Incident Reports (Advance)

In what must rate as one of the most ridiculous situations we have found ourselves on for quite some time, we found ourselves hunting down various members of a group who were incapable of organising themselves and taking responsibility for their actions. Initially a group of four were delayed when one of them had a minor fall, subsequently causing darkness to become a problem. One of them reported themselves on 'the path from the tarn to Chapel Stile'.

A party of 10 split at Great Knott, with the faster 5 continuing part of their intended route Crinkle Crags and coming down The Band. The slower group were reported overdue at 18:30, after it became obvious that they hadn't returned to their parked car. The group was of mixed age, youngest 11-years old and the oldest 69-years-old. A search was organised, with assistance from Wasdale MRT, Duddon & Furness MRT and SARDA. During the planning stage, another phone call was received via the police, reporting two people sheltering in a tent in Lingcove Beck.

A party of three males, including a 13-year-old boy became benighted when they ran out of daylight, having earlier made a navigational error that had taken them into Upper Esk area. They were clearly not going to get any further in darkness without torches so we went and got them. We were accompanied by team Search Dogs Kitt and Beinn, with Kitt arriving at our casualties first, thereby claiming her first 'locate'. The group were escorted to the valley floor and reunited with their car.

A woman slipped and sustained a very painful arm fracture. She was administered pain relief and evacuated from the fell.

Shouts for help were reported in the region of Raven Crag. An investigation revealed hounds and followers making their way across the top of the crag. At the time they were initially heard they were out of sight beyond the skyline. False alarm with good intent.

A female was reported with an ankle injury on Blea Rigg near Stickle Tarn. The team attended and the woman was evacuated

A woman was reported overdue when she failed to return home at the expected time. There was concern for her welfare, so a search was organised. SARDA were called as well, and she was located around midnight, by a dog handler, with a minor leg injury. She was returned home.

Assist with search for people missing in Scafell area. Turned up during initial stages. Wasdale, Keswick and Duddon & Furness MRTs also involved.

A couple phoned for help after losing their way on Long Top. They were given directions but were unable to contact us further to confirm if they had found their way down. A check was made for their car, to see if they'd left the valley. We were unable to find it, so came to the vague conclusion that they had made their way off, and for some reason were unable to contact us. We were contacted the following morning to say that they'd camped in the valley, and hadn't received the message until they left.

A male with as suspected dislocated shoulder was reported on Pavey Arc. The air ambulance was en-route and we were requested to attend in case they couldn't access the casualty. As it transpired, they were able to complete the evacuation, so we joined the audience at the Langdale Folk Festival, which was raising money for the Fix the Fells project, and SARDA Lakes.

A young male sustained back and neck injuries when he slipped down a dirt bank in the woods at Orrest Head. It was obscenely early to be out of bed! At least nobody was late for work.

A group of 4 were reported overdue from a scrambling trip. They turned up while initial enquiries were being made.

A female was reported with a leg injury near the summit of Calf Crag. The team set off but while en-route we were informed that she had been recovered by the air ambulance.

Man reported as confused and in unspecified difficulty. Enquiries revealed that incident was in Howgill Fells, and was being dealt with by air ambulance and another MRT.

Man reported 4 hours overdue. We phoned him. He was OK. No further action was taken.

A couple became 'bracken-fast' while trying to descend from Loft Crag, straying into the Gimmer Crag area. They were located by team members and escorted to safety.

Requested to assist ambulance service with the evacuation of an injured female from a difficult location.

A woman suffered a fracture/dislocation of her ankle in a slip. She was treated by team members, then evacuated by air ambulance.

A man descending from a days climbing slipped and sustained a lower leg injury. He was treated by the team and then evacuated down very steep, nasty ground to the valley bottom.

Cumbria Police passed on details of a very truncated request for mountain rescue. Very little additional information was forthcoming. Tracking of the phone call suggested it originated in the Skelwith Bridge area, with a large margin for error. A rapid search of the footpaths and river bank in the area was organised, with nothing found. While this was going on we became aware that Coniston MRT had received a similarly vague call from another mobile number. They were also carrying out a search to try and locate their casualty, who had been reported ashaving a leg injury.

