Rescue Team call-outs - November 2009 to Present


Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team

List of Call-Outs  


Please remember GOOD PREPARATION AND SUITABLE CLOTHING - MAP, COMPASS, TORCH and KNOW HOW USE THEM and reduce those avoidable rescues

     


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November 2009 - present  

This period [83] incidents as detailed below

[127] including '999' calls / alerts

 

updated 31st December

 


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PREVIOUS YEARS RESCUES

          2009  2008 2007 2006
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 1998 /00 1996/98 1994/96 1994

   Callout Locations 2001 to 2005   see here  

 

There have been no additional callouts since 6.00 p.m. on 31/12/10 when this page was amended     

Google Earth incident locations    updated by one of our supporters

 

Number of '999' calls to date = 127 which includes 83 with the team on the fell and 44 alerts, where the incident was reported in as a '999' but there was no need for any significant team involvement and therefore not formally logged as an incident (given postscript (a) or (b)) - this is where, for example, the Team Leader talks them off the mountain with minimal team member involvement or missing persons turn up before the team is fully mobilised.

To halt the increasing trend of incidents which are simply requests for a guiding service - Mountain Rescue (England and Wales) have partnered with Where-Wolf.com.  A simple Grid Reference Finder which will encourage walkers to learn to use a map and compass see here.  After all the grid reference finder is no use without a map.  This initiative was driven by the Wasdale Team within the Lakes Region for Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) - 

 Information on the safety/public awareness campaign can be found here

Donations to the team  are now being acknowledged at end of incident write up  - MRTs are registered charities - many walkers we meet are surprised that there is no government funding and that all team members are unpaid volunteers - 3,500 covering England and Wales

also see attached video here.............you can help support the team 

 

December 2010

10:83  31/12/10 (7.30 a.m.) - Friday

Callout to support Cockermouth MRT in the extended search for the missing lady who disappeared before Xmas.  Six teams were involved during the day but the missing person was not found.  10 Wasdale MRT members were involved.  Incident support closed later that day.


10:82(a)  24/12/10 (6.23 p.m.) - Friday

Call from the Police to answer a '999' call for help from a male and female walker who were stuck on the Screes path alongside Wastwater by the boulder field.  The team leader advised on their position and persuaded them to walk in the right direction.  They managed to walk off the fell to safety and then onto Santon Bridge.  Incident closed later that evening with no requirement for the team to attend. 

[NY 15242 04777]


10:82  20/12/10 (3.32 p.m.) - Monday

Call from the Police to respond to a '999' call from a fallen walker on Great Gable.  He was located high on the mountain above White Napes to the west of Westmoreland Crags with a reported dislocated knee.  Temperatures were well below freezing.  Chains were required to get the team landrovers up the valley.  Around 13 team members attended.  A Sea King helicopter was requested and RAF Boulmer attended.  While the team were making their way up Great Gable the Sea King arrived and winched the casualty on board, taking him to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.  The incident was stood down and team members returned to Gosforth.  Incident closed at 6.30 p.m.

 [NY 2120 10275]


 

10:81  03/12/10 (2.05 p.m.) - Saturday

'999' call came into the police from a driver who was stuck in snow.  The male and female were initially reported as been stuck on the slip road to the Wasdale YHA.  The team leader questioned the situation and the police agreed that there was little advantage in tasking the team and subsequently withdrew the request.  However, a second call came into the police from the couple who were very concerned, totally lost and unable to identify any habitation.  The team were paged a second time and with this additional information a limited callout was conducted and a landrover with chains dispatched up to Wasdale YHA with three team members on board.  However, the stuck vehicle was nowhere to be found.  A back up team of six were also on standby at the base if required.  The police were asked for more information and when their log was finally sent through, the information put the car on the Birker fell road (some 8 miles from the initial reported position).  The original message that was passed to the police with accurate grid reference was that they had come off the slip 'pery' road on their way to the Wasdale Youth Hostel. With this additional information from the police log the vehicle with male and female occupants was recovered from their off road position and they were safely escorted back out of the valley.  They were indeed stranded in an extremely remote location with no lights to walk to, temperatures well below freezing and no outdoor footwear.  Nine team members were involved and the incident was closed at 7.45 p.m.


10:80  03/12/10 (8.23 p.m.) - Friday

Call to assist the ambulance service following a car accident near the golf club in Whitehaven.  The Ambulance could not get to the area due to the heavy snow.  Two team members living locally managed to get to the crashed car although when they arrived, the vehicle had already been left by the driver who was found unhurt and had appeared from behind a hedge.  The incident was stood down at around 9.00 p.m. with a number of team members having made it to the base at Gosforth through the snow.

 

November 2010

10:79(a)  30/11/10 (9.54 p.m.) - Tuesday

Call to assist the ambulance service with an elderly patient.  In the end the police provided the manpower and the team were not needed.  No further action necessary.  Incident stood down at 10.15 am 


10:79  28/11/10 (10.02 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call to assist the ambulance service for a male in his mid-50s at a hotel in Eskdale who was very unwell, having had a previous serious medical complaint.  The road ambulance had not been able to get up the valley.  Two landrovers were dispatched in very heavy snow with 8 team members including a team doctor.  The man was stabilsed and did not need further treatmenr; the team left to locate the stranded ambulance.  Incident closed at around 11.30 p.m.

