Objects Database

Tragsitz

Accession Number

563.2008.1

Object Name

Tragsitz

Created

01/12/2008

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

01/12/2008

Brief Description

Canvas and leather tragsitz. Harness for lowering casualties down steep rock/ice faces whilst strapped to rescuer's back. Mainly canvas with brown leather straps and metal buckles.

Materials

canvas, leather

Dimensions

60(l) x 80(w)cms

Number Of Objects

1

Colour

brown

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 and this one comes from that period, if not earlier. 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 particular one seems to have been acquired by Mick Tighe during his many years in mountain rescue around the world.
We have found one incident when a Tragsitz was used during a 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. We have found one incident when a Tragsitz was used during a rescue in Scotland etc, etc.
There was no team equipment available to the Glenelg contingent and there was a marked shortage of slings and carabiners. A difficult rescue over dangerous ground"

Acquisition Date

01/12/2008

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Normal Location

Bohuntin

Current Location

Bohuntin

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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