Incident Reports 1974

Girl (15), from Reading, suffered a severe asthma attack in Upper Dungeon Ghyll, Langdale. She was treated at the scene by the team doctor and then carried toy the team down the fell, where she was allowed to go back to Y.M.C.A. Lakeside.
Footnote: This school party seemed to be well organised, and it was just unfortunate that this girl had an attack of asthma on the fell. Weather conditions: Intermittent rain, low mist and darkness.

Male (25), of Ashington, fell twenty feet while leading a rock climb on Upper Scout Crag, Langdale. He received a broken ankle, bruises and shock. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: The cause of this accident is unknown and there is nothing to report.
Weather conditions: Dull with drizzle, with wet rocks.

Girl (16), of Reading, collapsed from exposure near the summit of Fairfield. She was reported to be in a serious condition. While the team made their way up to the scene, an R.A.F. helicopter from Acklington was asked to assist. The helicopter found the girl and ferried her down to Ambleside where the team doctor treated her and kept her under observation.

A search was made of the Greenhead Ghyll area, Grasmere, on information received that a young girl had fallen into a ghyll. After four hours, the search was called off and nothing was found.
Footnote: This turned out to be a hoax and yet again, valuable team funds were wasted.
Weather conditions: Rain and gale force winds.

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.

Girl (14), of Leeds, was reported missing after she had wandered off in the Castle Howe area. The girl's parents had gone to another peak not far away but when they came back, she had gone. The team searched Grasmere and then towards the Castle Howe area. The girl was found on the Ambleside-Langdale road at 4.45 p.m. and the team was recalled at 5.00 p.m.
Footnote: This girl was a reluctant walker although her parents were keen
walkers.
Weather conditions: Clear sunshine, but rather cold.

A search of Wanstell was started after reports of red flares being seen near the summit. This search was called off after two hours after it was learned that three distress flares had been set off by some speed boat enthusiasts in a local hotel car park.

Boy (16) of Coventry, suffered exhaustion and mild exposure during a Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme expedition at Castle Howe, Blea Crag, Langdale. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and he was treated by the team doctor before being allowed home.
Footnote: These four had no previous fell experience. The weather was rainy, and although their footwear was good, there was no sign of water-proofs. Their equipment was far too heavy, and most of their food was in medium or large tins. They gave the impression that they did not think much to "this fell walking lark".

Male (58), of Blackpool, collapsed at Stickle Tarn, Langdale while walking with friends. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This man was very well equipped and experienced.
Weather conditions: Dry and very warm.

Male (21), of Langdale, sustained exposure and shock while "air bed racing" on the flooded Langdale Beck at Chapel Stile. He clung to a rock island in the middle of the beck after being swept over a raging weir. The team rescued him from the river and he was treated by the team doctor for exposure.

Female (44), of Worcester Park, Surrey, slipped on wet grass whilst walk¬ing on a footpath at High Grove, Kirkstone, Ambleside, and she received a broken ankle and leg injuries. The team conveyed her down the fell on a stretcher and then she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: The woman had wandered down the fell path in ordinary clothing and smooth soled shoes. She claimed to be an experienced fell walker, and yet she had left her suitable clothing and footwear in her parked car. Weather conditions: Dull, with low mist and ground conditions were very wet.

Female (41), of Chadwell Heath sustained head and neck injuries whilst walking at the foot of Raven Crag, Langdale, She was struck on the head by a rock dislodged by her son. The team carried her down the fell on a stretcher and she was taken to the County Hospital. Kendal. Footnote: This woman had proper equipment and footwear, but failed to realise that you cannot be too careful when people are walking above you. Weather conditions: Dull, intermittent rain, the rocks and ground were very wet.

Female (30) of Coniston, was struck by a large stone whilst on Rescue No. 20, and she received leg injuries. The team carried her down on a stretcher and she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: The stone was dislodged by a party further up the scree who were unconnected with the rescue team and previous accident victim. This woman is a very experienced mountaineer and was assisting with Rescue No. 20 when the accident happened.

Student (18) of Nottingham, fell while "scree running" in Pike O'Stickle, Langdale and he received serious head and shoulder injuries. The team carried him down the scree on a stretcher and then he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This man had fairly good footwear but he was descending the screes in short pants without sufficient leg protection against the stones. He had no previous experience on screes. Weather conditions: dry, clear skies but dull.

Female (33) of Newcastle-under-Lyme slipped and fell about twenty feet on Stone Arthur, Grasmere and she suffered a broken ankle. The team carried her down the fell on a stretcher and she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This woman was very well equipped but the ground conditions were very wet.
Weather conditions: Rain and low mist.

Boy (16), from London, slipped and fell about 20 feet on wet rocks at Elterwater Common, Langdale. He sustained head injuries. Team members assisted him off the fell and he was treated by the team doctor in Ambleside.
Footnote: His boots were of the smooth soled type.
Weather conditions: Bad, with rain, mist and very wet ground underfoot.