Called direct from the hill by another MRT member who had come across a male with a suspected leg fracture. Team mobilised only to discover that someone else had phoned via the 'normal' means and Keswick MRT had also been mobilised. The injured man lay on the boundary between the two teams, so we left them to it. Subsequently the injured man was recovered by air ambulance.

Requested to assist ambulance in recovery of casualty with arm fracture.

A young man sustained a serious ankle fracture when he slipped on a steep wet slope. He was treated by team members and stretchered to Grisedale Hause, from where he was evacuated to hospital by air ambulance.

Two people phoned for help after becoming lost and unable to find a way off Loughrigg. Uncertain of where they'd started from, and without a map, they didn't really help themselves. Poor mobile phone signal made assisting them a little frustrating, but eventually they found a way off.

A family group of 5 ground to a halt, struggling with one torch, a dodgy knee, fatigue and cold, after a navigational error caused them a significant delay, on an already long day. They phoned for help, were located by team member, and assisted from the fell. All in bed by 4am.

A 54-year-old male slipped and sustained a lower leg injury. He was treated by team members then evacuated to an ambulance waiting at the roadside.

Male, overdue. Located walking on road to Ambleside after navigation error.

Male, overdue phoning in with his wife. Located in campsite without phone signal.

A female sustained an arm injury. She was treated by paramedics and the evacuated by the team.

Male, lost, a little clueless. Talked back to the road.

A young couple became benighted and slightly lost. The female quickly became cold, and unable to continue. After a bit of guess work and a long walk, they were located near the summit of High Raise, and assisted down to Grasmere.

A solo male phoned for help after becoming cragfast, after a passing shower rendered the rock he was climbing very slippery. The team were en-route when we were informed that he had been assisted off the crag by two passing scramblers. \"Unsuitable\"" footwear (his words) will have played a significant part in this incident. "

A 25-year-old female sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on steep loose ground. Her injury was splinted and she was evacuated by stretcher to the valley floor.

A 39-year-old woman collapsed with severe abdominal pain. A teenage family member ran down a steep dirt bank to help her and slipped, sustaining back, neck and knee injuries. Both were treated and stretchered to waiting ambulances.

A 14-year-old female on an activity holiday suffered a serious and prolonged asthma attack. She was treated initially by her instructors, then by the team, before being evacuated to hospital by helicopter from RAF Valley. Did we get wet...of course we did!

While we were dealing with incident 72 this happened. Another woman sustained a lower leg injury at Angle Tarn. This incident was dealt with initially by team members diverted from incident 72, backed up by team members from Kendal MRT. A long, hot, sweaty day was had by all, ended with a healthy crop of midge bites. All in a days work.

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped at the top of Dungeon Ghyll. While our initial response was under way we were made aware of incident 73. Our resources were split and we continued with this rescue, splinting the injury and stretchering her down, assisted by Kendal MRT.

A couple with two dehydrated dogs phoned for help when they became 'bracken-fast' on Loughrigg. They were given directions back up the hill to find a path, and it was suggested they got the dogs a drink when they crossed a stream.

Four young women had spent the night in a tent up near Sprinkling Tarn. When trying to find their way down in the morning they became lost. In conjunction with Keswick and Wasdale MRTs we searched for them. They were located by Keswick MRT and escorted to the valley.

A couple phoned for help when one of them sustained a knee injury and the became lost while trying to return from Scafell to Langdale. Only minimum information was received before contact was lost. After some discussion it was decided that a search should be organised. Along with Wasdale MRT and SARDA a search was planned. Further contact with the two meant that we could determine their position more accurately, and it was decided that they were descending to Wasdale via Styhead Tarn, at which point we went home and left Wasdale MRT to tidy up loose ends.

A family group became separated, with one party becoming lost. Their phone call came to us via the Isle of Man, enjoying a brief holiday en-route. Contact was made with the group and it was established that they had reunited and were now confident that they could find their way down. The Bad Step diversion strikes again!?

A team member sustained a nasty dislocated ankle fracture when he slipped on rescue 68. His injury was splinted and he was evacuated to an ambulance .

