Three injured in Aberdeenshire beach obstacle course race as man 'flies off water slide'

A man has suffered a serious back injury after “flying off the end of a slide” during an obstacle course race on a beach in Aberdeenshire.

Eyewitnesses described how the man was “screaming in agony” having landed heavily on the ground during the Beach Ballistic event at Balmedie on Saturday morning.

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) assisted HM Coastguard Teams from Aberdeen and Cruden Bay in guiding the injured party to paramedics for treatment.

However the incident forced the closure of part of the course – which formed a section of eight and 16-kilometre races – for fellow athletes.

Two other people were also injured during the race, a coastguard spokesperson said.

An eyewitness told STV News: “The guy went right up in the air and came down on his back.

“He was in lying there in absolute agony and was shouting about the pain in his back. We were next to go down that part of the course, but the staff said they were closing the obstacle and everyone had to run down the hill instead.

“He said it was his lower back. But he looked really hurt.”

The event bills itself as “Scotland’s only beach based obstacle course” and is designed to test participants’ “strength, stamina and mental toughness” across their chosen distance.

The course included an icy dip in the North Sea among a series of “gruelling” obstacles, organised by the Military Fitness Training firm.

They declined to comment when contacted by STV News, but said the event’s own medical team was “ready to respond to any injuries as required”.

A Coastguard spokesperson said: “Aberdeen and Cruden Bay Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to assist the SFRS with an incident at Balmedie Beach shortly after 11.30am today.

“HM Coastguard teams helped one casualty from a water slide.

“Teams also assisted two further casualties.”