Flashing lights and shouts were heard from Raven Crag. An investigation found people working late at a farm, and darkness on the crag. Back in bed inside the hour!
A man in his 20s blacked out and fell a short distance, breaking his arm badly in the process. Because of the inaccessible position and the black-out, a helicopter and Kendal MRT were called to assist. Langdale team members were making their way to the site on foot when the helicopter arrived. It picked up some Kendal team members from the valley and flew them up. A couple had been winched out when the helicopter rotor clipped the crag, causing serious damage, and causing the helicopter to pull away and land very heavily in Mickleden.
With darkness approaching, we were notified of a woman who was alone on Mart Crag and unable to find her way down. She was given instructions to locate Stake Pass, and a small group was dispatched to track her down. Somehow she managed to miss the path at Stake Pass and was located descending from Rossett Ghyll, having traversed around the back of Rossett Pike. It was agreed that she would undertake some navigation tuition in the very near future!
A woman got her foot stuck in a crack on Ash Tree ledge about 100 foot up Gimmer Crag, and was unable to extract herself for in excess of 40 minutes. The team was called, and arrived at the base of the crag to be notified that she had just managed to free herself. She was able to continue the climb with a bruised foot.
A 29-year-old man became cragfast on Jack’s Rake. He phoned for help and we rescued him. This coincided with an open evening with about 60 people visiting the base.
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A woman slipped and sustained a wrist injury. She was treated by team members and evacuate to the valley.
A man was reported missing overnight. A search was organised, and he was located in Borrowdale, cold and shaken, but OK.
A 40-year-old man phoned his wife to say that he was getting tired and was going to be late. She phoned us and we went and looked for him. He was located in Mickleden, exhausted, but moving under his own steam, having 'borrowed' some food from some campers. He was reunited with his family at Lowfold.
A 20-year-old male climber fell from Lower Scout Crag, ripping out all his gear and hitting the ground. He sustained an open fracture to his femur, a broken wrist, two fractures to his arm, a fractured jaw, and head injuries. The left-hand picture, below, shows the severe shortening caused by the femur fracture, and the third picture shows damage to his helmet.
head injury.
A 43-year-old man fell approximately 40 feet from the lower section of Pavey Ark. He sustained head injuries, a jaw fracture and a neck fracture, and lost consciousness for a while. A doctor in the group provided initial first aid, maintaining his airway. He was treated, and airlifted to Furness General Hospital. The remainder of the group, a mixture of adults and children, were escorted from the hill by team members.
A young male was reported overdue at his destination in Langdale. He had set off from Wasdale, but not arrived. A search was organised, involving SARDA, Keswick MRT, Wasdale MRT and ourselves. He was located at 04.45, cragfast at Hanging Knotts. He was cold and wet, but otherwise unharmed. He was escorted to Langdale by members of Langdale MRT and then repatriated.
A man slipped and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. He was treated at the scene and evacuated to the valley. He was a big fellow, and there were a few bad backs.
We were asked by the Police to investigate flashing lights on Raven Crag. We found a couple of campers and left them to it.
While dealing with the first incident we were notified of a second incident at Dungeon Ghyll. A woman had slipped and sustained a suspected fractured ankle. At this stage Kendal MRT were called to assist. She was treated and evacuated to the valley. Later information revealed that she had sustained three fractures to her tibia and fibula.
A very experienced male climber in his 50s fell while leading. Unfortunately some of his runners failed and he hit the ground. His injuries were multiple and very serious and, sadly, he died as a result.
The team was requested to assist Keswick MRT in a search of the central fells for four walkers who had reported themselves lost in mist by mobile phone. They were located on Allen Crags, way off their intended route. Team members got home around 2am.
While the previous incident was under way, we were made aware of a father and son who were overdue from their walk in the Bowfell area. Fortunately they turned up in Borrowdale before we had to go and look for them.
A 33-year-old man slipped on an icy path and sustained a lower leg injury.
A woman walking with a family group slipped on an icy path and fractured her tibia and fibula.
Snow and freezing rain fell on frozen ground, causing very slippery conditions on every surface.
After an overnight high level camp a group of three young men were descending the Band when one of them became separated from the other two.
Five team members assisted with a search carried out by Keswick MRT for two people overdue from a walk.
A group of four descending the Band spotted a light, apparently signalling for help across the valley on Mart Crag Moor.
A man walking with his wife suffered a groin strain walking near Tarn Crag.
A couple in their 40s from Settle, with two dogs, phoned to say that they were lost on the Crinkles, with darkness rapidly approaching.
The team was called to assist a couple who had become cragfast on Kettle Crag, above Blea Tarn.
A 16-year-old boy sustained a lower leg injury between Harrison Stickle and Pike O'Stickle.
A 24 year old woman from Newcastle upon Tyne slipped and fell 300ft. while climbing a snow gulley on Hanging Knotts, Bowfell.
A search was made of the Langdale Pikes when two medical students from Cardiff University failed to report to friends at Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Langdale.
A 20 year old man from London fell about 100 ft. while leading a pitch on Raven Crag, Langdale.
