PREVIOUS YEARS RESCUES

Helicopter training added 3/10/05 - photos  here

 INCIDENT    BLACK    SPOTS ........click to read  

plus Rescue Photographs page - click on photo       

Number of '999' calls to date =  70 which includes 53 with the team on the fell and 17 where assistance was given over the telephone

November  2005  - we close our incident reporting books for 2005 tonight, Monday 14th November when we hold our annual general meeting  

5/53:12/11/05 (4.54 p.m.) - Saturday

The team was called out by Ambulance Control following a '999' on a mobile.  A group of four walkers, two female and two male in their early forties, one suffering from a medical condition had set off from Borrowdale earlier that day to climb Great Gable.  They had lost the path on the way up from Styhead pass and got themselves onto the climbers traverse which runs across the south face of Great Napes.  They had ascended what was believed to be Sphinx Gulley and got themselves onto the grassy ridge below Westmoreland Crags.   At this point, in the cloud and rain, one of their party became too exhausted to go up or down.

The team requested support from RAF Watersham who were on a training weekend and already based in the valley. In high winds and driving rain they flew two groups of 5 team members as high as they could with first aid equipment, stretcher and lowering ropes.  The remainder of the team made their way up the mountain on foot. The casualty, very cold and wet and weak was stretchered down Great Hellgate to the bottom of Tophet wall on the Gable traverse path and then winched into the helicopter and taken down to the valley bottom and warmth of the Hotel.  The remaining three walkers were winched into the helicopter at the same location to join their recovering friend in the hotel.  There were 22 team members involved in the rescue which ended at around 11.30 p.m. that night. Grateful thanks to the Owner and staff at the Wasdale Head Hotel for their hospitality and care for the group.

postscript - most of the team returned to the summit of Great Gable the following morning to honor those lost in the great wars

photos taken the following day see here     

5/52:9/11/05 (3.30 p.m.) - Thursday

The team leader was called by the Langdale and Ambleside team leader for assistance with a rescue.  A married couple from Settle, in their early forties, had set off from Three Shires Stone to climb Crinkle Crags.  They had become disorientated and were somewhere on the Eskdale side.  Although the weather was reasonable and they might have been able to make their own way out, the forecast was for extreme conditions later that evening.  They had no torches.  Langdale team went up Mosedale to locate them and Wasdale undertook a limited callout on the Eskdale side.  There were approximately 6 Wasdale team members involved.  The two walkers were located at Throstlegarth, just above Lincove Bridge and were walked off the hill to Brotherikeld.  They were given a lift back to the top of Wrynose Pass where their car was parked. The incident was closed at 6.00 p.m.

5/51:5/11/05 (10.45 a.m.) - Saturday

The team were called to respond to a call involving a 60 year old man who had collapsed with chest pains at Hardknott Fort, Eskdale.  The man was a local farmer.  When the team arrived on scene there was already an ambulance in attendance and an Air Ambulance, North West Air Ambulance from Blackpool.  The team doctor assisted with casualty care before the man was airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.  There were 15 team members in attendance and the incident was closed at around midday. 

Photos of the rescue here

October  2005

5/50:30/10/05 (11.30 a.m.) - Sunday

The team were called out by the police to rescue two 16 year old lads who were stuck on the summit of Scafell Pike in gale force winds and driving rain. They had camped overnight above Cam Spout and their tent had been blown down.  They had made their way to the summit and although wet through were keeping reasonably warm in their sleeping bags.  They didn't know which way to come off the mountain so had called the police.  The team went out to locate them on the summit and walk them back down.  They were taken back to the Gosforth Base and, as they were on only dressed in the dry thermal clothing that the team had taken up for them, they were looked after by one of the Wasdale team members whilst their parent were contacted and drove up from Preston to pick them up. Their original plans had been to camp a further night at Coniston before catching the train home.  Weather conditions were extreme over this weekend with high winds, heavy rain and swollen becks.  The incident was closed at 4.45 p.m.

5/49:29/10/05 (10.30 p.m.) - Saturday

Whist searching for the missing mother and son (see incident 48 below) two of the Wasdale team members went to assist a group of five young walkers who had set off from Wasdale earlier that day to climb Scafell Pike and became lost on the summit, descending into Eskdale by mistake.  They were found on the Heron Crag side of the river Esk and were walked back down the valley to Brotherilkeld.

5/48:29/10/05 (9.10 p.m.) - Saturday

Call from the police earlier that evening with little information about a 48 yr old mother and 16 yr old son who were lost somewhere in the Scafell area but they were well equipped.  The team mustered 13 Wasdale members which included three of the Wasdale search dog handlers with their dogs.  In addition a further five SARDA search dogs and handlers were called out and the Keswick MRT base was manned for communications and control.  The RAF Leeming MRT were training locally at Boot, Eskdale and they were tasked to help with the search.  The mother and son were located in Hollowstones, just below Scafell Pike, by one of the Wasdale search dogs.  They were trying to complete the 3 Peaks challenge (normally undertaken during the summer months when weather conditions and available light are more favourable). They were ill  equipped and the mother was in shorts and trainers.  They had completed Ben Nevis earlier that day and they had left the bottom of the valley at 4.00 p.m. They were located at around 11.00 p.m. and safely walked back down the mountain to the Hotel where they were met by friends.  The incident was closed early Sunday morning.

5/47c:25/10/05 (2.30 p.m.) - Tuesday

Call from Workington Police regarding father and 15 yr old daughter lost on Scafell Pike.  The father had rung for
assistance from their mobile phone and was on steep, rocky ground, having lost the path. Contact was established by phone and from his description the team leader took it that they had lost the main path at Broad Crag.  We believed they were overlooking crags above the Piers Gill area.  The father was given directions to find the main path again and there was a further call at 3.15pm, in which they confirmed they'd now found the path and met others who also confirmed their location. Incident closed at 3.15pm

5/47b:23/10/05 (6.34 p.m.) - Sunday

Telephone call from the police to respond to a '999' call from a group of four walkers from the Bristol area who had walked the Corridor Route up the top of Scafell Pike and then made a navigational error and descended via the south side of Scafell Pike and down Cam Spout.  They had then worked their way back up through the terraces onto the ridge between Slightside and Scafell before descending by the Green How route.  They had phoned again as they were descending the scree to say that they were nearly down at Brackenclose.  Incident closed around 9.00 p.m.

