Gt Langdale

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 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 novice rock climber aged 22 from Berwick-orv Tweed slipped and fell about 15 feet into a gulley on Raven Crag, Langdale. She sustained a broken leg and the team carried her down on a stretcher and she was taken to hospital at Kendal. Footnote: This was a well equipped climbing party under very good supervision, and the incident was a genuine accident. The weather was very warm, clear and sunny 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 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.

A 28 year old rock climber from Bury fell 20 feet while leading on Billberry Buttress, Raven Crag, Langdale. He sustained pelvic, back and arm injuries. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and then taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This accident occured on the rock face. It is not clear if this climber had any runners on, but information at the time indicated he had not. The weather was warm, with sunshine, and the rock was dry.

A 21 year old rock climber from Prescot was found by a friend after descending from a crag at White Ghyll, Langdale. It is thought that he had fallen about 100 feet. He died on the crag of multiple injuries despite the fight for his life made by the team doctor and team members for over an hour. His body was brought down the fell by stretcher. Footnote: Most of the team knew this young man personally. The accident remains a mystery, as nobody was with him during his descent from the crag. The weather was dry, turning to heavy rain with winds later, and ground conditions were wet.

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 20 year old man from Nantwich slipped and fell about 150 feet in a gulley on Raven Crag, Langdale whilst descending after finishing a rock climb. He was carried off the crag by stretcher suffering from multiple injuries. The team assisted R.A.F. Learning who had already started the carry down. He was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This accident happened whilst this climber was descending. This is not an uncommon occurence with rock climbers. The weather was fine, dry, but dull.

A man raised the alarm for five missing people from Warrington who were overdue in Langdale. The team had just started to search the intended route when the missing group turned up at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Langdale. Two of the party had sprained ankles, which were treated by the team doctor. Footnote: The weather conditions were poor, with low mist and intermittent rain and it was dark. The party had no idea of map reading and had walked five miles out of their way before they found themselves, by pure chance, in the Langdale Valley.

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.

A 13 year old young man, in a school party under adult supervision, was ascending 'Jacks Rake' when he slipped and fell 150 feet onto the rocks below. He sustained multiple injuries including a fractured skull and a pneumo/haemothorax. After being stabilised by the team on the fellside, he was airlifted to Preston hospital by RAF Boulmer,

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.

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.

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.

Four people left Langdale to walk to Scafell and back; at Esk Hause one lady said she was tired: the other three said they would carry on and return for her later. They did so, however, she could not be found. A helicopter from RAF Boulmer with team members on board located her at Esk Hause at 10.00 pm in the exact spot they left her. This woman should never have been left on her own due to her medical history. The team leader gave the rest of the group a severe talking too. Keswick, Furness and SARDA rescue teams were ail alerted.

This Dutch lady slipped and fractured her ankle; and just to add complications she had high blood pressure, diabetes and shock. Don't you like the simple things in life? She was taken to Keswick Cottage Hospital.

The police received a 999 call to say a man had an ankle injury and was struggling with his wife and child. The information was very vague and no informant could be found. The team searched many possible sites without trace. This call out was a MALICIOUS HOAX!!!

An elderly gentleman slipped and fell on wet fellside breaking his ankle. The team carried him down the fell with help from RAF Leeming MRT.

A 64 year old lady, wearing smooth soled shoes, slipped on the wet grass and sustained a broken ankle. The team conveyed her down the fellside to the ambulance.

This lady slipped on icy grass and injured her ankle. RAF Boulmer were in the area and airlifted her back to Ambleside, after the team had located her and treated her injuries.

A young woman was overdue on a solo 24 hour expedition. The team, in conjunction with Wasdale, Eskdale. Keswick and SARDA teams searched her intended route. She was found unhurt in Eskdale, the team provided transport back to Ambleside.

These three people were totally lost and out of their depth in these winter conditions. Brought to safety in the security of a large group, with the people from rescues 18 and 16.

Another mobile phone call from a couple saying they were lost. The team detached themselves from call-out 16 and went in search of these two. Whilst searching they came across, by pure chance one adult and two children (rescue number 19). All five were brought to safety unhurt. Hurray for modern communications, and it does beg the question, why did people ever learn to use a map and compass?

Two young ladies raised alarm on mobile phone, informing the team that they were lost on the high fells. Shrewd detective work ensued, both girls very ill equipped were located at Stickle Tarn and escorted off the fell. The run out probably did us good!