 

Description: E:\BlackBerry\pictures\IMG00078-20101128-2323.jpg


10:78  28/11/10 (6.22 a.m.) - Sunday  

Call to assist the ambulance service.  Lady in her 40's with a dislocated knee at Sandwith, near Whitehaven.  Due to weather conditions (ice and snow), the crew were unable to get the lady from the farmhouse.  9 team members including 2 team doctors, attended and the lady was stretcher carried 300 m the the ambulance.  Incident closed at 9.00 a.m.


10:77(a)  21/11/10 (5.20 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from the police regarding an overdue male walker last seen at Windy Gap, Great Gable trying to make his way back to Honister. His companion had got back to Honister via Moses Trod and the overdue walker had failed to turn up.  The incident was passed over to Keswick MRT as the man was most probably in their area.  Wasdale MRT remained on standby to assist if help was required.  However, no further action was needed from Wasdale.

 [NY 21410 10602]


10:77  7/11/10 (1.17 p.m.) - Sunday  

Whilst the team leader was still at the base a further call came in from the Police.  The report was a group of 12 on the summit of Great Gable had a 53 yr old male with injuries to both knees.  A Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer was already in the area following an incident with Langdale and Ambleside team.  The helicopter was tasked to the job and lifted the casualty from the summit.  10 team members were involved although they were stood down once the casualty was on board the helicopter.  Incident closed at 4.00 p.m.

 [NY 21102 10345]


10:76(a) 7/11/10 (12.12 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from Cumbria police for the team to respond to a 50yr old person who was fitting.  They were located 2 miles to the west of Skalderskew farm.  Whilst the Team leader was gathering more information at the base a call came in from the Police to stand down the incident as the Ambulance Service had managed to get to the person.  No further action was required by the team.  Incident closed at 12.41 p.m.  


10:76 06/11/10 (5.27 p.m.) - Saturday  

A mobile phone call came into the Police from a group of walkers who were descending Great Gable and could hear persistent shouts for help coming from the area around the Napes.  A full callout was made and around 15 team members attended and made a search of the area.  A young 17 year old male walker was found above Sphinx Rock in the gulley.  He had fallen and lacerated his hand and injured his knee.  He was given casualty care and roped back down the gulley and walked off the mountain.  incident closed at around 10.30 p.m.

[NY 20832 10120]

October 2010

10:75(a) 31/10/10 (5.48 p.m.) - Sunday  

'999' call came in from a group that were lost and benighted on the descent from Scafell Pike.  They did have a torch and were guided off the mountain by phone directions from the duty Team Leader.  Incident closed later that night.  No action required by team members.


10:75 30/10/10 (11.00 a.m.) - Saturday  

Call came in from the Coastguard whilst the team vehicle was at Wasdale Head supporting a filmed interview with the BBC.  A diver had surfaced too quickly from Wastwater and required assistance.  Air ambulance had already been tasked.  The vehicle with two team members attended.  A road ambulance and air ambulance were already on scene.  No additional support was required form the team.  The diver was flown south to the specialist diving centre.  Incident closed at 12.30 p.m.


10:74(a) 25/10/10 (9.15 p.m.) - Monday  

Request came into the team from a local guest house following concerns over a group of three walkers who had set off from Seathwaite and had failed to arrive at Wasdale Head.  The group consisted a father in his early 40's with his two young children.  Two team members were involved gathering information at the base in readiness for a possible callout when the group eventually turned up half an hour later safe and well.  Incident stood down.


10:74 25/10/10 (10.32 a.m.) - Monday  

Call came in from the Police to respond to a male walker who had collapsed on his ascent of Scafell Pike.  Passing walkers went to his aid and administered cardiac massage (CPR).  An air ambulance was called in plus a RAF Sea King helicopter with winching capabilities. The air ambulance landed on and the paramedic continued with CPR but unfortunately could not resuscitate.  Team members were flown to the casualty site to assist with the casualty evacuation.  Incident closed at around 3.00 p.m. with approximately 15 team members attending.


10:73 13/10/10 (9.30 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Following a report of an overdue male walker in his mid 70's, a team member with his dog Kipper went out on the fell to see if he could find the man.  Kipper located him on the path down to Wasdale Head from Lingmel Nose.  He was very tired and unable to make his way back down on his own.  Three team members were involved and the incident was closed at around 11.30 p.m. - thank you to the family for their donation to the team.

[NY 18945 07575]


10:72 13/10/10 (3.15 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Call from the police to go to he assistance of a male walker with a knee injury on the Scafell Pike descent route above Hollow stones. He was with two colleagues.  Around 15 team members attended and casualty care was given pending the arrival of a helicopter.  A Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer assisted the team to evacuate the casualty by stretcher to Carlisle Infirmary.  Incident closed at 7.30 p.m.