5/47a:22/10/05 (6.00 p.m.) - Saturday

Telephone call from the police to assist a group of four adult walkers who were tired and overdue following their walk up to Scafell Pike.  They had descended into Eskdale and were making their way back up towards Esk Hause.  Their location was Knotts of the Tongue (bottom of crags leading up to Esk Hause).  The Team Leader advised them that if the team were to be called out they would still have to walk off the mountain.  They were given directions over the phone to head up to the cross roads at Esk Hause and turn northwest (left) towards Sty Head Tarn and on to Seathwaite.  They contacted him again later to say they had made their way down but it had got dark so they had retraced their steps back to Esk Hause.  The Team Leader decided to call the Keswick team as their destination was Seathwaite.  Keswick put 20 team members out and recovered the benighted group.

5/47:21/10/05 (7.45 p.m.) - Friday

Telephone call from the police to search for two missing walkers in the Scafell Pike area. The couple in their late thirties had left earlier that day and had been lost on the tops.  The cloud was down to Mickledore ridge.  They contacted the team by mobile phone to say they were making their way down Lingmel.  Four team members went out to meet them and they were located at 9.20 pm.  They were safely escorted off the fell and the incident was closed at 12.30 a.m. Saturday morning. 

5/46:9/10/05 (4.20 p.m.) - Sunday

A walker raised the alarm at Wasdale Head reporting that a 60 year old male walker had collapsed on Gavel Neese, Great Gable with hypothermia.  He had been found by a group of walkers near the bottom of the wall on Gavel Knees, down by the side of Gable Beck.  He had cuts to the head, was bruised and wet through.  He had left Honister Pass that morning at 10.00 a.m. to climb Great Gable.  Weather conditions had been poor with high winds, driving rain and cloud on the tops.  He had lost his way and descended into Wasdale via Beck Head.   Whilst descending he had fallen a couple of times including a fall into the beck.   He had also lost his rucksack on the way down. Fortunately he had been spotted by a keen eyed walker as he was lying some distance from the main descent path.

He was checked over by the team doctors and warmed up in a casualty bag and bivvy tent before being carried down by stretcher to the ambulance at the Wasdale Head car park.  The incident was closed at around 7.00 pm with around twenty team members on the hill.

5/45:6/10/05 (5.50 p.m.) - Thursday

Pager message from Workington Police regarding lost walkers.  Three walkers hade been doing the Mosedale Horseshoe and after completing Pillar had made a navigation error in the mist where the path forks on the ascent of Red Pike.  They were called on their mobile by the team leader and their position established.  They were given instructions on how to get safely down off the mountain to Overbeck car park.  To ensure they were safely down five team members were called out to check the Overbeck and Mosedale descent routes.  They managed to get down with no further assistance and were met at the car park.  Incident closed at 7.30 p.m.

5/44:26/9/05 (6.15 p.m.) - Monday

Telephone call from the police to respond to a '999' from a mobile phone.  4 male walkers had walked from the Wasdale valley bottom to the top of Scafell Pike.  One of their party had sustained an injury to his leg.  They had met up with another party of four and had been making their way back down the mountain towards Esk Hause.  The gave a grid reference which was incorrect but could have indicated that they were somewhere in upper Eskdale area. Search groups were sent up from both the Wasdale and Eskdale sides.  At around 7.00 p.m. they called in to say they were north of Lingmel fell, making their way down a wide path which was running in a westerly direction with a river running alongside.  They were carrying two lights amongst the group of eight. The search team on the Wasdale side made contact and walked them off the mountain back to their cars.  21 team members were deployed on the fell along with two SARDA handlers with their search dogs from the Wasdale Team.  In addition there were 4 team members on base and relay duties.  Weather conditions were poor with low cloud and torrential rain.  Rivers were in full flood. The incident was closed at approximately  8.30 p.m.  

5/43:22/9/05 (7.45 p.m.) - Thursday

Telephone call direct from one of the Wasdale team members who lives at Wasdale Head.  A 40 yr
old male was long overdue from Scafell Pike.  His wife was the informant and was waiting at the Green.  She had news that he'd been seen at the summit at about 3pm.  He had waterproof clothing and some gear but no torch or compass.
The team leader decided to leave it until 9 p.m. before doing a team call out but the team member needed to walk his dog.  He therefore went to walk up Brown Tongue and the Base was manned in order to maintain radio communications. He found the man somewhere near the bottom of Brown Tongue and walked back to into the valley with him.  The log was closed at 8.50pm As a limited number of team members were involved and a team member was involved on the fell, even though it was not a full callout, we are giving this an incident number.

5/42a:20/9/05 (6.00 p.m.) - Tuesday

Direct call from the owner of the Wasdale Head Inn.  He had very concerned parents who were waiting for their son
to turn up from a walk and thought he was long overdue.  The missing person was a 47 yr old male, walking alone and setting off from Buttermere (Gatesgarth from their description).  He was walking without a rucksack or any other equipment other than what he was wearing -  Jeans, T shirt, pullover, boots.  No map, torch, other clothing, food etc.
He was last seen just after mid-day and coming to Wasdale Head via Scarth Gap and Black Sail.  Weather not too bad on the coast but had been cloudy at pass level.

The team leader advised that he we wait until 7.00 pm before taking action.  The overdue walker turned up at 6.55pm, just as the team leader was looking up the Cockermouth Team's number as backup and the deputy team leader was dialing the number for our group paging system.  Although there were three team members involved in the pre callout work it does not constitute an official incident and therefore not given a number although reported here for interest and awareness.

5/42:19/9/05 (9.30 p.m.) - Monday

The team were called by the police to respond to a long overdue pair of walkers.  A Father and son, late 50's and late 20's, had left Carlisle at 9.00 a.m. to climb Scafell Pike from Seathwaite.  They had started their climb at 10.30 a.m. and were still not back at 9.30 p.m.

Wasdale called Keswick team to help.  Whilst preparing to leave for what could be a prolonged search (the missing persons had no lights), the call came in at 10.30 pm that they had turned up safe and well.  The incident was closed.

5/41a:18/9/05 (6.00 a.m.) - Sunday

The team leader was called by Workington Police regarding a group of 3 peakers who were
lost on the Pike.  Their initial information was:-
a) no injuries involved
b) the weather had turned bad
c) it was dark and cloudy
d) they didn't have food or drinks
e) they didn't have adequate waterproofs
Initially they couldn't be re-contacted on their mobile phone so a message was left.  

When the group eventually got back they gave an eight figure map reference and an accurate altitude on the fell.  i.e. they had a GPS as well as a mobile phone.  The location they gave put them overlooking Piers Gill, near
Lingmel Col and the wall.  They were told to find the wall again and which direction to walk in, in order to locate the main Brown Tongue path.  This was important, as one of the group was waiting for them at the path split in Hollowstones.  There were a number of further phone conversations, particularly as the group missed the Brown Tongue path and ended up coming down Lingmel Nose.  They were all confirmed to be safe and off the hill at 9.00 a.m., when the Police log was closed.  