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with the recovery of a 15-year-old unconscious female from a local beauty spot.

A 72-year-old fellrunner fell while descending and sustained a serious injury to his hip/pelvic area. He was evacuated in a full body splint and packed off to hospital.

A man fell into the gorge below Wrynose Bridge while attempting to take a photo. He was extracted by the team and airlifted to hospital by air ambulance, with leg injuries. Rumours of a beautiful photo of the sky are yet to be confirmed.

The remainder of the group was being assisted down, when a second member of the group succumbed to a similar problem. She rapidly became too weak to continue and a stretcher and additional team members were requested to evacuate her to the valley. About this time we enjoyed a brief but violent thunder storm; something that always enlivens any rescue.

A young woman was reported as suffering from prolonged vomiting while on a camping expedition. A helicopter was requested to assist and she was airlifted from the fell, after being treated by team members

A young woman suffered severe pain in her legs, possibly caused by shin splints. She was stretchered off the fell.

We were requested to attend a man who was suffering chest pains near Angle Tarn. We were overtaken by an air ambulance while en-route, and it was confirmed that he had been evacuated to hospital by them.

Female with lower leg injury. Treated and stretchered off the fell. Transferred to ambulance to hospital.

A 38-year-old man sustained a lower leg injury near Whorneyside Force. He was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley, where he was transported to hospital.

A 58-year-old man was reported as having breathing difficulties, and with tingling sensation in one arm. The team was dispatched, and assistance form the Air Ambulance was requested. With team members on the hill, it eventually became obvious that, despite communication difficulties, the man had been picked up by the helicopter and evacuated to the pub! It took most of us considerably longer to get back to a decent supply of fluids! It's probable that the man's condition wasn't as serious as first reported.

Walkers reported a sheep stuck in a bog on Wansfell. Two team members, walking in the area, investigated and found a sheep stuck in a bog. Equipment was brought up to allow people to get on to the bog surface without sinking, and the sheep was hauled out. It failed to express any noticeable gratitude, and ran of followed by its hungry lamb.

A 62-year-old man suffered from suspected heat exhaustion while walking the ridge as part of an organised group. He was treated by team members and then assisted to where the Great North Air Ambulance had landed. He was evacuated to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

A 76-year-old man was reported overdue from a walk in the Grasmere area. A search was organised, and team members and search dog handlers were being deployed when we were informed that he had managed to make his way into Langdale via a steep, unidentified gulley, and was now safe at the roadside. The man was reported to have a medical condition that gave us cause for concern, and the weather had been hot and dry all day. Eight search dogs were involved.

Reports of flares sighted on a crag at the end of Langdale. Investigated, but nothing found. Complicated by the disappearance of the informant..

An 80-year-old woman collapsed due to heat exhaustion. She was looked after by passersby initially, who gave her drinks, then treated by team members, and evacuated to the valley floor. A helicopter that had been requested to assist was stood down en-route, when she wasn't as ill as first thought.

A 65-year-old man sustained a knee injury while walking with his family. He was treated and stretchered off by team members.

Requested to assist the ambulance service with evacuating a casualty from Brant Fell.

A woman slipped while walking with her family, and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. She was treated by team members and then evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital.

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with a woman who had fallen in the river near Chapel Stile. When we arrived, she was out of the water, being cared for by quarry staff who had gone to help her.

A 60-year-old male, walking with friends and work colleagues suffered a suspected heart attack. The team attended, but sadly the man had died. His body was recovered to Ambleside.

We were requested by Keswick MRT to open our base to provide communication with a group of their team members who were evacuating a casualty down Far Easedale. Transport was also provided, but not required.

We were requested by Keswick MRT with recovering a party of 3 in the Esk Hause area. We were stood down when they were located and the decision was taken to evacuate them via Borrowdale.

A 69-year-old male member of an American walking party sustained a sprained ankle. The party had made a good attempt to get themselves off, but eventually the pain became too much. He was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital. There was some initial confusion, since the informant gave a misleading location.