[NY 21080 07659]

 

SeaKing helicopter arrives from RAF Boulmer

 

 

The above two photos were taken by Pete Baines - a team member on scene

Team members descending after the rescue silhouetted on the skyline

Well we would have used the stretcher if the helio didn't use its own - good effort Richard (Left) and Ben (Right)

 

 


 

10:71 13/10/10 (1.00 a.m.) - Tuesday  

Whilst the team were returning to base along the side of Wastwater they noticed a flashing light on the Screes path.   Shouting across to the light there were a group of girls who were stick on the boulder field and only had one very small torch between them all.  A group went across to assist and took them back to the YHA Building at the bottom end of the lake.  Incident closed early morning.  

[NY 15207 04537]


 

10:70 12/10/10 (9.35 p.m.) - Monday  

Two walkers, male and female in their early 60's were long overdue on a walk from Scafell (Eskdale side) to Brackenclose.  They did not have a torch and had a medical history.  Around 15 team members attended along with a SARDA (Lakes) Search dog.  The missing couple were quickly located by Search dog Ollie at the old Peat Hut ruins on the saddle between Burnmoor Tarn and Brackenclose, Wasdale.  They were assisted off the fell.  Incident closed around 1.00 p.m.  

[NY 18265 06372]


10:69 09/10/10 (3.30 p.m.) - Saturday  

A second call came in from an informant who had heard shouts for help in Deep Gill above Lord's Rake.   Casualty was eventually located below Lord's Rake at to lower end of Red Gill.  The 42 yr old male casualty from the Bolton area was with a walking partner. He had fallen around 20 metres and sustained a fractured dislocation of his shoulder along with other injuries.  The helicopter used on incident 68 was called back from Barrow to assist with the evacuation which was high on the crags and in a difficult location for winching due to severe downdrafts. He was eventually air lifted by stretcher and flown to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.  11 team members were involved and the incident was closed at 6.30 p.m.

Casualty site is directly above a 500ft drop and in an extremely hazardous area.  Hollow Stones in the background.  helicopter coming in to drop off the team doctor by winch. 

Two team members high above casualty site adjacent to Red Gill with additional rescue equipment if called for on the radio.

  

Video Part 1 - (Only 5 mins)

 

Video Part 2 - (Only 5 mins)

 

[NY 20552 06924]


10:68 09/10/10 (2.30 p.m.) - Saturday  

'999' call for a fallen male walker on the eastern slopes of Scafell Pike.  The walker in his early 40's had taken a tumble fall and received a head injury.  An sea king helicopter was requested.  RAF Leconfield were training with Langdale and Ambleside team in the area and assisted with the rescue.  Incident closed at 3.30 p.m. when the casualty was in the helicopter and flown to Barrow in Furness General Hospital.  11 team members were involved. 

[NY 21670 07332]


10:67 07/10/10 (7.33 p.m.) - Thursday  

Call from the police to help a group of five walkers plus a dog  who were benighted on Scafell Pike.  They were located at the wall on Lingmell above piers Gill.  They had no lights, no equipment nor food.   A limited call out was made and the group were walked back down the mountain.  12 team members attended, they were located at 10.00 p.m. and the incident was closed at around midnight.    

[NY 21277 07934]

 

September 2010

10:66 25/09/10 (3.47 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call to attend to a walker with an injured leg on Green How.  Air Ambulance attended but could not get close to the casualty due to sloping ground.  They airlifted four team members to the scene who carried the casualty to a suitable pick up point.  In all, around 15 team members attended.  Incident closed at around 6.30 p.m.

[NY 19582 06529]


10:65 21/09/10 (7.19 a.m.) - Tuesday  

Call from police to help two walkers (Three Peakers), male and female in their 20s who had set off from Wasdale in the early hours of the morning and were now lost in a craggy area.  The Duty Team leader assessed their location via their mobile phone which put them in the area below Pikes crag.  A limited call out resulted in around 8 team members being involved.  They were quickly located and walked back down the mountain.  Incident closed at around 11.00 a.m. - Better preparation and training would have avoided the rescue.

[NY 20857 07094]


10:64(a) 16/09/10 (4.38 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call from police four persons two male two female lost in cloud on Scafell pike no injuries. Contacted the party by phone directed them to the path they walked off unaided


10:64  16/09/10 (10.13 p.m.) - Thursday  

Two male walkers from the South of England were descending from Scafell Pike via Lingmell Col /Hollowstones when one of the (51 yr old male) stumbled and landed badly on his shoulder dislocating it.  15 team members attended including a SARDA search dog and a team doctor.  The casualty was given analgesia whilst his shoulder was put back into the joint.  He was then stretchered down the mountain to an ambulance in the valley bottom and taken to Whitehaven Hospital for further treatment.  Incident closed at 2.30 a.m.  Big thank you to the casualty for his donations to the team.

[NY 20373 07349]


10:63  15/09/10 (4.49 p.m.) - Wednesday  

A group of 16 year old male apprentices and supervisor led by instructors, were descending from Illgill Head (Screes) summit when one of the young adults went over on his ankle, and he was unable to walk. 14 team members attended including a team doctor, casualty care and analgesia was given,  the ankle splinted for a suspected fracture and the casualty stretchered off the mountain to an ambulance at Brackenclose road head.  He was taken by road to Whitehaven Hospital.  Incident closed at around 8.30 p.m.