5/41:12/9/05 (12.18 p.m.) - Monday

The team were paged by Workington Police regarding a lady in her 50's with a suspected broken ankle. Her location was given as high up next to the second gill, Hardknott  Fell on the Eskdale side.  When more details were known, the lady was not a walker but from one of the local farms.  She was helping her husband gathering the sheep when she slipped and broke her ankle.  She was on a separate side of the fell to her husband so he was unaware that the accident had happened or exactly where she had been walking.  She was lying in high bracken and not visible.  The accident happened at around 10.00 a.m. but it was not until later that she was eventually located by the family who then called in the team.

The advance team were on scene within the hour and following first aid she was stretchered down the hillside to the valley bottom and carried to Brotherilkeld farm where she was transferred to the waiting ambulance and on to West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.  There were around 16 team members on the fell and the incident was closed at approximately  4.00 p.m.  The team were pleased to have been able to help one of the local Eskdale farming families who have supported the team over many years.

5/40:8/9/05 (12.46 p.m.) - Thursday

The team were called to assist a lady in her early 20's who had slipped on Gavel Knees on the way up Great Gable, approximately 200 meters above the intake wall on the path to Beck Head.  The young lady had a previous back injury and during the fall had injured her back again and could not walk.  Around 18 team members turned out and stretcher carried her back down to the bottom.  She was able to walk with care from the team vehicle to her car at the Green, Wasdale Head.  The incident was closed at 3.30 pm

5/39:30/8/05 (10.15 p.m.) - Monday

The police called out the team to search for three overdue walkers, a 50 year old plus two teenagers.  They had set off from Langdale at 1.30 pm to climb Scafell Pike and had not returned.  The acting team leader called in Langdale Ambleside to carry out a the search from the Langdale side whilst Wasdale provided support from the Wasdale side. A limited call out was made for the Wasdale search groups.  Before the Wasdale team were on the fell the missing walkers were located on the Langdale side.  In all there were around 10 Wasdale members, a small group of LAMRT members and 3 SARDA search dogs with their handlers involved in the callout.

5/38:28/8/05 (10.50 a.m.) - Sunday

The police received a '999' call from three walkers who had set off from Ben Nevis on the Saturday and eventually got to Wasdale Head at 3.00 am, slept in their car until 7.30 am then set out to climb Scafell Pike.  They became lost on the summit plateau in cloud that was down to the top of brown tongue.  They were not wearing particularly suitable clothing and were wet and cold.  Around 18 team members made their way back up Scafell Pike, the second ascent in 12 hours to finally locate them on their way down to Lingmel Col.  They had made contact with another fell walkers who had pointed them in the right direction.  The team had taken up sufficient warm dry clothing to look after them if they had been is a poor way however they managed to walk back down, escorted by the team.  The incident was closed by early afternoon.  It is unknown whether they had continued onto Snowdon to complete their challenge.

5/37:27/8/05 (11.07 pm) - Saturday

Call from the police to search for a missing 41 year old walker who was participating in the three peaks challenge with his 15 colleagues. They had already climbed Snowdon and were making their way up the Pike from Brackenclose when the missing gentleman decided to press on ahead of the group.  He became lost on his descent (cloud down to Hollow stones).  He was found by two team members at 1.30 am Sunday morning.  His torch had died and he was sensibly sat on a rock on the main path up from Brotherikeld.  There were 20 team members on the fell plus one search dog.  A call had also been put out to SARDA  for a further search dog plus a small search group from Keswick MRT at around 1.00 am.  The missing person was reunited with his party at the Brotherikeld telephone box at around 3.00 am and the group carried on to Ben Nevis to complete their challenge.  Team members were back home by 3.30 am.   

5/36:27/8/05 (5.30 p.m.) - Saturday

The police called the team to attend to a walker who was suffering a panic attack on the rock step, Corridor down from Scafell Pike.  The walker along with his/her group of eight was 'crag fast' so a small group of four team members who were already at the Head following the Lingmel Dash Fell and Fundraising race.  Before the team could reach the group the individual managed to be persuaded / encouraged to carry on down.  incident closed at 6.15 pm. 

5/35:24/8/05 (8.30 a.m.) - Wednesday

The police called the team to search for two walkers who had been missing overnight.  They had set off at midnight to climb Scafell Pike as a three peaks challenge.  Conditions on the fell had been very poor the previous night with weather warnings, 60 mph winds and very heavy rainfall.  The rivers were in full spate and in addition to the 15 team members on the fell a Sea King helicopter was also used for the search and rescue operation.  The two missing persons were located in the Camspout area on the Eskdale side of the mountain.  They were airlifted off the mountain to safety and the incident was closed at 12.30 pm.

5/34:8/8/05 (5.55 p.m.) - Monday

The police called the team out to a male walker who was reported to be injured on Scafell.  The accident was reported by passing walkers who had heard the shouts for help and whistles.  He along with another three or four walkers were descending or ascending west wall traverse by the unstable pillar when there was a rock fall with rocks giving a glancing blow to one of the walkers but also leaving him stuck on a ledge.  Some climbers nearby managed to rope him down just as the team arrived at the foot of Lords Rake.  Once he was safely down at the Woolworth boulder the team were stood down and returned to base. Approximately 20 team members were on the fell and the incident was closed at around 8.30 pm.  Interestingly a series of new photographs were taken of the unstable area the day before this incident and one of the photos shows the area where the rock fall occurred.  The climbers apparently used the 'unstable' pillar to belay the walker as he was roped back down the rake.  The pillar is badly fractured and is not suitable for belaying.   

 Pictures here

5/33:6/8/05 (1.21 p.m.) - Saturday

The police called the team out to attend to a lady in her 50's with a broken ankle on the St. Bees Head path.  The husband and wife from Wigan were up in the Lake District for the weekend.  They were walking along the path between St. Bees Head and Fleswick Bay when she went over on her ankle and fractured it.  The two team vehicles drove through the fields to get to the location whilst team members went on foot with all the gear.  First aid was given and her ankle was immobilsed in an inflatable splint.  She was stretcher carried to the vehicles and Mobile 1 was stripped out to become an ambulance.  She was driven straight to West Cumberland Hospital.  There were 13 team members on the hill and the incident was closed at 4.00pm.