Female (42), from London, slipped and fell sixty feet on Pike Howe, Langdale. She received serious head, neck and back injuries. The team carried her down the fell on a stretcher and she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This woman had good clothing but her footwear left much to be desired—short Wellingtons with smooth soles. The cause of the accident is something of a mystery: she either slipped or over balanced. Weather conditions: very warm, dry and sunny.

Boy (14 years) from Plymouth, slipped on rocks while walking on Crinkle Crags, Langdale, and he sustained ankle and leg injuries. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and then he went to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This was a well led party and the boy had good equipment and footwear.
Weather conditions: Dry, warm and sunny.

Three boys (all aged 17), from Welwyn Garden City and Blackpool, suffered exposure at the head of Mickieden, Langdale. All three were assisted down the fell and then to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel where they were treated by the team doctor.
Footnote: These boys were on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition, but with the equipment they had, both group and personal, they should never have started out—it was a very bad turn out altogether.
Weather conditions: Very bad, with rain and mist, and ground conditions were very wet. It was very cold for the time of year.

Male (71), of Sheffield, slipped on wet rocks and sustained head and spinal injuries on Todd Crag, Loughrigg. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher by the team and taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This man was very well equipped and experienced but the weather condtions were very bad with rain, mist and ground conditions were very wet and slippery.

Female (67) from Worcester, slipped on a dry fell side at Greenhead Ghyll, Grasmere and sustained a broken leg. The team carried her down the fell on a stretcher and she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This elderly woman was wearing ordinary shoes with smooth soles and her clothing was only fair for fell walking. Weather conditions: Dry, clear and warm.

Child (7) from Macolesfield, wandered off from his parents at Harry Place Farm, Langdale, with his dalmation dog, Roc. After a search he was found by the team in a dazed and shocked condition at Penny Rock, Grasmere. A team doctor treated him for shock at Ambleside .

Male (59) of Birmingham, collapsed and died at Stickle Tarn, Langdale. The team carried his body down the fell. Footnote: This man had been fell walkng for years and his equipment was first class. Death was not due to any accident but to natural causes.

Male (24), a serving soldier from Exeter fell 80 feet while rock climbing on Gimmer Crag, Langdale. The team carried the climber, who had serious multiple injuries, to an R.A.F. helicopter which had been diverted from a training flight and landed on a nearby peak.

Male (37) of Stevenage, collapsed from heat exhaustion in Rossett Ghyll, Langdale. The team carried him down the fell on a stretcher and he was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This man was properly equipped for the fells.
Weather conditions: Very warm with brilliant sunshine.

Male (27), of Derby, received head, arm and back injuries when he fell on Pike O' Stickle Screes. The team met him at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel after he had walked down unaided. The team's ambulance took him to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: His footwear for scree walking was most unsuitable (light canvas smooth soled shoes). He had no fell walking equipment or experience.

Female (53) slipped and fell off a footpath in Mill Ghyll, Langdale, and she sustained a broken ankle. The team carried her down the fell on a stretcher, and she was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This woman was dressed in ordinary town clothes and shoes, and she had no experience of the fells. Weather conditions: Good.

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.

Male (40), of London, collapsed and died while walking with his son on the Crinkle Crags, Langdale. The team carried his body down the fell.
Footnote: Death was not due to any accident but to natural causes.

Girl (15), from Lancaster, slipped and fell while descending a scree below Thorn Crag, Langdale. She sustained an injury to her right leg, and the team carried her down the fell on a stretcher and she went by ambulance to Westmorland Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: Although this was an organised school party in this parlcular girl's case her personal equipment, especially her footwear (smooth soled) was only fair.
Weather conditions: Ideal, warm sunshine and dry ground conditions.

Male (20), of Blackpool slipped and fell on wet rocks at Blake Rigg, Langdale and dislocated his shoulder. The team conveyed him down the fell on a stretcher and he was taken by ambulance to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: Ground conditions were fairly wet and his footwear was of the smooth soled variety. Neither did he have equipment or proper clothing for fell walking.

Male (18 years) of Walthamstow, London, slipped and fell 40 feet into a gulley on Todd Crag, Loughrigg. He sustained serious multiple injuries and was taken down the fell on a stretcher by the team, and then to the County Hospital, Kendal.
Footnote: This youth was larking about with three friends when he slipped. He had no previous experience of the fells and no proper clothing (tee shirt and jeans) or footwear (smooth soled shoes). None of his so called friends accompanied him to hospital.

Female (50 years) of Liverpool slipped and fell on wet grass near the summit of Wansfell. She sustained a fractured ankle and was treated by a team doctor after the team had carried her down the fell on a stretcher.
Footnote. This woman was properly equipped and in an organised party. Weather conditons: Dull, drizzle, wet ground.