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A man went for a walk from a holiday cottage that he couldn't quite remember the name of. It went dark. He got lost. He phoned for help. When he said he could see a house with lights on, he was advised to knock on the door and ask for directions.
A woman slipped while descending and sustained a lower leg injury. Her leg was splinted and she was evacuated to the valley floor. We were assisted by RAF Leuchars MRT who were in the area for the holiday period.
While rescue 101 was taking place we were made aware of a casualty with a lower leg injury on the way from Easedale Tarn. Due to being committed to the previous rescue we were assisted by Kendal MRT.
A man phoned for help after becoming cragfast near the Great Slab on Bowfell after descending on to heavily frozen ground. He was recovered and assisted from the hill. His predicament was complicated by becoming separated form his companion, and then throwing his rucsac down an ice-up rock pitch which he was then unable to descend himself, leaving him without spare clothing etc.
Flares were reported from the summit of Orrest Head. At the request of the police, we went to investigate them. Nothing was found.
A lone woman became lost after taking the wrong direction of Fairfield summit. She had actually headed south east instead of north, and became concerned as ground steepened in the Hart Crag area. She phoned for help, and taking into account a medical condition, it was decided to search of her. We were assisted by Patterdale MRT, who located just below Hart Crag summit. She was escorted back to her accommodation in Patterdale.
Two men were reported overdue. They phoned from Brotherikeld to say that they were safe and getting back to Langdale by taxi, as initial enquiries were being made.
A couple phoned for help after getting lost in the Low Pike area. Attempts to talk them down initially failed, and we sent a small group out to try and locate them. While this was happening they managed to find their way down to a road from where they managed to work out where they where. We went home and they caught the bus back to their accommodation.
Assistance given to ambulance service in accessing a property up a steep, icy road.
Two occupants of a car who had been trapped by snow and ice overnight were recovered to Ambleside. Sat-nav said yes, but weather and road conditions failed to communicate their disagreement to aforementioned electronic device.
We were requested to assist the ambulance service accessing a man who was suffering from a heart complaint.
A female mountain biker sustained an ankle fracture when she parted company with bike. There's no accounting for her friends! <a href="http://www.bogtrotters.org/show_album.php?album_id=934">More pictures</a>
Two of our vehicles went to Troutbeck Park Farm to assist in retrieving members of Penrith MRT who had descended that way during a search for a woman missing in the High Street area.
Heavy overnight snow made roads difficult, especially accessing the more remote communities. We retrieved a man from his house who had a medical condition, and transferred him to an ambulance in Ambleside, then followed the ambulance to see it past a well known trouble spot on the main road.
Icy back roads and tracks made it difficult for the local ambulance to access a remote house. We assisted them in getting to their patient, who after assessment, decided she didn't need to go to hospital.
A 38-year-old man was reported overdue from a walk in the Bowfell area. An initial search of car parks failed to find his car, so it was uncertain which hill, if any, he was on. We decided to take no further action at this point, and wait for further information.
One cold and hungry sheep recovered from the crag above the top quarry face.
A 22-year-old woman suffered a fractured femur when she fell about 5 metres from Lower Scout Crag, hitting the ground. She treated and splinted by team members, then airlifted to Furness General Hospital.
A family of 4 became stuck when it went dark. We worked out where they where, and found them close to Ambleside.
A woman slipped and injured her ankle while coming down from Sweden Bridge. She was recovered in our 4WD Landrover and driven back down the hill.
A 9-year-old boy was reported separated from his mum while out walking. He was quickly located by police before we had committed to the hill.
A couple became cragfast after losing the path from Harrison Stickle. Attempts to talk them down failed, so eventually they were located and escorted off.
A woman slipped and sustained a suspected fractured lower leg. She was treated by team members and evacuated to hospital.
We were requested by Police to check a vehicle for occupants, that had been stuck in a flood. They were OK and were going to have to sit out and wait for a recovery vehicle when water had subsided. By this time the journey to Langdale involved going to Grasmere first, being the only route where the road was still passable.
A group of 4 became split up when one managed to cross a stream that the others weren't able to. They had only gone for a 'short walk' because of the weather! They had no torches, so had to stop moving once it went dark. They were eventually located at 03.15 by Kendal MRT members who had come to assist after we had been out in atrocious conditions for 4 hours. The evacuation was made difficult by the speed and volume of water flowing.
