Objects Database

Tragsitz

Accession Number

561.2008.1

Object Name

Tragsitz

Created

01/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

01/12/2008

Brief Description

Tragsitz. Harness for lowering causalities down steep rock/ice faces whilst strapped to rescuer's back. Mainly red waterproof material with yellow nylon straps and metal buckles.

Materials

nylon, metal

Dimensions

70(l) x 56(w)cms

Number Of Objects

Inscription Description

Oval shaped red badge sewn on side with a red "S" and black "SE" across it on a white background.

Colour

red, orange

Provenance

Harry Houdini would have been proud of this device, though he might have needed a career change as they are more difficult to get into than get out of! The Tragsitz, or Carrying Seat, was designed for lowering casualities down the big rock and ice walls of the Alps in the 1950's. This one is a more modern version from around 1965/1970. They came into the UK more as a novelty than anything else, and whilst mountain rescue teams trained endlessly with them at one time, very few, if any, actual rescues were effected with them. Their use came to a pretty abrupt end in the 1970's when someone died using a Tragsitz during a training exercise in North Wales.
This one was donated by Ian Sutherland, one time owner of Nevisport. It doesn't look like it has ever been used and was probably 'old stock'.

We have manged to find one, rather unusual use of a Tragsitz in use during an actual rescue in Scotland. The rescue took place on August 5th 1973. The Falls of Glomach are in the Kintail area of NW Scotland. Exactly which type of Tragsitz was used we are not sure.
Account of rescue from 1974 Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal
"Ruth Horder(11) with family party visiting Falls of Glomach. Slipped on lower path where it was very narrow, wet and slippery with loose stones, rolled down then fell over rock into a pool - shock and fracture of left hand. Track unsuitable for stretcher party. Glenelg and Dundonnell M.R.T. called out. Casualty. Patient put in a tragsitz and carried up to head of falls then down via upper track to Killilan (last lap of journey on stretcher). A safety rope had to be rigged from accident point to head of falls. No team owned equipment of Glenelg team, marked shortage of slings and karabiners. (All such available were personal gear of team members). A difficult rescue over dangerous ground"