The 8th incident in 7 days - 23 June 2003

By a Cherry Nutting

The following true story has been written by Cherry who watched incident number 25 with her family from the summit of Scafell Pike before unfortunately becoming incident number 27 - the full listing of the 8 incidents in 7 days is written at the bottom of this page.  Photographs of the rescue are here

My story proves that you do always have to be prepared because you never know when an accident may happen.  For over twenty years my husband, David, and I have walked in the Lake District and other National Parks in the UK and abroad and sometimes in awful weather or at times when we have felt very tired but nothing awful has ever happened.  We have always been kitted out with the necessary equipment and carried the essential things in case of an emergency.  Fortunately, apart from the odd minor cut or blister, we
have never had to use them, until that is 23rd June 2003.  The following just goes to show how easily things can go wrong.

We had traveled from London to near Penrith to witness the christening of my husband's godson and decided we would spend a couple of days afterwards in Wasdale before returning south.  The weather was wonderful and our children, Fiona (10) and Edward (7) were looking forward to going walking.  We walked up to Sty Head and were all enjoying the wonderful views on the way.  The weather was fantastic and the children were in good shape, so we decided to go along the Corridor route and up to Scafell Pike.

On our way to the top we saw a helicopter approaching and the children have not forgotten that I told them not to wave as we did not want to attract their attention - we were not in need of help.  In fact the helicopter was responding to incident 03/25 and when we got to the top of Scafell Pike we could see the bright yellow helicopter circling around.

We stopped briefly at the summit, ate some snacks and enjoyed some drinks whilst admiring the views all round.  So far it was the best walk we had ever done as both the children were with us and enjoying it and the weather was great.  This was Edward's longest and Fiona's highest walk.

We descended via Mickledore and were making steady progress downhill.  I was in front as David had stopped to take a picture of the children.  I could hear them following just behind me and then suddenly I screamed.  I was still standing and leaning on my trekking poles, which I was using for the first time.  As I looked down at my left leg I let out another awful scream - I was shocked - my left foot was dangling at a peculiar 90 degree angle.  I eased myself down onto the ground and looked at my leg in disbelief.  How could this have happened?  All I was doing was gently walking along. 

Quickly Fiona and David got out their whistles and blew.  They shouted too and for the first time in my life I did not ask my husband to keep his voice down!  Two men, Neil and Dave, members of the Pagets Lady Team taking part in the Magellan Three Peaks Yacht Race, came to our aid with extra layers of bivi bags etc and very quickly the rescue service was contacted.  In the meantime, members of the Gloucestershire canoe water polo team, who were taking part in a sponsored 3 Peaks Challenge also came to our assistance.  Some of the lads kept Fiona and Edward entertained and Will and Ewan kindly stayed with them.  Tim came up and joined the small bunch of people next to me.

It was so kind of these people to stop and help, particularly as they were all taking part in organised events with time constraints.  With a few snippets of information gathered whilst passing the time on the mountainside we have been able to trace everyone via the web and pass on our heartfelt thanks.

At this point of course I have to mention the WMRT.  The moment the first rescuer was sighted, I and those around felt an enormous sense of relief.  Your presence definitely boosted everyone's morale.  I was beginning to shiver quite a lot with shock and those standing around were rapidly cooling down.

The WMRT were amazing.  I immediately felt in safe hands and could not believe the high level of medical expertise amongst the team.  The treatment I received on the mountain was excellent.  Within a few minutes I
was lying under a sort of red tent and being cared for.  My ankle was badly broken and put into an inflatable plastic splint.  By this time the morphine and entonox was working well and the rest seems a bit like a dream.  A Royal Navy helicopter crewman appeared and I was placed in a cradle and winched up into a helicopter - a lovely smooth ride.

I later heard how the rescue team accompanied David, Fiona and Edward back to the Wasdale Head, where we were staying.  I was also impressed that the team went out of their way to make sure that I was reunited with my walking boot and socks which they had had to remove on the mountainside. 

Later on in the casualty department of Whitehaven Hospital, one of the mountain rescue team saw me and I would like to thank him for his good care on the mountain.  Also thank you to the team member who visited me in hospital - Martin, I think.  It all seemed incredible and seeing you again, made me realise it really wasn't a dream.  In fact, a big thank you to all the team for everything you did for myself and the family.  I don't know how we would have coped if you had not been there.

Over the years we have always contributed to the Mountain Rescue collection boxes and we shall certainly continue to do so!  You are a fantastic group of people.

Will and Tim kindly sent us some photos and we have put these together with a couple of ours and are happy for them to be used on the website.

Bye for now
Cherry

PS You may wish to use the correct terms for the splint and tent.