A family, with a 5-year-old child were reported as trapped on the wrong side of a stream up Rossett Ghyll. The team was dispatched to recover them, but were informed that they had got down safely while we were en-route. Getting through to the end of the Langdale valley was very difficult, with significant flooding and abandoned vehicles.
A woman slipped and sustained a wrist injury. She was unable to continue due to the pain. The team was called and she was treated and stretchered to the valley floor.
Inevitably, while all this was going on a man was reported overdue from Crinkle Crags by his wife. He was quickly located on the road from Blea Tarn, while his wife was checking the other pubs in the valley, there being some confusion over the exact number of pubs with 'Dungeon Ghyll' in their name.
While the previous rescue was ongoing we were requested to assist the ambulance service with a casualty on Orrest Head. She was assisted down to the road and then returned to her accommodation, having refused to go to hospital with paramedics.
A man sustained a head injury in a fall on Jacks Rake. He was treated by team members, assisted by two team members from Bowland Pennine MRT and then assisted to the top of the Rake and then stretchered down to Stickle Tarn, from where he was airlifted to hospital by the RAF. We were also assisted by Kendal MRT with the stretcher carry
An unusually early start saw us heading up Orrest Head to assist a man with a suspected fractured humerus. He was treated and stretchered off to a waiting ambulance. We hope he made it to the wedding he was due to attend that afternoon. Maybe if he'd been able to be treated in Kendal, it may have been possible, but since he was going to have to go to Lancaster it seemed unlikely.
A group of 13 were reported overdue from their walk in the Langdale valley. Enquiries were made and a search planned, but we decided to wait, mainly due to the fact that we were already committed to the previous rescue. The party turned up very wet and late before we had finishes rescue 77, so no further action was required.
A group of 4 reported themselves as unable to find a way off from the Sergeant Man area after having turned back from their route when they encountered a river they could not cross due to high water levels. Unfortunately they returned via a different route, and encountered another river they couldn't cross! Their lack of preparation contributed to their problem. They seemed unaware of the problems that the very heavy rain could cause, had no compass, and as darkness fell it became obvious they had no torches.
Two young local lads reported flashing lights on Loughrigg. They took a couple of team members to where they could see the lights from. It was decided that the lights were from somebody on the summit, but most likely not in difficulty and were left on peace. False alarm with good intent.
A woman was found unconscious and seriously injured, seemingly having slipped off the path and fallen down towards the river. She was attended by paramedics and air ambulance crew, but our help was required to extract the woman from the bank and across the river to the air ambulance.
A Canadian couple phoned for help after becoming lost in fields near Ambleside. They were able to tell us they were in a field with some horses. There seemed to be little chance of them finding their way down, so we went and got them. They were located quickly by search dog Beinn, who as a result of the speed of his find, has 11 1/2 hours of a 12 hour glow stick left on his rescue jacket. We were also aided by the local knowledge of our Chair, who has an alarming knowledge of which colour of horse lives in which field.
A man sustained an ankle injury when he slipped. He was treated by team members and stretchered to the valley
A man was reported as missing and potentially suicidal. His car had been located by Police near Rydal. A prolonged search ensued, and he was located at 1.45am unharmed. We were assisted by 6 dogs from SARDA, and it was one of the handlers who located the man.
A man sustained a leg injury when he slipped. His leg was splinted and he was stretchered off the fell. We were assisted by members of Ogwen Valley MRT who seemed to have taken a wrong turn near Chester and were spending the weekend in the valley.
A 63-year-old man suffered breathing difficulties on Loughrigg. The team attended, treated the man and evacuated him to an ambulance.
A 15-year-old boy became separate from his parents at Ferry Nab. He was supposed to be running along the Claife Heights ridge and meeting them further along. When he hadn't appeared several hours later they reported him missing. A search was being organised when he turned up at their accommodation, having been found walking along the road by a motorist and given a lift back. He was cold and wet, but unharmed.
A man fell and sustained rib and chest injuries. He was treated by team members and escorted down to the valley to make his own way to hospital if necessary.