[NY 17400 05220]


10:62  13/09/10 (3.42 p.m.) - Monday  

A group of four walkers visiting the area, a female in early 20's and a male and two females in their early 30's had climbed Scafell Pike and were descending when they found themselves totally cut-off by a raging stream (Lingmell Gill) that earlier in the day had been easily crossed with care.  Very heavy rainfall that day had swollen the becks and although they were well equipped including a survival shelter, a swollen river crossing was out of the question.  There was no safe crossing point and more rain was forecast that evening which would have made evacuation more treacherous and two of the group had medical conditions.  Their medical condition had prevented them from going back up the mountain to find an alternative route.  Wasdale team kitted up for a specialist, swift water evacuation of the four walkers using rope systems and personal protective gear.  The walkers, assisted by rescuers and wading up to their waists were safely brought across the stream and walked back down the mountain.  The roads in the valley bottom remain heavily flooded but passable with care.  18 team members involved including three swift water technicians and six water responders (bankside safety).  Incident closed at around 8.30 p.m.

[NY 19560 07442]

Footage of the rescue can be seen here

 

Plus see team training for water rescues here


10:61  7/09/10 (4.52 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Walker on the descent path from Lingmel Nose stumbled and sustained a sustained a suspected fractured ankle.  The call initially went to the Ambulance service and a road ambulance and air ambulance were dispatched.  This later followed by a call for MRT assistance as the casualty location was some distance from the road head / helicopter.  13 team members attended and the walker was stretchered down to the waiting helicopter.  Incident closed at 6.30 p.m. A big thank you to the lady involved who has kindly donated to the team.

 [NY 18920 07840]


10:60  4/09/10 (6.22 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call came into the team at 4.00 p.m. from Langdale and Ambleside team.  A male lone walker was on the summit plateau of Scafell Pike (Car at Old Dungeon Gill, Langdale).  Efforts to encourage him to find his own way down were unsuccessful so a limited call out was made.   Seven team members including a SARDA (Lakes) dog handler attended.  The walker was located on the summit by Search dog Rosie and he was walked back down to Brackenclose, Wasdale Head.  He was given a lift to Gosforth where a taxi took him back to his car in Langdale.   Incident closed at 10.00 p.m. - 

[NY 21667 07229]

 

August 2010

10:59(a)  28/08/10 (11.52 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call to the team from the police for advice on reported flashing lights on Scafell Pike.  The Deputy Leader investigated the lights which were did not give cause for concern.  The incident was closed shortly after the report with no further action necessary.  The team occasionally is called out for either bright stars on the horizon which appear to be flashing or climbers/walkers descending late at night.  Unless the flashes are regular, a definite call for help (6 flashes) or respond to flashes from the valley bottom, they are regarded as well intentioned false alarms worthy of investigation but not for an emergency response on the fell itself.


 10:59  23/08/10 (4.09 p.m.) - Monday  

Two walkers reported themselves lost on Scafell.  They were inadequately clothed and wet and cold with no torches.  The Leader talked them down to a point where they believed they were OK.  They were still lost at 7.00 p.m. although they could see a big lake in the fading light.  Contact could only be maintained via text and this was hit an miss.  At 10.00 p.m. they were still not down safely off the mountain having been told to report in on '999' when they were down.  Five team members were involved in doing further investigation including taking a vehicle up the valley to check cars and the camp site.  At around 11.00 p.m. a call came in from the walkers to say that they were traveling back to their campsite in Wasdale by taxi after descending into Stonethwaite on the Keswick side.  Incident closed at around 11.30 p.m. We suspected that they had dropped down into Eskdale from the Pike, walked back up to Ill Crag and then descended over Greta End or Esk Hause (Sprinkling Tarn being the Lake they saw) and then down onto the Keswick side.  Another avoidable situation with the correct experience and equipment.  Weather conditions that day were poor with very heavy rain. 


10:58  22/08/10 (9.07p.m.) - Sunday  

A male walker had set off from Wasdale climbing Scafell Pike and then followed some walkers to Scafell where he descended down into Eskdale, walked through Eskdale village and saw a sign and footpath for Nether Wasdale so headed for Wasdale.  He got back onto the fell above Great Hall Gill where he ran out of light and called the team.  Three Wasdale team members including a SARDA search dog went up to find him and walk him back down to Nether Wasdale.  Incident closed at 11.05 p.m.  The man was ill equipped with insufficient experience - an avoidable rescue.

[NY 14550 02757]


 

10:57(a)  21/08/10 (5.45 p.m.) - Saturday  

Two walkers who were attempting the Bob Graham Round found themselves completely lost, somewhere on the tops in the Wasdale area.  They were poorly equipped with laminated map but no compass but not sure where they had been or where they were going.  They were in shorts.  They did not want to team called out but needed some advice hence their '999' call.  The Wasdale Leader who was dealing with the call kept his phone open until 3.00 a.m. but after that there was nothing more he could do as their location was unknown and they were not in any danger.  Incident closed at 3.00 a.m. with no further involvement.  Another avoidable rescue call.