"No need to modify your story Cherry - your account is very accurate and a credit to you - we were really pleased to hear from you and your family and delighted that you are now family supporters number 30.  We hope the accident has not put you off walking and hope to see you in the lakes again, safe and well - thank you on behalf of our team for your contribution to the website - it will help safety awareness on the fells and I am sure prevent other accidents in the future -  Richard Warren, WMRT" 

see Cherry both before and during the rescue here

03/27: 23/6/03 (1705 hrs) - Monday                   

"8 incidents in 7 days, including 3 broken ankles"

Whilst tidying up and closing the base to incident 25, a further call came in to say a lady had broken her ankle below Pikes Crag on Scafell Pike.  There was some initial concern that this lady may have been the one heard in incident 25.  Also we were surprised that a further incident had occurred within1000 meters of the one we had just attended.

The team went out yet again and found the lady with a significant lower leg fracture 30 metres lower than the Woolworth Boulder, on the main descent from Mickledore.  Another helicopter was requested.  The Navy Sea King 177 from Prestwick arrived on scene at the same time as the advance group.  She was airlifted to Whitehaven hospital.

A group of six young men who were on their way up Scafell Pike as part of the 3 peaks Challenge, kindly stopped to help look after the group (father, mother and two young children) until the team arrived.  They had climbed Ben Nevis at 0200 hrs that day and were to carry on to climb Snowdon within a 24 hour period.  The incident had not dampened their enthusiasm to complete the challenge.  They have promised to send some of the photographs of the incident so watch this space

03/26: 23/6/03 (1500 hrs) - Monday

As soon as the helicopter had left the location of incident 24 the team started walking down.  All team members then heard what sounded like a female in pain  and shrieking, high on Scafell around the Shamrock area.  The team split into smaller search groups and scaled all the gulleys in that area including Lord's Rake.  The Sea King helicopter was called back from the hospital to help in the search.  Following an hour of detailed searching, nothing was heard or found.  The team were stood down and returned to Base.  Nothing more could be done unless a further call came in that someone was overdue.

Footnote - following conversations after the incident it was mentioned by climbers who had spent the night out on the mountains that a very similar cry had been heard and that it was a vixen fox on the crags.  The cry that they had heard was similar to what the team had heard. 

03/25: 23/6/03 (1045 hrs) - Monday

The police called the team to respond to a male with a suspect broken leg on Scafell.  On questioning the informant (by mobile phone) it transpired that he was in sight and verbal contact with the injured man who had been descending 'D' gulley to the East of Pikes Crag with a female companion.  He had fallen down the chockstone ( around 10 - 15 metres) and she was crag fast on a ledge above him.  Due to the nature of the fracture and difficulty of evacuation, an RAF Sea King was requested.  The casualty was stretchered down the gulley (approximately 300 metres) and carried to the aircraft which set down in Hollowstones.  The casualty was airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

03/24a: 22/6/03 (2015 hrs) - Sunday

The police called the team whilst still dealing with the previous incident.  Two large groups were overdue following their walks in Langdale.  One group of 12 had been walking Crinkle Crags round to Bowfell and Esk Pike.  As groups can come down the wrong side into Eskdale the police had call WMRT.  Langdale Ambleside Team were called (who were also out on a rescue) but the incident did not develop into a full search.  I understand the group turned up eventually and the incident was close (but not recorded as an official incident). 

03/24: 22/6/03 (2000 hrs) - Sunday

Whilst dealing with the incident below a report came in from the police to deal with another incident.  The local ramblers had completed their walks in Wasdale and had returned to the coach by the lakeside.  One of their party, an 80 year old male had walked off  and had not been seen for an hour.  The advance vehicle was asked to respond to this as the priority incident due to the age of the individual.  The team located the elderly man quickly and the incident was closed.

03/23: 22/6/03 (1925 hrs) - Sunday

Team called to respond to a Father and young child overdue on their walk up Scafell Pike.  One child had already returned to the car at Wasdale Head earlier in the afternoon.  The team were assembled and the advance vehicle went up to commence the search.  The father and child turned up safe and well.

03/22: 19/6/03 (1923 hrs) - Thursday

Workington police paged the team to respond to a 999 mobile call from a group of students from Chitchester University.  One of their party was reported to have fallen into a bog, become stuck and was very wet, cold and agitated.  Initially a limited call-out was carried out followed at 2000 hrs.  The casualty was a young lady and the grid reference was south-east of Esk Buttress.  

When the team's advance party arrived on scene some 90 minutes later, the casualty was in a campsite accompanied by a number of other students and instructors.  She had stabilised and was able to remain with the group who would walk her out in the morning.  The incident was closed at around 0030 hrs the following morning.  Around 15 team members attended. 

03/21: 16/6/03 (1800 hrs) - Monday

The team was called by the police to respond to a mobile '999' call.  A middle aged male walker had a suspect broken ankle somewhere in the Hollowstones area on his descent from Scafell Pike back down to Wasdale Head.  He was with his two sons who had managed to carry him for about an hour.  A passing doctor was already on the scene and had assisted.

Around 20 team members turned out in the very warm evening sun and carried him down on a stretcher to the waiting ambulance at Brackenclose.  The incident was closed down at 2130 hrs.