5/32:1/8/05 (0.30 a.m.) - Monday

Whilst the team were searching for the two missing walkers (see 5/33) another group of three walkers had become lost on Scafell Pike and mistakenly descended the Eskdale side.  They were well down the valley but still high and had no lights apart from key torches which they had used to get where they were.  A limited call out was made and two team members with search dogs went up to walk them off the mountain back down to Brotherikeld.

5/31:31/7/05 (10.00 p.m.) - Saturday

Call from the police to search for two lost male walkers in their early 50's who had left Brackenclose earlier that day to climb Scafell Pike.  They had made the summit then became lost at some slabs at about 200 ft below the summit of the Pike.  They were contacted on their mobile phone by the team leader and they advised that they had proceeded down until they came to a wall at which point they headed East.  The signal was then lost on the phone and they could not be contacted again.   This put them possibly at the Piers Gill area.  A small group of 8 were called out to locate them. 7 team members (4 routes) searched the complete area until 4.00 am and then returned to base after failing to locate them.  Visibility on the high fell varied from clear to thick cloud.  The team were preparing to go out again at 10.00 a.m.  The missing walkers turned up safe and well at Seathwaite at 10.20 a.m.  Their car was still at Brackenclose, Wasdale Head.  It is still unknown where they spent the night.

5/30:23/7/05 (2.37 p.m.) - Saturday

Call from the police to investigate calls for help coming from the Screes.  A lady walking in the vicinity of the Youth Hostel reported calls for help coming from high up on the Screes.  A limited call out was initiated and 4 team members investigated the incident by walking along the Screes path from the Wastwater pump house whilst another scanned the slopes with a high powered telescope.  Nothing was seen or heard and as this type of report has occurred in the past the incident was stood down shortly after. Well intentioned false alarm.  

5/29:22/7/05 (11.45 p.m.) - Friday

Call from the Police to rescue a 41 yr old male three peaker.  He along with his colleagues had set off from Seathwaite to climb Scafell Pike.  On their return from the summit, on the Corridor route, he had a fit.  10 members of the Wasdale team supported by the Keswick team went to his assistance.  After some medical treatment he was sufficiently recovered to walk down to Styhead Pass where the Keswick team accompanied them back to their vehicle at Seathwaite.  Incident was closed at 05.00 a.m.

5/28:22/7/05 (5.06 p.m.) - Friday

Call from the Wasdale Head Hotel.  A group of local walkers were completing the Mosedale horseshoe and whilst descending Dore Head Scree, one of the walkers felt feint, passed out and fell approximately 15 feet (tumble fall).  The weather conditions were very warm and due a medical condition he had feinted and taken the tumble.  He had a number of lacerations and was bandaged, given appropriate neck restraint, and stretchered off the mountain to an ambulance which took him to West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven.  There were 17 team members on the fell and the incident was closed at 7.00pm

5/27:17/7/05 (2.19 a.m.) - Sunday

Call from Workington Police to rescue a 21 yr old male from the Kendal area who had fallen approximately 60 foot down Yew Crag, Hard Knott fell in Eskdale.  He had been camping with his friends just north of the Roman Fort on Hardknott Pass.  His fall was arrested by a tree and he was still in a difficult location..  He was treated for suspect back, chest and limb injuries and stretcher lowered to the base of the crag, around 100 foot below.  He  was moved to a safe pick up location and then air lifted by Navy SAR sea king helicopter to West Cumbria Hospital. After a period of assessment, treatment and stabilisation he was transferred a specialist hospital in the North East.  Fifteen team members, police, search dog and Navy Helicopter were involved on the incident.  The incident was closed at 9.00 a.m.

Photographs of the rescue can be viewed by clicking on the photo....

Also training on the crag here

5/26:9/7/05 (4.00 p.m.) - Saturday

Call from Workington Police, regarding a 12 yr old boy who'd been hit on the head by a falling rock and suffered a head injury.  The location was on steep scrambling ground, close to Napes Needle on Great Gable.  He was treated by team members before being transferred to Carlisle Hospital by Navy Sea King helicopter.  Although an Air Ambulance was also tasked to the rescue it could not in fact provide practical assistance because the location was too steep for it to land anywhere close.  14 Wasdale MR team members were involved.   The team also assisted other members of the casualty's party down from the fell.  Incident was closed at about 7.30pm

5/25:4/7/05 (1.30 p.m.) - Monday

Call from the police regarding a 55 year old male who fell whilst scrambling on the rock on the summit of Harter Fell
in Eskdale.  He sustained a laceration to the scalp and two very impressive black eyes. Given that it was a head injury, the causality was concussed and had lost consciousness for a short period of time, he was carried off the hill and transferred to hospital.

The incident ran for 6 hours and involved approximately 15 team members

5/24:29/6/05 (2.27 p.m.) - Tuesday

Call from Workington police to respond to a male walker in his early 50's with chest pains on Great Gable.  Due to the potential serious nature of the incident the Team Leader immediately requested an RAF helicopter.  The ill walker was with a group of 4 other walkers, ascending Styhead when one became ill with crushing pains in his chest.  The team arrived on scene at the same time as the helicopter which had come across from RAF Boulmer .  Emergency medical treatment was given and the man was winched by stretcher in to the helicopter and taken to West Cumberland Hospital.  He was very fortunate as the team had responded very quickly and were on scene within 50 minutes from the pagers going off at work.  The man had suffered a heart attack and was very ill and in a lost of pain when the team arrived.  This rescue was deemed time critical and was regarded as a life saving response.  There were approximately 12 team members on the hill.  The incident was closed at around 4.30 p.m.

5/23a:29/6/05 (a.m.) - Tuesday

Call from Workington police regarding two female walkers who were stuck on Great Gable on steep ground with very large rucksacks and needed rescuing.  The Team Leader decided to sit on it as it did not constitute an emergency.  When rescue 27 was completed the team called Workington police to check on the situation with the two girls.  They had managed to get themselves off the mountain and were safe and well at the Wasdale Youth Hostel.

5/23:26/6/05 (10.35 a.m.) - Sunday

Call from Workington Police, via Essex Police.  A 23yr old female had last had mobile contact with her mother (in Essex) about 1.5 hours ago.  She'd said she was lost on the fells and was "sliding down rocks on Scafell", when the phone signal cut out and couldn't be made again.  Mother was worried that she's may have had an accident.  We didn't
know where they'd set off from and couldn't confirm Scafell vs Scafell Pike but decided to do a full team call out and use as much daylight as possible.  At 8.35pm a message came through to say she'd rung home again and was safe
and well.  Team stood down again.