10:57  16/08/10 (5.45 p.m.) - Monday  

Call from the police.  A group were reported to be cragfast in a Gulley adjacent to Pikes Crag, Scafell Pike.  A Deputy Leader (DTL) already on Scafell (Lords Rake) had heard the screams for help, and raised the alarm via the police.   The shouts were coming from the top of Pikes Crag.  Five people had tried to walk down "D Gully". One of the party had taken a tumble fall (un injured) and got stuck on a rock. above the steep pitch.  The DTL on the fell was in touch with another of the Team's Deputy Leaders.  The DTL scrambled down to find that two local climbers had got to the stuck person and were roping him down the crag.  One of the climbers then walked the crag fast person to the Woolworth Boulder and the second climber plus DTL returned to the top of the gully opposite Pulpit
rock where the other four members of the group were sitting.  The group had no experience were all wearing shorts t shirts and trainers and did not have a map or compass. They had began to feel really cold and had no extra clothing to wear.

The cloud had come in and they needed guided to  Mickledore.   The climber kindly agreed to guide them all the way down to the Woolworth boulder to meet the rescued cragfast person.  The incident was closed around 6.30 p.m.

[NY 20997 07204]


10:56  10/08/10 (12.30 a.m.) - Tuesday  

Whilst driving up the valley to interview the informant for incident 55 the leader was stopped by a passing motorist to say that there was a man lying in the middle of the road in Strands Village.  The police were notified and the two leaders went straight to the scene.  The male was lying in the road covered by a blanket and alive but suitably unconscious (worse for wear).  He was given some casualty care to ensure that he was not in any danger and the situation was handed over to the police.  The two team members continued up the valley to speak with the father of the two lost sons and proceed with the search.  


10:55  9/08/10 (11.51 p.m.) - Monday  

Call came in from the police for two overdue/lost walkers on Scafell Pike.  The two male walkers, 23 yr and 24 yr old were with their father attempting the three peaks challenge when they became separated on their descent back to Wasdale Head.  The father was interviewed by two of the team's deputies and it transpired that they had left the summit at 8.00 p.m. and descended via the Corridor Route.  The father had come off the path and over Stand Crag.  He lost sight of the son's who were thought to be in the Piers Gill area.  A full callout followed with 9 team members on the fell plus a recently qualified SARDA Search dog (Ollie) with handler from the Wasdale team.  The two walkers were located by Ollie at the head of Piers Gill at 4.00 a.m.  They had descended into Piers Gill but returned to the top when they found no safe exit (Piers Gill is one of Wasdale's incident black spots).  The two brothers walked back down with the team.  Incident closed at 6.30 a.m.

[NY 21352 07834]


10:54  4/08/10 (9.00 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Whilst dealing with incident 53 a further request came in from the police for three overdue from Scafell Pike back to Hardknott. Due to the fact that team members were already dealing with the motorbike incident, the team carried out a search for the three overdue walkers vehicle which was not found.  The missing walkers turned up at home an hour later.  LAMRT assisted with a check toward Wrynose Pass.


10:53  4/08/10 (8.57 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Call came in for the team to assist an incident on Hardknott Pass.  This was an ambulance assist to recover a motorcyclist who had fallen from his bike on Hardknott and had a suspected broken / dislocated hip.  Two team members were already on scene (via first responder alert) and two team doctors attended following their callout by the ambulance service.  A further two team members went to the incident site by team landrover.  The casualty was given first aid and carried to the ambulance in a vacuum mattress / team stretcher. The incident was closed late that evening.


10:52 (a) 3/08/10 (23.45 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Police paged  for a group of 4 doing the 3 peaks challenge, lost in mist on descent from summit of Scafell Pike. They had torches, whistles and a GPS which wasn’t working,  but no map or compass, and were relying on knowledge from a previous visit. With nothing to give the incident leader any clue as to which direction they were facing when standing with their backs to the hill it was difficult to give advice. The incident leader was reluctant to call out the team for yet another non-emergency, given how busy the last few weeks have been and how many members had earlier said they would not be able to attend if another incident occurred because of work commitments. The group was eventually talked off by the incident leader without the team going out and the incident closed at 3.50 a.m. on 4th August. 


10:52 3/08/10 (4.45 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Police paged for elderly male in his late 60's who had fallen in upper Eskdale and banged his head. He was with his family and his grandson had run down to Taw House Farm to raise the alarm with no mobile phone signal on the fell.  He was located on the path below Rowantree Crags.  The air ambulance was asked to assist. They attended and airlifted the casualty to hospital. Whilst attending this incident, the team encountered the individual from the first incident.   Around 13 team members attended and the incident was closed at around 7.00 p.m. - A big thank you to the family member who made a donation to the team.

[NY 21560 03394]


10:51 3/08/10 (2.11 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Police paged the team for single male and dog lost in mist near Lingmell Beck/Sty Head and not far off summit of Scafell Pike (a physical impossibility). Whilst the incident leader was talking to the person by phone, the lost walker saw some other walkers and was advised to try and make contact with them and the incident leader would phone him back in 15 minutes. Did so – no answer.

