Donation made 50 years after girl's waterfall plunge

A Highland mountain rescue team has received a surprise donation from a woman who was rescued 50 years ago when she was 11 years old.

Rosie Horder, now McCusker, was on a summer holiday in Kintail with her family from Ayr when she slipped and fell 60m (200ft) at the Falls of Glomach.

She plunged into a pool of water and managed to get herself on to a rocky ledge - her only injury was a hurt hand.

Now living in Texas, she has sent Kintail Mountain Rescue Team £5,000 on behalf of her family as a "thank you" to its members who went to her aid in 1973.

The gift has also been made in memory of Rosie's late father, David.

Fifty years ago, she and her siblings Robin, Charlie and Nick and their parents David and Rachel went for a walk along a steep trail to the waterfalls.

Rosie slipped and her brother Nick remembers hearing her scream over the roaring sound of the water.

He said: “I watched her slide head-first down a few meters of grass wishing, hoping, assuming - in vain - that she would stop.

“The image of the sole of her wellies disappearing over the edge remains vivid 50 years later.”

The family's attempts to reach her were unsuccessful and Mr Horder ran back down the track to get help.

More than 40 mountain rescue volunteers from Kintail and Glenelg were involved in a nine-hour rescue operation.

Rosie was pulled up to a stretcher, from where she could be carried down the glen to an ambulance.

Team leader at the time, Murdo Cameron, described it as one of the most difficult rescues the team had ever tackled.

Rosie was treated for her injury at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital.

Rosie said the donation was her way of expressing her family's gratitude for saving her life.

She said: “As a volunteer organisation, I’d like to honour the brave people who venture out when called and put their own lives at risk while spending time away from their own families.”

Kintail MRT leader Lara Hinde said: “We’re immensely grateful to the family for this donation which will help us purchase essential equipment.

“The story of this rescue is a testament to the tradition of volunteers from across the local community coming together to help those in need in the hills.

“The Horders’ generous donation will help make sure that this tradition continues - assisted by access to 21st Century communications and technical gear.”