5/22a:26/6/05 (10.35 a.m.) - Sunday

Call from Workington Police regarding a man lost on Scafell Pike.  The Team Leader spoke to him by mobile phone (between repeatedly being cut off with poor reception).  Established which valley he'd set off from and what route he'd taken so far and that he appeared to be overlooking Eskdale.  He'd become separated from others in his group whist doing a 3 peaks challenge event.  He could see other walkers in the distance so agreed to walk that way.  15 minutes later he rang to confirm he had met others and would be alright walking back down.

5/22:25/6/05 (8.00 p.m.) - Saturday

Telephone call from the Woolpack directly to the Team Leader.  Two residents long overdue on a route from Brotherilkeld to Scafell Pike, via Little Narrow Cove.  They were both around 60 yr old and there was other cause for concern.  The Team leader waited until after 9pm before doing a full team call out.  They were found a short distance
from their car, walking back OK.  They'd been lost at one point during the day and had a long walk!.
Whilst team members were at Brotherilkeld, and ready to turn back following the stand down on rescue 23,  shouts were heard from Harter Fell.  The team members were positive the person shouting replied that he did require mountain rescue, so the team was held on standby until more could be found out.  It turned out he was looking for a group of 3 peakers coming down into Eskdale and didn't need mountain rescue. All stood down and returned to base.

5/21a:25/6/05 (6.00 p.m.) - Saturday

Call from Workington Police regarding a man who hadn't seen his 59 yr old wife for a couple of hours.   They had disagreed about which route to take from Slight Side and split up there, only to spend some time trying to find each other again.  He was at the telephone box, bottom of Hard Knott - sounded like Horn Crag they split at from his description.  He rang to confirm she'd turned up at 6.40pm. and the incident was then stood down.

5/21:21/6/05 (11.30 p.m.) - Tuesday
Whilst on the hill dealing with rescue 20, the Team Leader took a call from Workington Police regarding a missing walker from another 3 peaks group.  In this case, a 29yr old male with an RAF group had last been seen near the summit at about 9.00 pm. that evening.  He was apparently carrying little in the way of fell going equipment - no map or compass, no torch or whistle, basic clothing.  Others in the group had left him on his own.  We initiated a search, given that we were so close to the summit anyway.  He turned up at the Woolpack in Eskdale, having made a navigational error on the way down.  The team members who had set off from the casualty site to carry out a sweep search of the summit were recalled.  Team members assisted in reuniting him with his RAF colleagues.

5/20:21/6/05 (9.57 p.m.) - Tuesday

One of the WMRT members who lives at Wasdale Head  rang from the Hotel at about 10.15pm  Someone was reporting that one of their party (male, in his 40's) was unable to walk but was near the summit of Scafell Pike.  Initial information was sparse but we knew that it involved a groin injury that had got worse as the man was attempting to
walk up Scafell (doing a three peaks challenge).

As other walkers arrived back off the hill, the message became clearer and it was apparent that he was going to need MR assistance and indeed carrying off the hill.  Conditions on the mountain were poor, with low cloud, rain and a fresh wind at that level.  With little equipment on scene he was already very cold.

Contact was established on scene when one of the team's supporters came across the incident himself.  He was able to ring the Team Leader's mobile direct and provided initial support and shelter at the scene.

19 WMRT members attended and he was stretchered off the fell by 02.40am. Mill Forge base was closed at 03.30a.m.

5/19:20/6/05 (12.30 p.m.) - Monday

The team were called by Workington Police at about 12.30pm, regarding a male walker who'd been hit by a piece of rock, sustaining a gash to his lower leg.  He was with a group from English Nature and the National Trust and
was inspecting aspects of interest within the SSSI and SAC (Special Area of Conservation) on the Wasdale Screes.
His colleagues bandaged his leg and assisted him to the grassy ridge on top of the Screes.  18 members of the Team carried him off the mountain and he was taken to WCH for further treatment.
 

5/18b:12/6/05 (11.30 pm) - Sunday

For interest, the Keswick MR Team Leader rang on the Monday morning at about 09.30am.  He'd been up till about 2.45am trying to resolve the case of a missing person on Scafell Pike and was ringing to tell me the outcome.  The case involves a man and wife who become separated somewhere on the Pike.  He went down to Seathwaite and reported her lost at about 11.30pm but despite several team members trying to make sense of his vague descriptions of where he'd been, they found it very difficult to either a) confirm she was indeed still on the hill or b) by 2.45am, that she would actually be in danger, even if left until first light.  Keswick members met groups of walkers leaving Seathwaite at 2.30 a.m. on the Monday morning.  They were asked to keep an eye out for her and apparently did find her sitting on the Corridor Route above Piers Gill.  The Keswick TL had decided not to ring the Wasdale TL that night because as he said, he didn't have a lot he could tell him.  He wasn't absolutely sure she was on the hill but did suspect she'd be around the top of Piers Gill.  He chose to leave the search to other walkers that happened to be departing from Seathwaite early morning.  First light was only a few hours off anyway.  Therefore, not an incident for us to log but an interesting story.

5/18a:11/6/05 (10.40 pm) - Saturday

Call from Workington Police regarding a father and son reported long overdue from Scafell Pike.  The informant
(his wife) was in Milton Keynes but was expecting telephone contact - which would certainly have been normal.  They'd been on the summit at about 1.30pm and they should have been heading back to Seathwaite.

The wife was very sensible and was happy that contacting MR didn't necessarily prompt a blue light reaction straight away.  She was therefore pleased to discuss potential issues and rationally decide how best to deal with the specific event.  We agreed to leave it until after YHA closing time at 11pm, then the WMRT Leader I spoke to the Keswick MRT Leader if a Keswick MR member could check for the car at Seathwaite.  They turned up at 11.20pm
before anyone had actually rolled any wheels, so not getting logged as an incident.

We think they'd gone into the wrong valley and had a big day out, having walked back over to Seathwaite.  i.e. they'd gone back to the hostel straight from the hill, without stopping in pubs or to get food at that point.

5/18:4/6/05 (9.45 pm) - Saturday

Call from Workington Police regarding two people reported to be stuck on the Scree path, informant at the Wasdale
YHA Hostel.   The Team Leader rang the informant and found that the Hostel Manager had already set off in a Canadian canoe to attempt a pick up in that.  Rather than set a full team boat rescue into full swing the Team Leader decided to go to the Wasdale YHA and see what (if any) further action needed to be taken.  In the meantime, he also got three other team members manning Mill Forge Base and preparing our boat for action.  