He was found at the bottom of Cam Spout later in the day by another group of walkers on their way up Scafell Pike. They turned round and helped him walk back down, not particularly pleased at having their day ruined. He met the team whilst they were attending incident 52 in Eskdale.  He was walked back down to the roadhead and taken to Gosforth where he arranged a taxi to return to his car at Wasdale Head.  Team members involved 3.  Incident closed at around 7.00 p.m.


 

10:50 1/08/10 (10.46 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from the police for 70 year old male walker who was overdue on Great Gable.  Whilst team members assembled ready to search the mountain the missing walker turned up safe and well.  Incident stood down at 11.30 pm.


10:49 (a) 1/08/10 (5.34 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from the police for a pair of walkers stuck in mist on the summit of Scafell Pike.  The pair were talked off the mountain.  No further action required by the team and the incident was closed at 7.24 p.m. when they reported in said that they were now OK.

 

July 2010

010:49 31/07/10 (10.00 p.m.) - Saturday  

Whilst the team were involved in incidents 47 and 48 a further request came in for a group of five who were missing on Scafell Pike.  They were part of a larger group and had become separated.  They had last been seen by team members on top of the Pike at 3.30 p.m.- a small search group who were on Broad crag were sent to check out Little Narrow Cove.  At around 11.30 p.m. the informant reported in that they had turned up safely at the Old Dungeon Inn hotel and were making their 2way back to their vehicles in Wasdale by taxi. 


010:48 31/07/10 (~8.00 p.m.) - Saturday  

Whilst the team were involved in incident 47 a further call came in from the police to the base for a male and female walkers who were lost on Scafell Pike.  The grid reference put them on the side of Slightside (Scafell).  Duddon and Furness MRT were called in to assist and found the couple who had also joined up with another group of lost walkers.  They were located and walked off back to Brotherikeld.  See D&F MRT website for full details.   Incident and base closed at 6.00 a.m.


010:47 31/07/10 (6.37 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call came in from the police for an 80 yr old male walker who had sustained an injury to his leg descending Scafell Pike.  His location was given as Broad Crag Col. but he was located on the col between Broad Crag and Ill Crag.   He was with an organised group.  15 Wasdale MRT members attended and he was stretchered to the top of Grains Gill where members of the Keswick MRT came up to the top of Grains Gill to take over from Wasdale and carry him back down to Seathwaite.

A donation has been gratefully received to be shared between Keswick MRT and Wasdale MRT - Thank you to the casualty for the donations and his kind words.

[NY 22077 07572]


010:46(b) 28/07/10 (8.37 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Call came in from the police regarding overdue walkers but before the details could be taken fully the walkers turned up safe and well.  Incident closed at 8.50 pm with no further action necessary.


010:46(a) 27/07/10 (5.30 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Two people phoned the police to say they were lost on Great Gable.  The said they were stuck on a crag overlooking the Wasdale Head Hotel.  The Team's leader made calls to the lost persons and established that they were on the grassy col at the top of Greta Hellgate.  They were talked back up to the summit and they given bearings to get them back down to Styhead.  They were safely back down at 8.00 p.m. when incident closed with no requirement for team members to go out on the fell. 

[NY 20972 10197]


010:46 26/07/10 (7.49 p.m.) - Monday  

Call from the Police.  A Duke of Edinburgh group of around 8 were descending from Styhead into Wasdale.  A 17yr year old female in their party feinted and could not walk further. She was stretchered back down to Wasdale head and taken by Ambulance to West Cumberland Hospital.  16 team members attended and incident closed at around 10.30 p.m. 

[NY 20665 09430] 


010:45 25/07/10 (7.37 p.m.) - Sunday  

13 yr old boy overdue on Greta Gable.  The Mother and sister had walked up to Styhead and the boy had wanted to climb Greta Gable so left them at Styhead and agreed to meet them later.  He was had no equipment.  He reported in that he was lost in mist near some little ponds.  20 Wasdale MRT plus 20 Keswick MRT plus SARDA dogs were deployed.  Cockermouth on Standby.  The lost boy eventually turned up at the Langstrath County Hotel in Stonethwaite after walking down Langstrath via Esk Hause.  Incident closed at around 11.30 p.m.


010:44 24/07/10 (10.17 p.m.) - Saturday  

Callout regarding a missing 70 yr old grandfather and 10 yr old grandson.  The pair had sent off from Wasdale Youth Hostel heading for Gillerthwaite Youth Hostel in Ennerdale via Haycock.  6 members of Wasdale MRT along with the Cockermouth MRT and SARDA search dogs were mobilised.  The grandfather had injured his leg in the Haycock area and the 10 yr old had set off down into Ennerdale to raise the alarm.  He became lost in the forested area.  He was located by the Cockermouth team and the injured grandfather was airlifted to hospital by Sea King.  Wasdale were stood down at around midnight.


10:43(a) 20/07/10 (6.00 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Call-out for two lost walkers on the corridor route descent from Scafell Pike.  Although at first they refused to move (located at the head of Piers gill), they were advised how long it would take for the team to get to them, given directions and they eventually made their own way down to the stream crossing at the bottom of Brown Tongue.  They then called again to say that the crossing was swollen, that there was another group of 6 unable to cross, and they required help.  Two were stuck on steep ground as they had attempted to avoid the Brown Tongue crossing.  A group three peakers eventually came along and assisted them in getting across the stream and ensured that they were all OK.  Another group, from South Wales, also doing the three peaks, assisted them down and ran some into town.  Incident closed at 11.00 p.m.