A girl of eleven sustained knee injury when scrambling with an organised group. Initially it was uncertain how serious the injury was, but when we arrived it was clear that she was being escorted out by instructors, and was suffering from a bruised knee.
Four children were allowed to become separated from their parents at the summit of Pike O'Blisco. The parents returned to the car and the children weren't there as expected. We were called to find them and they were located by police at the roadside 1km from were they should be. We then had to find the father, who had gone back up to find try and find them. He was located and we all went home.
A participant in a 24 peak charity challenge left his companions behind on the hill and came down to Langdale. He then went back looking for them and panicked when he couldn't find them. Instead of reporting to the organiser, who seemed to have things under control, he dialled 999. A quick check with the organiser revealed that all people were accounted for, although some were being assisted down from Esk Hause by event marshalls. We went home. Have you noticed how many plans work, until you put humans in, who just bugger them up?
Two dogs were reported as barking for a prolonged period near Deer Bield crag. We investigated, found two hounds, but no sign of anyone in trouble. We were unable to persuade the dogs to come down, so left them to make their own way down when they were hungry
A man slipped crossing a stream and suffered injuries to his pelvic and hip area. He was treated by team members and evacuated by stretcher.
Two groups, one of 4 and one of 5 and part of the same organisation, set off separately from Wasdale to walk to Langdale. One of the groups contacted friends at about 6.30pm from Scafell summit. Both groups were reported overdue at 11.30pm. A search was organised involving ourselves, Wasdale MRT, and a number of search dogs. They were located at 5am, having come together and walked out to Brotherilkeld. Another Three Peaks walk bites the dust(or mud, given the weather).
A young woman fell about 5 metres when the muddy ledge she was standing on gave way. She landing with minor injuries on a small terrace. She was unable to get back up, and was perched over a drop of over 100 metres. She was recovered back up to Jacks Rake and assisted down to the valley. It would be fair to say she was very lucky. Rumours that she landed on a 4-leaf clover are yet to be confirmed.
A group descending came across a 68-year-old man who had sustained a leg injury during a fall. They called or help and we treated the man and evacuated him from the fell.
We were requested to assist Cumbria Ambulance Service to evacuate a casualty with a leg injury from Orrest Head.
A man was reported as suffering a head injury near the tarn. We set off up the hill, but the man out-flanked us and made his own way to the car park. We went home.
Requested to assist the ambulance service with finding and accessing a remote Ambleside address to attend a man who had been taken ill.
Reports of shouts for help were heard in the Far Easedale area. An investigation found only a shepherd gathering sheep. False alarm with good intent.
While also involved in the previous search, we were alerted to a family separated at Three Tarns. Two were unaccounted for. Resources were diverted from the previous search, but the missing people turned up at Cockley Beck before becoming too much of a distraction.
Search for a family lost in mist on Crinkle Crags. Located about 9.30 near Rest Ghyll and returned to the valley. Assisted by SARDA
We were requested to assist the ambulance service in reaching a man who was suffering chest pains while walking. He was evacuated to hospital by ambulance, but sadly, later died.
A climber fell from the descent route sustaining serious multiple injuries. He was treated by team members and evacuated to hospital by RAF Boulmer helicopter. Sadly he died the following morning in Intensive Care at West Cumberland Infirmary.
We were requested by Keswick MRT to assist them with a casualty with a serious head injury at Esk Hause. A helicopter had been requested, but there was some doubt as to its availability. Team members were just about to set off from the end of Mickleden when we were notified that helicopter from RN Gannet had picked up the injured person and taken them to hospital.
A man fell from Jack's Rakes while scrambling with friends. He sustained very serious, multiple injuries. A helicopter was requested to assist, and the team attended, but sadly the man died. His body was recovered from the base of the crag and flown to the valley floor. His companions were escorted from the fell by team members.
A 15 year old girl sustained a knee injury while walking as part of a group. She was treated and evacuated to an ambulance.
A man, walking Coast to Coast, became unable to continue after aggravating an old knee injury and becoming exhausted. He was treated for pain and evacuated from the fell.
A male and female went a little off-route and the woman slipped, falling about 5 metres, suffering a kneecap dislocation and lower spinal injuries. She was stabilised at the site, given pain relief and then airlifted to Carlisle by RAF Boulmer.