On arriving at the lake, it became apparent that the Hostel Manager had indeed reached the two stuck walkers and had got them on board his boat.  He was paddling back round the lake, keeping very close to the edge all the way round.  Conditions were flat calm but with spells of heavy rain.  The Team Leader stayed long enough to get details for the Police but Mill Forge was stood down.  The two were from the Manchester area.  One of them had experienced difficulty with slippery rocks and poor light, whilst the other had stayed with her to keep her company until help arrived.  Incident closed at about 11.30pm. 

Postscript - last year there was an event when two people got picked up by one canoeist, who then capsized half way across the lake.  One of the two had a broken leg!  The Team Leader had thought at the time that it involved a single
kayak but the YHA Hostel manager told him more about that incident.  It seems that someone staying at the hostel had in fact borrowed one of their Canadians.  He'd picked up the two walkers but had them sat quiet upright and with a high centre of gravity, making the vessel unstable.  When they capsized the Hostel manager had been the one who then went out in another Canadian to get all three out of the water.

5/17:31/5/05 (6.00 pm) - Tuesday

Call from one of the team members who lives at the Wasdale Head.  They had the wife of a man who was very late back from doing Great Gable.  She'd last seen him part way up at about 12.30pm but there was also medical
history that gave us cause for concern over his safety.  The Team Leader informed the Police and initiated a full team call out.  He also requested assistance from Keswick and Cockermouth MRT's and involved a number of SARDA dogs.  Two team members based at Wasdale Head set off ahead of the rest of the team to quickly cover his intended route and another team member who was is also based at the Wasdale Head looked after the informant.

The two team members soon spotted the missing walker (a 54 yr old male) making his own way off the mountain.  They assisted him make the final stages of the descent and took him back to the Hotel, where he was subsequently taken to
the West Cumberland Hospital for treatment - he'd probably broken bones in a hand, having had a tumble fall earlier on.

Other teams and most Wasdale stood down when he was seen to be making his
own way down - that was at 9.40pm.  Incident closed at 10.40pm.

5/16:29/5/05 (2.46 pm) - Monday
The police called the team out to respond to a broken ankle on Scafell Pike.  A father and his 12 year old son were descending from Mickledore when the son went over on his ankle at the Woolworth boulder and could not put any weight on it.  The father called the police on his mobile phone.  The Team Leader was already descending the Pike and strangely enough was actually passing the father when he was calling the police.  He was unaware of the pending call until 5 minutes later when his own mobile went off.  He quickly made his way back up and stabilized the casualty while the rest of the team made their way up.   The boy's leg was put in an inflatable splint and he was stretchered back down to Brackenclose.  The father drove his son to Whitehaven Hospital for treatment.  There were around 15 team members on the rescue and the incident closed at around 7.00 pm.  Some photographs were taken of the incident  which will have been added to the website. A fuller set will be added once approval has been received.

                     Click here .................

5/15a:28/5/05 (9.00 pm) - Saturday
Police called the team regarding three very late three peakers. They had completed Ben Nevis earlier that weekend and had not returned from their ascent of Scafell Pike.  The weather conditions were extreme on top of the Pike with high winds, low cloud and rain showers.   After a good deal of telephone calls around local hotels they were eventually located safe and well.  Incident closed down and only noted for information rather than an official statistic.

5/15:9/5/05 (6.00 pm) - Monday
A report came in just as the team were gathering for the regular Monday practice.  A lady had broken her wrist and had walked down off the fell and was by one of the farms in Eskdale.  Two team members were in attendance and the team doctor was dispatched from Gosforth to deal with the incident and transport her to Whitehaven Hospital.  Incident closed within the hour.

5/14c:8/5/05 (10.30 pm) - Sunday
Police reported two missing persons and informant at Wha House, Eskdale.  Two young lads (16 and 20 yrs old) left Eskdale at 3.00 pm to climb Scafell and then Scafell Pike.  Late setting off but with difficult ground potentially en route.  They turned up at about 10.50pm. 

The previous weekend the Team Leader  had another call regarding. missing persons on Scafell Pike.  They also turned up before much action could be taken.

5/14b:7/5/05 (10.45 pm) - Saturday
Police called to pass on details of a woman who'd apparently seen a red flare on Great Gable.  Tried to ring back but no answer.  A check was made with the Keswick MRT leader to see if it was their team but it wasn't.   No further action was taken and nothing more reported.  In nearly 27 years of being involved in MR the Team Leader had never yet had a report of a flare which turned out to be anything positive.  

5/14a:30/4/05 (10.34 pm) - Saturday

The team committee were paged by Workington Police to assist with the search of missing walkers.  The Team leader responded to the call and while he was discussing the incident with the police a report came through that the missing people had turned up (10.40pm).  The incident was stood down before the team were called out.  As such it has not been reported as an incident but noted here for information only; to raise awareness of the workload on the leadership that doesn't always get reported.

5/14:29/4/05 (10.04 pm) - Friday

The team committee were paged by Whitehaven police regarding  a missing person on Scafell.  After a period of information gathering and waiting, the team leader called out the team at 10.30 pm to attend for a search.  Whilst the team were gathering and vehicles being dispatched, the missing person turned up safe and well.  The incident was stood down at 11.05 pm.

5/13:26/4/05 (6.45 pm) - Tuesday

The Team were called in by the police to rescue an elderly lady and her dog who were stuck on the Screes path opposite the road junction half way along the Lake.   A limited callout was put out on the pager system requesting the Boat Squad (group of 4 trained helmsmen/launchers).  The lady in her early seventies and her exhausted dog were located by a small advance group who had set off on foot from the Wastwater pump house whilst the rescue boat was launched. The lady and dog were transported back across the lake to waiting friends.  The incident was closed at around 9.30 pm and around 10 team members were involved including a Cumbria Constabulary police officer who attended on scene.

5/12:25/4/05 (6.01 pm) - Monday

The Team were called in by the police to respond to an informant on a mobile phone on the top of Scafell Pike who had seen a couple of walkers having difficulties descending Broad Stand. The informant reported that he had heard others walkers shouting up to them "stay where you are until the rescue team arrives".  There were also mixed messages and it was possible that there was another group having difficulties on Botteral Slab, Scafell.  A group of three team members went up to investigate but nothing was seen or heard.  The team were unable to make contact with the informant.   A well intentioned false alarm. 