[Additional information provided by a member of the first three peaks group who dropped the team an email - thankyou for your assistance]

 


010:43 20/07/10 (5.30 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Call-out via Cumbria Police  for a 19 yr old casualty with a dislocated knee at Rank Bank, Eskdale.   The casualty had been climbing but dislocated the knee off the crag.  The casualty was carried by stretcher to the Eskdale Outward Bound and then taken to hospital in their vehicle.  Incident closed later that evening with 13 team members involved.

[NY 14770 00365]  


010:42(a) 18/07/10 (2.30 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call came into the police from a mobile phone from a group of seven walkers from the Bradford area who were lost on their descent from the summit of Scafell Pike.  They were inexperienced, had no map or compass and inadequate clothing.  Weather conditions were wet and windy with cloud down to the valley.  From the description given, their location was most probably at the head of Piers Gill or around the Lingmell Col area.  While communication was being maintained with the lost party, another group of lost walkers came across them.  This group of eight from Cornwall, which included two leaders and 6 juniors, had maps and compass and although lost were not seeking rescue.  They agreed to retrace their steps back to the summit of Scafell Pike, taking the lost Bradford group of seven with them and then re-navigating their way back off the mountain to Wasdale Head.  At 3.50 p.m. the now larger group of 15 had reached the summit and were heading off towards Mickledore before turning back down into Wasdale.  The Cornish group leaders were now confident of their descent route as this was the way they had come up.    They were asked to call into the police when they were safely back down.  At around 4.00 p.m. the Bradford group called the incident leader to say that they were now happy, descending with the Cornish group and they no longer required assistance.  The Wasdale team were stood down and the police notified accordingly.

At 9.00 p.m. the team were called out by the police.  A worried male at Seathwaite who was supporting a group of seven from the Bradford area, reported a long overdue group who had failed to turn up from their walk up Scafell Pike.  Whilst the incident leader was gathering information from both the police and the informant, the group of seven turned up at Seathwaite in their taxi, having had to be driven all the way round from Wasdale head to Seathwaite (around 90 minutes) - Alls well that ends well.  Incident stood down with no further action necessary. 

  [NY21350 07839]


010:41(continued) 18/07/10 (10.09 a.m.) - Sunday  

Further to the previous days searching, new information was received by the police which required searching to be focused with regard to possible locations.   In addition to around 10 Wasdale MRT, resources were also called in from Fire and Rescue, Coastguard to participate in another search.  At around 2.30 p.m. a second callout came from the police control room (Incident 42(a)).  This was handled by other Wasdale MR team members who were not involved in the search.  The search for the missing person continued until 4.00 p.m. and then was stood down.  Wasdale MRT returned to base to pick up the second incident.  

  [NY21920 09505]


 

010:42 17/07/10 (3.58 p.m.) - Saturday  

Whist searching for the missing male, the team were called out to respond to a '999' from an informant who reported a dislocation injury (Knee or Shoulder) with a location description of the bad step on the Corridor Route but a grid reference of Styhead.  Around 15 team members attended from both incident 41 and from home. Whilst the team were making their way on the fell, the air ambulance managed to land on and evacuate the casualty to hospital.  Incident closed at around 6.00 p.m.

  [NY21920 09505]


010:41 17/07/10 (8.50 a.m.) - Saturday  

Team were called out by the police to carry out searches in the Cleator, Longlands Lake area for a male in his early 50's who had been missing for 3 days.  Around fifteen team members from Wasdale MRT, supported by four SARDA (Lakes) search dogs and members of the Cockermouth MRT spent the day looking for the missing person.  At 4.00 p.m. a further call came in for an injury on Scafell Pike.  Cockermouth MRT continued the search whilst Wasdale attended the second incident.   


010:40 (a) 10/07/10 (8.42 a.m.) - Saturday  

Team asked to call Whitehaven Police for an incident.  Following discussion the incident was stood down with no further action necessary.


010:40 09/07/10 (6.13 p.m.) - Friday  

Callout for a walker with possible Hypothermia on the summit of Scafell Pike.  The two walkers, brother and sister, were very cold, wet and shivering and lost.  Weather was wet and windy with mist down to low level.  Despite reasoning with them, the female refused to move. They were sheltering next to  a cairn on one of the summit paths.  As there was potential for two carry down casualties the team was called out. When eventually advised that it would take the team some time to get to them there was a change of mind and they decided that perhaps they might just be fit enough to move and make their  way down under their own steam.  They were talked down off the mountain and when they got to Hollowstones they were happy to carry on down on their own.  The team were eventually stood down.


