at the Wallace Monument in April of last year who had to have the tip of their finger removed after trapping it in a toilet door.

Cyclist doesn’t know if she was hit or fell

By Cara Sulieman

A CYCLIST has been left with such horrific injuries after a suspected hit and run that she has no idea what happened.

The 27 year-old woman fractured her collar bone and damaged her head after the crash.

Last night she was stable in hospital but police issued an appeal for witnesses in a bid to find out whether she was hit or fell off her bike.

She was cycling along Edinburgh’s Easter Road just before 8.30am on Tuesday morning and is thought to have been struck by a car turning on to Dalmeny Street.

Scots heroes shine at the military medical “Oscars”

By Michael MacLeod

BATTLEFIELD medics who risk life and limb daily to save the lives of wounded soldiers have been honoured for their skill and bravery on the front line.

Scotland’s military health heroes swept the board at the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards.

Among them was Stirling-born Major Moira Kane, a mum of two who had to leave her family behind at short notice to run the emergency ward in Afghanistan’s Camp Bastion.

Her team treated countless war-wounded soldiers and witnessed some of the most harrowing injuries imaginable.

Major Kane said: “I’m a Scottish lass and it is great to take a break from the trauma ward at Camp Bastion to collect the award in Edinburgh.