5/11:16/4/05 (6.01 pm) - Saturday

The Team were called in by Workington Police to search for two missing male walkers in their early twenties who were described as vulnerable.  A party of nine had set off from Brotherilkeld with their leader to climb Scafell.  After reaching the summit, a navigational error put the group at the top of Broad Stand.  The leader had wisely decided not to descend but retrace his steps back up to the summit ridge.  Although mid April, the Lake District was experiencing pretty nasty winter conditions and there was fresh, snow on the ground above 2000 foot and cloud down to 1000 feet  Once the group were back on the ridge there was a dispute and two of them walked off and left the leader with a dilemma.  As a result the team were called in and search parties were sent in from both sides of Scafell.  Fortunately, two walkers descending, high on the flank of Scafell on the Wasdale side were seen by one team member, approached and quickly identified as the missing pair.  The two walkers were reassured and safely walked back down to the vehicles at Brackenclose and driven back to Gosforth to wait for their colleagues who were descending back to their vehicle in Eskdale.  When the Wasdale vehicles arrived back in Gosforth, one of the two missing walkers became very agitated and irrational and decided to head off into the surrounding countryside, quickly followed by a small group of team members.  They eventually caught up with the individual and the situation brought under control.  In order to bring the situation to a final safe conclusion, Police back up was requested.  After a bit of post rescue 'sorting out', the incident was closed at around 10.00 pm.  There were approximately 20 team members involved in the rescue.  Grateful thanks to our local police for their support.  Pictures of the rescue attached - click on the photo

5/10:12/4/05 (8.40 pm) - Tuesday

The Team were called in to assist the Langdale and Ambleside MRT and Kendal MRT searching for a lost and injured couple on Crinkle Crags.  The LAMRT had been searching since 6.30 pm and it wasn't until just after the Wasdale Team had deployed that the lost and slightly injured walkers were found.  The Wasdale Team grouped at Cockley Beck with the other rescue teams having parked up at the Three Shires Stone (top of Wrynose).  LAMRT took the decision to bring the female walker down into Mosedale rather than return to their parked vehicles.  Wasdale were tasked to meet up with LAMRT and Kendal MRT to provide fresh legs.  LAMRT and other teams had been out the previous night searching for, and eventually recovering the body of a fallen male walker on Red Screes (Kirkstone Pass) so help from Wasdale was appreciated.  The male walker and his injured partner, both in their late twenties were taken down to Cockley Beck, the lady by stretcher, and then the lady was transported back to Santon Bridge in the Team's vehicle where they were both staying in holiday accommodation.  The incident was closed at around 1.30 am.  This was another well co-ordinated rescue involving three teams plus SARDA search dogs.  In all there were approximately 40 personnel on the hill. 

5/9:28/3/05 (4.30 pm) - Sunday

The Team was paged by Workington to rescue a male walker in his late thirties who had become crag fast whilst descending Scafell Pike.  He was on a mobile phone and through a description of his location along with a grid reference, it placed in him the region of Dropping Crag on the northern side of the mountain.  He had been stuck there since mid afternoon.  Around 18 team members were involved, 10 on the mountain and the remainder in reserve.  The Dropping Crag area was thoroughly searched with no find.  Broad Crag was then searched which can sometimes be mistaken for Scafell Pike.  Further information was sought from the crag fast walker and eventually, by piecing it all together and getting further information from the police regarding two walkers who were watching a man waving for help, the man was found by one of the team members.  He was high on Broad Crag, north face and around 200 foot above the old plane crash site.  The weather was initially clear at his location but it then came in whilst we were lowering him down the crags and visibility reduced to 30 yards.  The ground was very steep, slippery and there were many loose boulders.  However, within a relatively short period he was back down onto safer ground and walked off to Brackenclose.  It was 9.30 pm when the team finally checked in at the Wasdale Head Hotel for rehydration.  The incident was stood down at around 10.00 pm.  

Picture of the rescue here      

5/8:26/3/05 (8.00 pm) - Saturday

The Team Leader was called by the police to respond to a request for assistance regarding an overdue walker.  A group of three males had setoff from the New Dungeon Gill Hotel in Langdale to climb Scafell Pike and camp at Angle Tarn.  During the ascent one of the walkers was forced to turn back due to an old knee injury.  He was accompanied down by a second member of the party whilst the third member carried on up to climb Scafell Pike and return later.  By 8.00 pm the two walkers in the valley bottom became very concerned and called the police.  Wasdale TL consulted with Langdale Ambleside MRT (who were already on another callout) and eventually at 10.00 pm both teams agreed to mobilize.  Full team callout by Langdale and limited callout by Wasdale to check the Eskdale valley bottom only.  The conditions were mild and the missing walker was well equipped with a tent.  When the team had mustered at Gosforth and ready to leave, the walker turned up at 10.30 pm at the New Dungeon Gill Hotel, tired but safe and well.  The incident was stood down. 

5/7:13/3/05 (7.15 am) - Sunday

The Team was paged by Workington police to attend a '999' call from a male walker in his early thirties with a suspected broken ankle.  He and his colleague had been walking the previous day and on their descent he had slipped on the path at Scarlathing, approximately half way down the Eskdale valley, and a good hours walk from the road.  They had camping equipment so bedded down for the night and in the morning he could not walk.   Around 15 team members attended and he was stretchered off the hill back to Brotherikeld and taken to West Cumberland Hospital in a team vehicle.  The incident was closed at around midday.  There are some photographs of the rescue which are located by clicking on the image below.

5/6a:14/2/05 (4.00 pm) - Monday

Not a callout with incident number but of general interest.  Three males in their twenties, from North Yorkshire, had been onto the summit of Scafell Pike .  Whilst descending, two of the three fell on steep ground having slipped on ice.  One fell 15 feet and sustained a nasty gash to his face, a broken arm and other deep cuts to his limbs.  The other got away with bruises and a twisted ankle.  Despite what were clearly very painful injuries they managed to make their own way to the National trust site at Wasdale Head.  Many people might have involved mountain rescue straight away.  The Team leader was actually in the area when they turned up and from what they said it would appear that they had been descending from Broad Crag Col which is a long walk out with a broken arm.  The Team leader splinted the arm and started bandaged the wounds before the ambulance arrived on scene.  The ambulance took them all the West Cumberland Hospital.  There had been no request from the police for assistance.

5/6:5/2/05 (2.55 pm) - Sunday

Call to the team leader from the police to respond to an injured walker who had taken a tumble fall on Great Gable.  The 70 year old male walker had fallen whilst descending towards the Wasdale side and fell approximately 300 feet down the steep scree slope of Little Hellgate.  The team tried to resuscitate the man who had sustained multiple injuries.  His body was stretchered off the mountain to Wasdale Head.  Around 20 team members were involved in the incident. 