A woman sustained a hip or pelvic injury when she slipped on the path near Gibson Knott. They attempted to walk off, but the lady was in too much pain. The team was called out, and the lady was stretchered down to the valley for onward transport to hospital.
A group of 5 became stuck in what they describes as a 'white-out'. After speaking to them their priorities seemed to lie with maintaining a good mobile phone signal, rather than getting off the hill. They were persuaded otherwise, and after following directions, located Three Tarns and found their way down to Langdale.
A group of 6 managed to find their way onto Bowfell, while trying to navigate from Scafell Pike, back to Seathwaite, Borrowdale. With the aid a car sat-nav which gave a position in latitude/longitude, which we converted to OSGB and establish where they where, they were guided by phone to the top of The Band, from where they found their way down to Langdale.
A group of forty-five became seperated in bad weather. The problem was compounded by poor mobile phone contact with the informant. Team members went to meet the informant in Langdale, and located the 'missing' people in the pub
A woman tripped sustained a suspected broken nose and a lower leg injury. Team members were airlifted up by Great North Air Ambulance, the woman was treated and carried uphill to the waiting helicopter. She was evacuated Royal Lancaster Infirmary. inapropriate footwear may have been a factor.
A 16-year-old male sustained a lower leg injury. He was treated and stretchered down to the valley.
A woman slipped and sustained an ankle injury near the outflow of Stickle Tarn. We attended, splinted her ankle and she was airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital by air ambulance.
A woman was reported as having a suspected lower leg fracture on the descent from Red Tarn to Oxendale. She was treated by team members and evacuated to Ambleside for transport to hospital.
As we stretchered casualty 37 to Three Tarns we encountered three men on their slow and painful way down from Scafell Pike. One of them was suffered severe pain in his knee and was struggling. Already a little busy, we left a couple of Kendal team members with him. They strapped the knee, administered pain relief and started the very slow walk down. Once we'd got the previous casualty safely to the valley, another stretcher was organised and team members started the long, sweaty haul back up.
A woman sustained a suspected fractured ankle near the top of Gunson Knott. It was a long, hot haul up to assist her. Kendal MRT were called to help because of the lengthy evacuation. As is often the case things became complicated when incident 38 occurred before we'd finished.
A man sustained serious shoulder injuries when he fell from his mountain bike. We were called to assist the ambulance service with his evacuation to Great North Air Ambulance for transport to West Cumberland Hospital.
A couple phoned for help after becoming lost on Fairfield. Attempts to talk them down appeared to have failed, but we were fairly certain they were heading down to Patterdale. Patterdale MRT were requested to assist, as were SARDA. They were located just above Hartsop above How. They had a torch and compass, but were struggling to navigate with any certainty.
A solo male mountain biker was reported overdue after setting off late in the afternoon. Working with Keswick MRT, a search was organised including the bridleways across the central fells, and Greenup Edge, Grasmere. He turned up at his accommodation in Grasmere at about 4am, having had something of an epic day, including a couple of minor falls and a navigational error that meant he returned via Keswick.
A solo female walker suffered a suspected dislocated ankle near Easedale Tarn. The team was mobilised and two team members were picked up and taken to the scene by air ambulance. The woman was treated and loaded in to the helicopter for onward transport to hospital.
A woman collapsed fainting and vomiting. The team attended, treated her and evacuated her back to Ambleside.
A request from a a member of another team to assist while waiting for an ambulance to arrive to aid a man who had fallen a short distance from the road and suffered a suspected arm fracture and shoulder dislocation.
Gimmer again! This time for a 62-year-old male who fell while climbing on Gimmer Crag. He fell about 10 metres, breaking his ankle ankle in the process. He was treated and lowered off the crag and then evacuated to the valley floor for onward transport to hospital. It was a fine day for climbing...there's never a good day for falling!
We were requested to assist a woman who had sustained a knee injury near Gibson Knott. A few remaining team members were dispatched to start this rescue, with backup provided by Kendal MRT..<br /><br />...Having completed this rescue, it became obvious that the earlier one was not going to be easy. Having gained access to the ledge, it was proving very difficult to extract the woman without inflicting masses of pain. Kendal MRT had joined us to assist and the specialist expertise on rock removal was requested from Clapham based Cave Rescue Organisation.
