Rescue Pictures Page

The remembrance Sunday gathering on the summit of Great Gable had just concluded and the 500 plus fell goers and climbers were descending their various descent routes. Cloud was down to Styhead Pass and it was raining, very windy and cold (5 degrees on the summit). A 59 year-old male walker from Lancashire accompanied by his wife had attended the gathering, descended from Gable and were just climbing up Green Gable when he collapsed and lost consciousness. Three walkers close by administered immediate first aid and summoned help.

A Keswick MRT team member was in close proximity and called on the radio "any Wasdale MRT member on Gable?"

Approximately ten Wasdale MRT members had been at the 11 o'clock gathering and were therefore close to the casualty site. Within 5 minutes the first Wasdale team member was on scene to assist followed quickly by a second who had a large bivvy tent, the remainder of the Wasdale members followed in quick succession. The stretcher and casualty bag from the Styhead stretcher box had been collected by three of the Wasdale MRT personnel who had already descended to Styhead.

Within a short period of time the casualty was revived and although still very unwell able to talk. A medivac helicopter was requested along with a call out of the full Keswick MRT. The helicopter from Great North Air Ambulance landed at Styhead Pass (cloud base) after ferrying Keswick team members up from the valley bottom. The joint teams sledged and carried the casualty down the Arron Slack gulley. The casualty was put on board the helicopter and was airlifted to Carlisle. The incident was closed down by mid afternoon. At the time of writing t his report his condition is unknown. The Great North Air Ambulance press release is included below.

The "Pride of Cumbria" took to the sky on Sunday to complete its 100th mission to date. The aircraft was activated by the Police when Keswick MRT requested assistance to help a man who had collapsed on Green Gable. Members of the Wasdale MRT were already on scene. The Pride of Cumbria flew up Green Gable but was unable to reach the summit due to the low cloud base. The helicopter then returned to Seathwaite where members of the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were airlifted to Sty Head Tarn by the helicopter. The mountain rescue team then had to climb a further 1000ft to reach the casualty where he was being treated for exposure. The Mountain Rescue Team then stretchered the patient on the 45 minute descent down Green Gable to Sty Head Tarn where the patient was given further treatment by the Air Ambulance Paramedic before being flown to the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle.

Paramedic Jon Ker on board the Cumbria aircraft said " The Mountain Rescue Teams did a fantastic job and it was brilliant being able to assist the Mountain Rescue Teams to rescue this gentleman off Green Gable and then to airlift him to hospital in a very short time. It was excellent being able to work in partnership with the Mountain Rescue Teams."

	The casualty is in the stretcher ready to be carried down the mountain

Windy, wet and very poor visibility

	The stretcher party appears out of the cloud, now only 10 minutes from the waiting helicopter



	Now they are down onto reasonably level ground

Across the track and on towards the waiting helicopter

	The Great North Air Ambulance, 'Pride of Cumbria'.

The casualty is attended to by the paramedic and team medics.







The casualty is now comfortable on the aircrew's stretcher and being loaded through the purpose designed rear doors.

	Getting ready for take-off

Off to the Cumberland Infirmary. Team members walk back to their vehicles in the valley bottom, a good 45 minutes walk.