5/5:23/1/05 (1.30 pm) - Sunday

Call to the team leader from the Barn Door shop, Wasdale Head to report a 60 year old injured male walker on the corridor who had fallen into Greta Gill.  He had sustained a gashed head and other injuries.  The team were called out and the police notified that a rescue was in hand.  The injured walker had fallen approximately 15 foot after slipping on the ice whilst crossing the stream, directly at the top of the gill.  After the team had arrived on scene it was quickly decided to call a helicopter due to the nature of his injuries, the location, the potential for hypothermia and the difficulty of the carry down.  He had sustained fractured ribs, broken collarbone, gashed head, fractured ankle and compound fracture of his thumb.  He was airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital by RAF Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer in the north east.  There were 17 team members on the fell and the incident closed at 5.30 pm.

A number of photographs were taken which are recreated her - a couple are here to give an appreciation of the location - click on the thumbnail to enlarge

plus     more photos of the rescue 'click here'       thanks to Pete Baines for some excellent photos

5/4a:21/1/05(3.00 pm) Friday

Team leader called by the police to respond to a '999' call for walkers overdue.  Whilst the team leader was gathering more information the missing persons turned up safe and well.  Incident stood down.

5/4:31/12/04 (5.16 pm) - Friday

Call from Workington Police to rescue three walkers who had become stuck on Scafell.  The lady and two males, all in their 30's had set off from Wasdale Head at 10.00 am that morning to walk Scafell.  They had climbed up to Mickledore ridge before descending via Cam Spout into upper Eskdale.  They then walked back to Wasdale via Sampson's Stones and up over the shoulder of Slightside.  They eventually ran out of light on the western slopes of  Scafell and called for help on their mobile.  From the information available at the time, the focus of the search was the western slopes.  If this had proved unsuccessful the team would extend the search boundaries.  Fortunately the missing persons were located relatively quickly thanks to the efforts of Rosie, Stephen Walter's recently assessed Search Dog.  This is the second find in the past few weeks and a credit to Stephen and Rosie.  

The missing group were walked safely off the mountain although great care was necessary crossing the swollen rivers and very marshy ground in the region of Burnmoor tarn.  The group were back at the vehicles by 10.30 pm.  The owner of the Wasdale Head Inn invited the team back for Hogmany drinks and a good nosh up (many thanks Howard).  This was particularly appreciated as we had all missed out on the evenings drinking, eating and new year's eve celebrations. As this was the last rescue of the year and also the last rescue that would be alerted on the old 02 pager system I thought it fitting to have a general news page with some pictures of the rescue see here

5/3:25/12/04 (3.56 pm) - Saturday

Call from the Police for the team to assists the ambulance service.  A female sledger in her early thirties had fallen off the sledge on Cold Fell and sustained a serious lower leg break.  The ambulance had been called but the crew were unable to get to the lady.  A group of around eight team members managed to get away from the festivities to provided assistance.  There were quite a few who would have been willing to attend but couldn't drive.  One team member's car had slid off the road and down the back on sheet ice.  The team used the winch on the front of the Land rover to pull it back up the bank.  The rescue was completed and team members got back to their families for a quiet incident free evening.

5/2:14/11/04 (10.00 pm) - Sunday

Call from Workington Police regarding two overdue walkers. The two brothers from Barrow, 21 and 29 year old had set off from the green at Wasdale Head to climb Scafell Pike.  When they hadn't returned home the alarm was raised.  In addition to the Wasdale team, Keswick, SARDA dogs and Duddon Furness were involved in the search and subsequent rescue.  The two walkers had descended Scafell Pike via Lingmel Col and then taken a wrong turning down Pier's Gill itself which is a deep ravine, 300 foot deep and only 5 foot wide in places.  After descending all the waterfall pitches they eventually could go no further when they came to the top of the 60- foot waterfall pitch.  They were both wet through, mildly hypothermic and one had injured his leg when he fell on the last the last pitch.  They were stuck in the Gill for 13 hours and were rescued at around 4.00 am on the Monday morning.  The walker with the injured leg was taken to West Cumberland Hospital.  The rescue base was closed at 1.30 pm after one of the most exhausting rescues the team has undertaken in a long time.  

The following article was written in the Whitehaven news......

Walkers winched from Ravine - A 15 hour mountain rescue operation was carried out in Wasdale after two walkers became stuck in a dangerous ravine.  The two men, from Barrow, had been reported overdue after setting out to do a walk at Scafell Pike and police found their car parked at Wasdale Head.  The alarm was raised at 10.00 pm on Sunday night and Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were alerted.  Team Leader Julian Carradice said "We knew that they didn't have much in the way of emergency equipment so there was concern for their safety".

Together with members from the Keswick Team and search dogs [SARDA Lakes] they set off on the initial search.  Eventually they found the walkers' light but they were stuck in a ravine called Piers Gill and it took  members until around 4.00 am to reach them because of the rocky and dangerous location.

It seems the two men, in their twenties, had become lost and tried to follow a stream but had become stuck in a gulley which was only about 6 yards wide at the bottom but 300 feet high.  They had been stuck in the same place since 3.13 pm.  Long ropes were used to lower rescue members into the ravine, including a team doctor, and the men were winched up to safety.

They were treated for mild hypothermia and one was found to have a knee injury which left him unable to walk.  A stretcher was then required to take him off the mountain and colleagues from the Duddon and Furness mountain rescue team came to help.  He was taken to the West Cumberland Hospital for treatment. Rescue members got home around 1.30 pm on Mandy.          see accident black spot  Piers Gill, Lingmel

 5/1a:10/12/04 (3.00 pm) - Friday

Call from Langdale Ambleside team (LAMRT) to provide radio support for a rescue they were carrying out in the Green Hole / Crinkle Crag area. This turned into a full callout to provide assistance for a group of eleven walkers who were in difficulty in the Green Hole area of Upper Eskdale.  Very shortly after the callout was made, the group in trouble were located by LAMRT and the Wasdale team were stood down

5/1:7/12/04 (2.40 pm) - Tuesday

Call from Workington Police at about 2.40 pm, regarding a single female walker who was apparently lost on Scafell Pike.  She had rung for assistance from her mobile phone and was probably parked in Langdale but that's all we knew at that stage.  The Team Leader made attempts to call her mobile number but didn't get a proper conversation until about 3.15pm.  At that point, we were able to establish that she was on the summit and although she did have a map and compass, she was having difficulty navigating in very poor weather conditions.  Ten members of the Wasdale Team were deployed to provide assistance and she was duly located and escorted to Wasdale Head.  She turned out to be 28 yrs old and living in the London.  She was cold and wet but otherwise unhurt.  Weather conditions on the summit were truly appalling, with very
strong winds and driving, cold rain/sleet.  Visibility was down to only a couple of meters.

She was taken back to our Base at Gosforth before getting a taxi to take her back to Langdale. We were all back at Gosforth at about 8.00 pm.