We were contacted to assist a female climber with her leg jammed in a crack on A Route on Gimmer. She wasn't injured, but was well and truly stuck. The team was mobilised and all seemed straight forward until....
A group of five youths set off late to climb Scafell from Langdale. They were warned by people in the valley about their late start, but chose to ignore the advise. They phoned for help around 5am, having become lost, cold and very distressed. It was a combined effort by Wasdale MRT, Kendal MRT, ourselves and a helicopter from RAF Valley. They were located by Wasdale team members near Cowcove Beck, 3km south of Scafell and airlifted to Furness General Hospital for treatment for hypothermia.
A man phone to say he was cragfast. Speaking to him suggested that he might be on Heron Pike. We were able to determine that he was probably on a north facing slope. After a prolonged search involving 4 mountain rescue teams and 2 SARDA dogs, he was located on very steep ground below Hart Crag. He was very cold and very stuck. He was evacuated up to better ground and then escorted off. The weather was very poor, being very wet and windy. Many other parties were encountered abandoning their routes, some of whom were heading in the wrong direction.
Sometimes you take people's word for things and other times you have reason to distrust them. A man reported his friend as having sustained a suspected fractured ankle near the summit of Fairfield. In fact just a few hundred metres south of the summit. Maybe it was that the man didn't have a map, or maybe it was the description of a location near a wall, but something made us doubtful that he knew what he was talking about. We located them just below the summit of High Pike and the injured man was treated by team members.
A woman was reported as suffering suspected appendicitis, complicated by being pregnant. They were camped at Codale tarn, as part of a large group. The team was mobilised and set off. A helicopter was requested and overtook us as the first team members approached the Tarn. The woman was airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
A man was reported as collapsed from hypothermia at Three Tarns. He was in a sleeping bag and bivvi bag. The team was dispatched and a helicopter was requested. We were overtaken by the helicopter while on The Band and the casualty was airlifted off.
A woman phoned for help after becoming lost on Crinkle Crags in mist. She was given directions to try and find Three Tarns. Three hours later she had made little or no progress to anywhere useful, and was becoming cold and distressed, so we gave up and sent the team to look for her. She was located at 7pm just north of Long Top and escorted back to civilisation.
A party climbing Jack's Rake came across an abandoned rucsac, with a hot flask and no identification with it. Concerned that someone may have fallen, they informed the Police. We searched around the area, but found nothing. In addition, some people camping at the tarn and who had been there since mid-afternoon, were questioned and reported seeing nothing. The bag is now in the care of the Police, awaiting its owner to claim it.
A party of three men were halted when one of them was unable to continue because of a reoccurrence of an old leg injury. We located them and stretchered the injured one down to the valley. It was a fine spring day!!
The team was requested to assist Kendal MRT with a casualty on Ill Bell with serious chest injuries. The man was airlifted off by RAF helicopter.
We were requested by the North West Ambulance Service to assist on Rydal lake shore. We were stood down en-route after the casualty was able to walk to the ambulance.
A man was reported several hours overdue from a walk. His car was traced to Kirkstone Pass car park by Police, and a search was organised. The trailing dog was able to point us to the Red Screes side of the road. Sadly, after a search of the area, a man's body was located, high on the fellside, around 11pm. He was recovered to Ambleside.
A man in his 70's collapsed feeling faint and nauseous on the path up to Helm Crag. An air ambulance was called and the team attended. After checking over he was persuaded to walk down with us and go to hospital with us.
Lights were reported, stationary for about 2 hours, high on Bowfell. We went to investigate, and found that after observation, the lights reached the summit and started to make their way down The Band. We left at that point, satisfied that the owners of the lights would be able to look after themselves from this point.
A man slipped on wet ground and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. He was treated by team members, and evacuated with help from Kendal MRT
A young male collapsed while walking with a group. It was difficult to work out exactly what was wrong with him, so he was evacuated by air ambulance to Carlisle after initial treatment by team members.
We were called to assist the ambulance service when snow made local roads conditions difficult. A 2-year-old boy was transferred to Furness General Hospital with breathing problems.
