Fellwalking

A 50 year old man from Falmouth slipped on wet rocks and fractured his ankle at Rest Gill, Langdale. The team carried him down on a stretcher and he was taken to hospital in Kendal. Footnote: This accident happened at 3 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, but the team was not called out until 8.30 p.m. — some 5 hours later. The reason for this delay is a mystery both to the police and the team, but his walking companion tried to get help from some friends in the area.

A search was made of Easedale Tarn and surrounding crags after a party of five had heard 'cries for help'. Team members with three dogs from the Search and Rescue Association searched but found nothing. The search was called off at 3.30 a.m. on 2nd July. Footnote: Once again nothing was found, and it was a false alarm with good intent. The weather was warm, dry and clear.

A 15 year old boy collapsed with exhaustion and migraine at the summit of Stake Pass, Langdale. The team carried the boy, who came from Thetford, Norfolk, down the fell on a stretcher and he was treated by the team doctor before being allowed home. Footnote: This group had been well trained to cope with mishaps on the fells, and they did everything correctly. The weather was overcast with rain at times and the ground was very wet underfoog.

A search was made of Loughrigg Summit when a man had heard cries for help. After two and a half hours the search was called off and nothing was found. Footnote: This was a false alarm with good intent. The weather was very warm, clear and dry.

A 15 year old youth from Westhoughton near Bolton sustained a severely lacerated foot after paddling in Stickle Tarn, Langdale. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and he was treated by a team doctor in Ambleside. Footnote: This seemed to be a well-led party. One lesson we are learn¬ing is that the tarns and becks are becoming dangerous places to paddle and swim in because some people use them as rubbish tips. The weather was clear, very warm and dry.

A 15 year old schoolgirl from Stainforth, Yorkshire, slipped and fell on a steep slope at Troutbeck Park, Windermere. She suffered a suspected fractured femur, was carried down on a stretcher assisted by the Tweed Valley M.R.T. from Galashiels. She was taken to hospital in Kendal. Footnote: The school party seemed to be well organised and equipped. The weather was clear, dry and sunny.

A 15 year old youth from Reigate, Surrey, was treated on the spot when he collapsed with an epileptic fit at Mill Ghyll, Langdale. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and was put to bed at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Footnote: No comment needs to be made. The weather was warm, sunny and dry.

A massive search was put into operation when a holidaymaker from London was reported missing from a Grasmere Hotel. Mountain rescue teams from Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lancashire as well as the R.A.F. Search and Rescue Dog Association and an R.A.F. helicopter from Acklington took part. The missing man was found dead at the bottom of Pavey Ark, Langdale at 3.30 p.m. the same day by one of the rescue parties. Footnote: There were 320 mountain rescue personnel and helpers on the hills by 11.00 a.m.

A 47 year old man from Marple collapsed with severe pains in the chest and abdomen in Mickleden Valley, Langdale. He was carried down the valley on a stretcher and taken to hospital at Kendal. Footnote: This was not a fatal collapse. The weather was clear, warm and dry.

Two 15 year old girls walking with adult supervision collapsed with severe exposure on the summit of Helvellyn. Both girls were carried down the mountain on stretchers by the combined forces of the Patterdale and Langdale/Ambleside teams. Both girls were taken to hospital at Kendal. Footnote: This incident was a complete disgrace. The weather was freezing above 1800 feet, the mist was low and there was snow on higher parts of the mountain. These children had no equipment or proper clothing for such a 'walk'.

A 16 year old schoolboy from Winsford collapsed on Pike Howe, Langdale, with exhaustion during a Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award practice expedition. The Team carried him down the fell on a stretcher, assisted by R.A.F. Leeming. He was treated by the team doctor and allowed to go home with his teachers. Footnote: This party was not at fault in any way, but there is a possibility that the boy's pack was overweight for him to carry. The weather was misty with drizzle, and ground conditions were wet.

A solo male walker slipped on wet ground and sustained a suspected fracture to his lower leg. He was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley, then transported to Ambleside for transfer to ambulance to hospital.

A 17 year old youth from Gloucester was carried down by stretcher after collapsing on Harrison Stickle (2,000') suffering from severe exposure. The latest exposure hot air treatment (REVIVA) method was used for the first time by the team. The youth recovered later, but without Reviva his life would have been in grave danger. Footnote: Once again the party was not equipped for the severe conditions encountered. Severe snow storms became blizzards with gale force winds and ice at 1300 feet and above. There was a complete whiteout for 45 minutes at 1800 feet.

This man collapsed due to a trapped nerve in his neck, which had caused problems in the past. He was escorted to the County ambulance.

This lady collapsed with an unknown condition, possibly heat/sun stroke. A helicopter was on training in the area and assisted in taking her to hospital.

A 75 year old lady slipped in her smooth soled shoes on the rough footpath, fracturing her ankle. The team was helped by RAF Leconfield and the lady was flown to hospital.

This man was climbing in the gill and slipped on wet rocks. RAF Boulmer were on training in the area and offered to help. The man was located and his fractured knee-cap, tibia and fibia were treated by team members. He was winched on board and flown to hospital.

A search was initiated when a man staying in Patterdale reported that two young scouts were in trouble on the high fells with "heat stroke". The team searched a wide area and they were eventually found descending into the Rydal Valley accompanied by two fell walkers who had found them at 2700 feet. The leading adult scouts were not with the group, but we found them as well and took them back to Low Fold for a 'major debrief'!!!

This man fell 20 feet to be stopped only by the ground, due to his companions lack of belaying technique. The man sustained serious h€&d, spinal, arm and leg injuries. The team conveyed him off the fell using a vacuum mattress.

A 13 year old girl slipped and rolled 60 feet down steep fell side. She sustained injuries to her leg, shoulder and head. The team stretchered her off.

Three young women decided to walk up Crinkle Gill, when the going became tough they tried to climb out of the steep sided gill becoming crag fast, The team were called to lower them to safety, an RAF helicopter was in the area and came to help. However the women refused to be air lifted and the team patiently continued in the inevitable manner,

This couple were last together above Easedale Tarn, the lady was tired and returned to the car in Grasmere via the valley bottom. The man chose to complete the intended route at ridge level. He was an acute diabetic and his wife became concerned at 8.00 pm when he had not returned. The team found him on Helm Crag tired and in need of assistance. The couple were 'happily' reunited in Grasmere.

An elderly American man on a walking holiday, slipped on steep fellside and fractured his lower leg. Not much of a walking holiday left after this.

Lady reported overdue on walk from Patterdale to Grasmere, where she was due to meet her friend at 5.00 pm. She was found by the team in Tongue Gill, she had apparently fallen asleep', on the fell for five hours. After being treated by the doctor she was released.

This American lady slipped on very steep ground and fractured her ankle. Lucky for her, we've dealt with this injury once or twice before. We conveyed her to the valley bottom in the usual manner.

This lady was carried 4 miles after slipping and breaking her leg. Assistance was given by Kendal MRT. It's supposed to be character building, you know !!

This man collapsed with chest pains and the County ambulance crew asked the team for assistance in evacuating the casualty.

Five D of E bronze students from a group of seven needed assistance off the fell by the team. Their downfall was due to very heavy loads, poor navigation and poor weather. Once down and seen by the team doctor, all recovered quickly. The supervisors/teachers of this party had little idea of expedition protocol.

The team was called to locate a woman and two children having become very distressed because of the thunder and lightning. They were escorted safely to a local farm house where they were checked by the team doctor.

A 72 year old man suffered a heart attack and we went to assist the ambulance crew evacuate him from the fell.