Incident Reports 1978

A 22 year old man from Liverpool collapsed with exposure/exhaustion while on a college expedition. His friends had escorted him most of the way down before the Team arrived. He then collapsed again at Stool End Farm, Langdale. The Team used the REVIVA on this man and carried him by Team transport to Ambleside, then by Ambulance to a Kendal hospital.
Weather conditions: COLD, CLEAR, SNOW AND ICE ON THE TOPS, SNOW AND ICE UNDERFOOT.

A 21 year old man from Durham slipped and fell 80 ft while descending from after rock climb. He sustained two fractured femurs, head and spinal injuries. The Team carried him on stretcher then by ambulance to a Lancaster hospital.
Footnote: Most climbing accidents seem to happen when climbers are descending after completion of a route.
Weather conditions: COLD, RAINING, DULL, VERY WET ROCK

Nine students from Leeds were reported missing by friends when they failed to report at Langdale. The Team and SARDA made a search of the fells - at 12 midnight the students were found by the Team at Angle Tarn suffering from exposure. The Team escorted all nine to safety. They were seen by a Doctor and then taken to Windermere for baths and bed.
Footnote: This party had little equipment and with the weather as it had been all day - appalling - they should never have started out - once again bad judgement.
Weather conditions: HEAVY RAIN, LOW MIST, COLD, VERY WET UNDERFOOT

Four teenage schoolgirls and one female school teacher from Radcliffe, Manchester were reported lost by other members of the school party. The team searched from the Grasmere and Langdale sides of Stickle Tarn. The Team found this group at 8.30pm near Tarn Crag, Langdale they were escorted from the fellside.

A 71 year old female from High Wycombe slipped on the wet fellside and broke her left leg. She was carried on a stretcher, then by Team's Land Rover / ambulance to a Doctor in Ambleside. Footnote:This lady had smooth sol shoes which could have contributed to her fall. Weather conditions: DRY, CLEAR, WARM, WET UNDERFOOT

Four teenage ATC cadets from Chester le Street, Co. Durham required assistance when they became completely lost , and one was reported to be in a collapsed condition. A search was mounted by three MR teams and SARDA and they were found at 1.30am next morning. Three were escorted down - one had to be carried ona a stretcher. All were seen by the Team Doctor and allowed togo home after treatment.
Footnote: The first grid reference for the location of casualties was about 2 miles out.
Weather conditions: CLEAR, DARK, DRY, WARM, WET UNDERFOOT.

A 54 year old woman from Woodleigh, Berks. slipped off a path and broke her ankle. The team carried her on a stretcher down the fell and then by private transport to a Kendal hospital
Weather conditions: FINE, DRY, CLEAR, WET IN PLACES

Two 18 year old youths from Kingston uopn Thames and Enfield collapsed with exposure/exhaustion at Martcrag Moor. One youth had to be carried on a stretcher, the other had to be assisted off the fell. Both recieved treatment in Langdale, neither went to hospital
Footnote: This group decided to walk at high level when the weather was appalling. - their judgement was wrong- their word not ours - but we agree
Weather condition: SEVERE GALES, RAIN, MIST DOWN TO 500ft., VERY WET UNDERFOOT

A 62 year old man from Leeds slipped and fell 30ft. down a fellside. He sustained a suspected broken neck, with severe head and spinal injuries. After the team had given first aid treatment a helicopter form RAF Boulmer flew him to hospital at Whitehaven
Weather conditions: RAIN AT TIMES, MIST, DULL WET UNDERFOOT

A 68 year old man from Bowness
on Windermere collapsed and DIED while walking with his wife on Red Screes, Kirkstone. The team recovered the body.

Footnote: This is the sad part of our "job". - a family walk out for a walk doing everything right and well equipped.

A 43 year old man from South Shields slipped off a boulder hidden in bracken. He sustained a broken ankle. The team carried him on a stretcher and then by ambulance to Kednla hospital.
Weather conditions: DRY, CLEAR, WARM, DRY UNDERFOOT

A 47 year old man from Cheam slipped on the wet fellside, and sustained an inured femur. He was carried on a stretcher by the team and then to hospital by ambulance
Weather conditions: DRY, CLEAR, WARM, WET UNDERFOOT