Rescue at Scarlathing, Upper Eskdale

Sunday 13 March 2005

5/8:13/3/05 (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.  

Scarlathing with Scafell Pike, south summit on the right, and Scafell on the left.  The casualty party are centre left in the background.  The grassy area to the foreground left is where the helicopter crashed some 10 years ago.
The casualty is a male in his mid thirties and is now secure in a casualty bag and on the Bell stretcher ready for the long carry down.
	The Bell stretcher has been assembled from it's two halves.  Head guard is for protection from falling rock or if the stretcher was to turn over. Carrying straps are laid out along each side.
As soon as the team doctor is satisfied that the casualty is comfortable and stable the team will jump into action, even though it doesn't look like it.  I think we were all just pleased to be out on the fells on such a gorgeous day and be able to help someone else in difficulty.
Ready to go with 10 team members ready to sledge
Casualty site now in the far distance and approaching the steep sided gulley where a rope belay is being prepared to provided security for the casualty.
	A narrow iced up path alongside a 50 foot drop into the gill requires a safety back rope (or in this case....safety side rope). Pete Baines, at the front shows the classic method of carrying a stretcher with bulk of the load on his shoulders via the carrying strap and not his arm.
	The coolest casualty of the year.  Nice pair of shades sir....
We are often asked , how do you get your stretchers through the gates if they are locked.  Hand over hand and with great care for the casualty is the answer.

Casualty was then taken to West Cumberland Hospital in one of the rescue vehicles since the injury was not life threatening