A couple became cragfast on their first walk in the Lake District. They were guided back to the path and escorted down.
A man reported finding a slightly injured dog near Angle Tarn. Concerned that its owner was lying injured somewhere, he phoned the Police. After a discussion, it was decided that it was probably a lost working dog, and if left alone would find its own way home. It seemed unlikely that anyone was injured.
A couple phoned for help when they got lost on Crinkle Crags, after backtracking when they couldn't descend the Bad Step. They were guided to Three Tarns and found their own way off from there.
While we were attending to the previous incident, a group of mountain bikers arrived requesting help with their companion who had sustained a nasty head injury in a fall. The first aid that had been carried out was adequate, so arrangements were made for a visit to hospital for some stitches.
Shouts and a dog barking were reported from the ridge above the valley. An investigation revealed hounds and associated activity. A false alarm with good intent.
A woman sustained a suspected ankle fracture when she slipped on wet ground. She was treated by the team and taken to hospital by her husband on their own car.
A man phoned for help after apparently suffering a leg injury near Ore Gap. He was in mist, and not entirely sure of his position. The team was mobilised, and due to the extreme weather that was forecast, we requested assistance from a RAF helicopter. The helicopter managed to get to the man through a break in the mist and lift him off, saving us from having to go all the way up. Despite his leg injury, he managed to walk to the helicopter, and out at the other end, so it would seem that the mist and uncertain location was closer to the real problem.
Two poorly equipped men became stuck somewhere on Crinkle Crags and phoned for help. They only had lightweight fleeces and waterproofs and the weather was as poor as predicted, with very strong winds and heavy rain. They had been heading north to Three Tarns, but having got in to difficulty around the Bad Step, decided to retrace their route to Red Tarn. They then became lost. They were located on Little Stand, some distance from their last known position and very cold and wet. Their evacuation was complicated by their cold and fatigue and a couple of swollen river crossings.
A woman slipped and sustained a serious ankle fracture while descending Orrest Head. An ambulance was initially called, and an air ambulance was tasked and we were requested to attend to help with treatment and to move the casualty from the accident site to the air ambulance.
A woman from Warrington, part of a large rambling club, slipped on a wet path while descending from Bracken Hause and sustained a suspected fractured ankle. She was treated and stretchered to the valley floor, then transferred on to hospital.
A tale of two men, two mountains and two days. Sometimes you go up one mountain and by some quirk of fate, accidentally climb another. Two men went up Crinkle Crags on Friday, became disorientated and reported themselves lost, cold and unable to find a way down. An initial search of Crinkle Crags was organised, followed by a more extensive search of Bowfell as well, after we failed to locate them. With four SARDA dogs and Wasdale MRT helping out, they were eventually located at the north end of Bowfell.
Snow and freezing conditions combined to render Kirkstone Pass impassable. This didn't stop the drivers of several vehicles trying to cross it, despite the 'Road Closed' signs. This resulted in a number of minor accidents and a number of people stranded when they could make no further progress. Vehicle trapped included a 4-wheel drive. Those who chose were recovered to Ambleside to await a thaw.
A man reported his two companions as suffering from hypothermia on the summit of Crinkle Crags. A search was organised, because he was uncertain exactly where they were, which is no surprise, since they were eventually located on Bowfell. The two casualties were cajoled on to their feet and all were escorted down The Band. We were assisted by Kendal MRT. A combination of poor judgement, poor equipment, and poor navigation combined to cause this incident.
Two men were reported overdue back at their hotel in Keswick by their wives, having set off from Langdale to complete a trip over Crinkle Crags. They failed to return. Their car was located in Langdale and a subsequent search, assisted by Wasdale MRT and SARDA located the men near Heron Crag, Eskdale. They were found by members of Wasdale MRT finding their way by the light of their mobile phone and making very slow progress. They were returned to their car for the journey back to their hotel. Team members were able to return to their beds around 1am.
A woman was reported as injured and in need of help. She had been up on the hill for a while, and had been found by the Police who requested our help because she had a back injury and was very cold. She was evacuated to the road and transferred to an ambulance.
A 17-year old male sustained a serious pelvic injury when he fell off his mountain bike. He was evacuated from the fell and transferred to an ambulance.