A couple became separated during their walk. Male reported missing. Turned up during initial enquiry stage

More of the same. A party of two became disorientated on Crinkle Crags, having descended part-way down the west side, and then struggling to find the summit ridge path. Given instructions and advise to help locate Three Tarns. They eventually met up with another group, who were a little more certain where they were, and more importantly, knew the way off!

A group of 5 became split in poor weather when they separated in to two parts; one to go over the Bad Step and the other to go round. They failed to re-unite on Long Top. One group phoned the police for assistance. They were given directions and instructions to head for Three Tarns, were they managed to meet the rest of their party. Possession of a GPS was of limited use in these circumstances, because the party were only able to use it to tell us where they were, and not able to use it to get to where they wanted to be. The same applied to the map and compass they were carrying.

A 62-year-old woman suffered a suspected lower leg fracture when she slipped on the path while descending. She was treated by team members and stretchered off the hill.

A couple of team members went up Far Easedale in a vehicle to check on the man reported with a head injury. He was located making his way down. He was assessed and given basic treatment before continuing on his way, having declined any further assistance.

A man sustained a lower leg injury when he slipped while descending. He was treated and evacuated from the hill. While assembling at the rendezvous point for this rescue a passerby reported another man, making his way slowly from Far Easedale, with a head injury. Kitt's first rescue as a qualified Search Dog. No one had the heart to tell her that we knew where he was!

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with the recovery of a motorcyclist who had gone off the road and down a road-side bank.

Another hour spent trying to locate two people overdue from the Esk Pike region. They were eventually located, again having made their way safely off the hill a little later than planned.

We were made aware of a group of 12 overdue by some 2 hours from a walk over Crinkle Crags. No action was taken at this stage, and further enquiries later found that they had made their way off safely.

Another woman was reported as having sustained an ankle injury on the descent from Stickle Ghyll. She was cared for by passersby, and then treated and evacuated to the valley floor for onward transport to hospital by ambulance.

A woman was reported as immobilised by an ankle injury. Unfortunately, their location was uncertain. A bit of detective work located them, and the injury was treated. Before we could evacuate the casualty, we were made aware of incident 42. The woman was evacuated by the team with help from team members arriving a little later, and a handful of team members who went across to help having concluded rescue 42.

Having sustained the injury, our team member was making a painful and valiant effort to get down with minimal assistance, but as a precaution a stretcher was requested to be brought up to meet the party. Luckily, the helicopter that had assisted earlier was able to return and airlift our team member back to Ambleside with dented pride and a swollen ankle. Injured team member assisted to RN rescue helicopter

A man walking the Coast to Coast with a small group suffered a lower leg injury. Some initial confusion over his location was cleared up, and we treated his injury. He was then evacuated by Royal Navy helicopter to West Cumberland Infirmary. We then set off with his walking partner to return to the valley. Unfortunately on the descent one of our team members sustained an ankle injury.

A couple reported themselves having difficulty finding their way of what they thought to be Great Rigg. They were given some directions and advice that should have led them in to the Rydal valley. We then lost touch with them, but had a reliable sighting of them in the Brotherswater Inn(!) later that evening. We eventually established that they had found their way off, and were safe.

A woman walking with her family suffered a recurrence of an old knee injury which meant she couldn't continue to walk. She was stretchered down to our vehicles and transferred to their own vehicle for onward transport to hospital.

Requested to assist ambulance with recovery of teenage girl with breathing difficulties.

Police requested that we check a small lakeside crag, after a motorcycle was found abandoned. Nothing found.

A couple lost the path in mist and phoned for help. When contacted, they located a path, and were following it. Their direction of travel was checked, and they eventually phoned to say they had found their way down.

A 57-year-old male fell around 20 metres from Jack's Rake, sustaining injuries to his head, face, arm and leg. He was initially cared for by a paramedic who witnessed the fall, then treated by team members, and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital. Waiting for more help to carry the stretcher

Flashing lights were reported from the Nab Scar area. While trying to spot the lights and identify if there was a problem, team members came across a group who admitted to having just come of the hill, having had a late start and a long day, and who had come that way with one torch between them. No other lights were spotted, so we went home.

