Three climbers were benighted part way up Middlefell Buttress when they set off to late to complete their climb in daylight. They could not find a way off the crag. They flashed their only light to attract attention and phoned for help on a mobile phone. We went up the descent gulley, and brought them back down the same way.
Male (25), of Middlesex, fell twenty feet while leading last pitch on Middle Fell Buttress, Langdale. He received a broken ankle, shock and slight exposure. The team lowered him on a stretcher 120 feet and then a further 200 feet down a steep gulley and then he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: Footwear and clothing were only fair. This rescue was carried out in the dark.
Weather conditions: Raining, with low mist.
Male (30) from Nottingham, whilst preparing to climb, was hit by a loose rock from above, dislodged by another climber on Middle Fell Buttress, Langdale. He received head, neck and shoulder injuries. The team conveyed him down the fell assisted by the South Ribble team, and he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote; This rock climber had not even started his climb and was sorting his gear out when the rock hit him. He had no helmet on at the time, but the climber who dislodged the rock had no connection with this man.
The team went to the assistance of a 30 year old female from Oldham when 2 'protection runners' came out and failed to arrest her 20' fall. She suffered spinal and minor body injuries. Evacuated to ambulance at the ODG.
Many people reported "Cries of Help" in the above areas. A search lasting 4 hours produced negative results.
A search was mounted for 2 teenage climbers from Stourbridge overdue from rock climb. One climber found but his friend was last seen near top of crag. Eventually located missing climber unhurt amongst boulders at East Raven Crag. They had no torches.
The team investigated many reports of flashing lights above the crags. Eventually found two male climbing instructors from Bowness on a 'Pretend Bivi'. To avoid any more confusion they were escorted down.
A 47 year old man from Hatf ield, who had no intention to rock climb, decided to solo climb the first pitch of Middlefell Buttress. He slipped and fell 20 feet and fractured his right leg/ankle.
The Team were called when a 18 year old soldier from Merseyside fell 40ft. and suffered FATAL injuries whilst abseiling. The belay point, one small 'Nut Sling', pulled out of crack. NO safety rope or helmet used.
We were requested to assist Police with a search for a 19-year-old man missing from a local residential school. The area was searched, with help from SARDA, and the man was located. He was unharmed.
A couple of 19-year-old climbers from Ambleside became stuck when they got to the top of Middlefell Buttress without torches after 4pm. They were unable to locate the way down. Their shouts for help were heard in the valley bottom. They were assisted by a number of other people in the area, who supplied them with torches, and we escorted them down.