A man was hit by rock fall in Easy Gully. He sustained very severe injuries to his ankle. He was treated by team members, evacuated on a stretcher from the crag then airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. His uninjured young son was evacuated on foot to the valley bottom.

A 35-year-old male sustained suspected serious multiple injuries when he took a leader fall. He was treated, stabilised and evacuated from the crag by team members, then airlifted to hospital in Newcastle by RAF Boulmer.

A 12-year-old boy got separated from his mother, who reported him missing. A search was quickly organised. He was located and all were reunited.

An elderly man collapsed, and was unable to get up again.. The team attended, stretchered him back to our vehicle, and then returned him to his coach, for transport home. He declined any further medical attention.

A male was reported missing and with a possibility of him self-harming, there was cause for concern for his safety. A complicated and protracted search ensued, where it was possible that the man was evasive, avoiding action. After much discussion and negotiation he was persuaded to come off the hill and into the care of the police. We were assisted by local SARDA dogs, and a tracking dog and handler from Bowland Pennine MRT.

That's 1st March, not April. A swan was reported in difficulty at Skelwith Force. The police had tried to contact the RSPCA in Preston, but were unable to get them, so contacted us. A small group went to investigate, retrieving it without too much difficulty, and liberating it to do whatever it is that swans do to fill their time. No arms were broken in the rescuing of this swan.

A family group of three went up to the Langdale Pikes area. They became lost after several attempts to find a way off. Although they had a map and compass and GPS, they were unable to use any. We were able to establish their altitude from the GPS, but it wasn't much use for anything else, since it wasn't set on British Grid. They were too cold and the process of setting the GPS up in any useful way was looking unlikely, so eventually located by the combined method getting them to take bearings to our vehicle lights in the valley bottom, and wonder-dog, Beinn.

A woman slipped and suffered a knee injury. She was treated by team members and evacuated to her own car for onward transport to hospital.

A woman was reported missing following a domestic dispute while out walking with her husband. She had failed to turn up back at the car park. She was located walking to Windermere railway station, planning to catch the train home. Who said holidays were relaxing!

We had only just seen the previous casualty over the horizon when we were called to a woman who had sustained a suspected fractured lower leg. She was stretchered off the hill and taken to hospital in Lancaster.

A woman slipped and sustained a head injury and suspected fractured collar bone. She was treated by team members and evacuated by Great North Air Ambulance to Cumbria Infirmary, Carlisle.

A pair of elderly walkers became separated from their family group. The remainder of the group made it down, but the other two were reported overdue. We assisted Patterdale MRT and SARDA with a search for them. They were located fairly quickly on the Patterdale side of the hill.

A 60-year-old woman was reported as collapsed and unconscious near a remote farm. The team attended, along with Great North Air Ambulance, and she was airlifted to Furness General Hospital for treatment.

Two men became stuck on steep, frozen ground and were unable to up or down. They were following a route in a book, had no map, compass, torch, crampons or ice axe. There was inevitability about events. We were assisted by SARDA and Rossendale and Pendle MRT, who were in the area, and were co-opted from the pub. 

Three men became stuck on steep, frozen ground and were unable to continue down. They were located by team members, roped together and escorted down via a series of steps cut by team members. Regrettably, the message that we have been trying to get out for several days seems to have fallen on deaf ears. They were not equipped for the conditions and seemed surprised by the fact that the snow had re-frozen once the sun was off it.

A man slipped and fell approximately 100 metres from the Climber Traverse on Bowfell. He sustained serious head injuries. His fall was witnessed by another man close by, who raised the alarm, and then went to assist. The team were mobilised to help, and a helicopter was requested to attend. Team members were airlifted in to the site and provided emergency care, along with the winchman. The man was then airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital. He received head, chest and hand injuries. He was well equipped.

A male walker was reported overdue by his wife. We were given a rough outline of his plan, and a search was organised. We were assisted at this stage by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer, and also SARDA and Kendal MRT. The search went on until 4am without success. We reconvened at 8am, this time with help from Keswick, Wasdale, Duddon and Furness, SARDA and Bowland Pennine MRT's and a helicopter from RAF Boulmer. Sadly, a man's body was located by helicopter in the late morning. He was recovered to West Cumberland Hospital, where he was confirmed as having died.

A male climber sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. In a determined attempt to get down, his climbing partner assisted him a significant distance, before the pain became too much. The team found him at the base of Rossett Ghyll and stretchered him from there. His perseverance is to be applauded. They were experienced and well equipped.

A number of people ended up together in a group after getting into difficulties in the frozen conditions. While trying to find a way off they got onto steep ground. At this point one of them slipped and fell several hundred metres, sustaining fatal injuries. He was evacuated from the fell by RAF helicopter. The rest of the group were evacuated over very difficult ground to safety.

A man slipped and fell approximately 100 metres from the Climber Traverse on Bowfell. He sustained serious multiple injuries. Two members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were fairly nearby, so were directed to the scene to assist while the team set off from the valley bottom. A helicopter was requested and arrived from RAF Boulmer. The man was stabilised and airlifted to West Cumberland Infirmary. His friend was assisted to the valley.

A man slipped, falling around 10 metres,  and sustained a twisted knee and gashed hand. He struggled to get to a location where he could get a text message to his wife requesting help, and get some shelter from the weather. Initially he reported a suspected fracture, but he was able to make slow and painful progress down the hill. He was met by team members and assisted to the valley floor. We were assisted by Kendal MRT. Prolonged winter conditions experienced so far this year have been rare in recent years, however the message is the same as always. Be prepared.

A group of 4 became stuck in frozen conditions near the summit of Shelter Crags. One of them had slipped and was being prevented from falling further by a short length of rope. Her companions were unable to recover her. The group were located by search dog Beinn. She was recovered to safe ground, then escorted, along with the rest of the party, down The Band. Shortly after the start of this rescue, we were alerted to callout number 13 (see below). They were suffering fatigue, hypothermia and minor injuries.

A man slipped and sustained a suspected fractured ankle. We set off to rescue him, requesting helicopter assistance. This was provided by RAF Leconfield and the man was airlifted to Carlisle Royal Infirmary.

A woman slipped sustained a suspected fractured lower leg. She was treated by team members (not already committed to the previous rescue) and evacuated by stretcher, with assistance from Kendal MRT.

Two men took the decision to descend from Link Hause to escape the frozen conditions they had found on the ridge. Unfortunately, while still high on the headwall, one of them slipped, avoiding his friends attempt to stop him. He fell several hundred metres, coming to rest above a small crag. He sustained fractured ribs, suspected fractured arm, and multiple other injuries. He was treated and stabilised by team members, then airlifted to Lancaster Royal Infirmary by RAF Leconfield. His friend was also airlifted, having suffered hand and facial injuries in his attempt to stop his friend.

A man was reported overdue, having separated from his friend earlier, near Sprinkling Tarn. A search was organised and he was located in Mickleden, having been delayed by a minor ankle injury.

We were requested to assist in a search involving a number of mountain rescue teams for a group of 6 struggling in dark, snowy conditions. Information suggested that they were poorly equipped for the conditions. They turned up while initial planning was being undertaken.

In atrocious weather conditions, the team was called to assist a man who had become separated from his walking companion. Unfortunately he was discovered fatally injured at the bottom of the ghyll, seemingly having fallen some 70 metres from the path. We had requested the assistance of an RAF SAR helicopter, but they were unable to reach us in the prevailing weather conditions.

A man slipped on a frozen path and fractured his lower leg. He was treated by team members and stretchered to the valley floor.

We assisted the police in the recovery of a mans body discovered by passers-by just below a popular path.

A woman slipped on a very icy path and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. She was treated by team members and then, with some difficulty due to the ice, was evacuated to our ambulance.

A couple were struggling to get down after the woman had slipped over and hit her head and fractured her wrist. They were located by team members and assisted down.

A woman slipped on an icy path and sustained a suspected fractured lower leg. She was evacuated by RAF helicopter that was in the area.

A 14-year old boy suffered a dislocated knee when he slipped on frozen ground. He was evacuated to Ambleside and transferred to hospital. We were assisted by two Bowland Pennine MRT members who were in the area.

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