010:39 08/07/10 (3.36 p.m.) - Thursday  

Call from the police to assist a male who was suffering from violent sickness and stomach cramps and unable to continue.  The two males had left Boot with the intention of walking back to Langdale via Scafell and Scafell Pike.  The casualty was taken ill on the Hardrigg Gill path in Kettle Cove on the slopes of Scafell above Burnmoor Tarn. Given the condition of the casualty and the nature of his illness it was decided to ask for assistance from Air ambulance.  Team members were on scene when the air ambulance arrived and assisted with the casualty into the aircraft there were ten team members on the hill.  


[NY19672 05884]


010:38(b) 05/07/10 (8.00 a.m.) - Monday  

Call came in from the Police for three 18/19 yr olds on the Three Peaks Challenge.  They were on their way up at the Mickledore Stretcher box and were seeking reassurance as to where they were.  They were contacted by the Incident Leader who put them on the right bearing up to the summit as they were insistent on carrying on.  They were also given a description of the summit and a bearing from there to Lingmel Col as they did not want to go back down the route they had come up. 

A second call in from the police later that day to say that the group were again lost on their descent.   The incident leader talked to them and established that they were in the hollow below Broad Crag Col.  They were given instructions to get to the head of Piers Gill and bear left along the wall to Lingmel Col.  A team member spoke to the father at Wasdale Head to explain the situation and the father then decided to go up the mountain to meet them coming down. A subsequent call from the Police came in when the mother had called advising that she had spoken to the father who had turned round after not meeting them.  Eventually the three lost persons turned up at 2.30 p.m. having possibly walked down from the Burnthwaite side.  Incident closed at 3.00 p.m. with no further action required by the team.


010:38(a) 04/07/10 (9.13 a.m.) - Sunday  

Call came into the Police for a  walkers incident on the Pike.  By 9.25 a.m. sufficient information had been gathered to stand down the tea. Note: Weather warning in force for heavy rain and gale force winds. Previous evening, whilst returning from incident 38 there were significant numbers of three peaker minibuses (around 20 vehicles counted at 7.00 p.m. when we passed and many more heading up the valley)  


010:38 03/07/10 (4.28 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call came into the Police for an injured walker near Styhead.  A group of four from Worcester had set off earlier in the day from Seathwaite and were descending Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route.  One of the party, a lady in her early 40's had sustained a knee injury (soft tissue) near the summit but had managed to get down as far as Skew Gill under her own steam before having to stop and call for assistance.  13 team members on the fell and two on base attended.  She was given casualty care on scene and although tried to walk down with assistance, required stretchering back down to the Wasdale Head Hotel where they awaited their transport from the Keswick side.  Incident closed at 7.30 p.m.

[NY22135 09122]


010:37(b) 02/07/10 (7.44 p.m.) - Friday  

Call came into the Police for two lost walkers Scafell Pike.  They managed to get themselves off the mountain with help over the phone.  Incident stood down as the lost walkers had turned up safe and well before any decision was required to mobilise the team.  Incident closed at 9.50 p.m.


010:37(a) 02/07/10 (7.05 a.m.) - Friday  

Call came into the Police for three missing walkers on Scafell Pike.  They turned up safe and well before any decision was required to mobilise the team.  Incident closed at 7.40 a.m.

 

June 2010

010:37 24/06/10 (11.58 p.m.) - Thursday  

Call came into the Police for missing walkers from a concerned wife who phoned in from the farmhouse at Cockley Beck.  The group included a 61 year old with diabetes along with two 23 yr olds.  They were overdue at Cockley Beck coming down from Scafell Pike, presumably lost somewhere in upper Eskdale.  The group had no torches.  The Langdale Ambleside MRT were also alerted by Wasdale MRT.  A full callout took place.  Before the team were deployed on the fell the missing group turned up safe and well at Wha House Farm, Eskdale.  A number of team members turned out for the search.  Incident stood down at 12.45 a.m. 


010:36 (b) 13/06/10 (7.34 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call came into the Police from group of 10 walkers who had become lost in Great Moss, Upper Eskdale.  The Team Leader decided to wait until 10.00 p.m. before considering further action.  At 10.08 the lost walkers managed to get themselves off the mountain and back down to the road.  No team members went onto the fell.  Incident closed at around 10.15 p.m.


010:36 (a) 10/06/10 (10.52 a.m.) - Friday  

Call to the police for overdue three peakers.  The three walkers had set off from Seathwaite at 4.30 a.m.  They were scheduled to be down by 9.00 a.m.  Their driver had waited until 11.00 a.m. before deciding to callout mountain rescue.  The decision was made to wait until 12.00 midday before doing anything .  The three walkers turned up safe and well at 12.20 p.m.  Incident closed at 12.30 p.m.


010:36 10/06/10 (1.43 p.m.) - Thursday  

Cumbria Police called out the team to recover the body of a 71 year old male walker who had been found by walkers below Great Napes Crags in the gulley between Sphinx and Arrowhead Ridge.  He had sustained fatal injuries after falling around 20 to 30 metres.  He had been missing for three days after setting off from Seathwaite.  Keswick MRT and SARDA (Lakes) had been searching for the walker since he went missing.   Nineteen team members attended and stretchered him back down to Wasdale Head.  Incident closed at around 8.00 p.m.

[NY20907 10050]


010:35 8/06/10 (6.00 p.m.) - Tuesday  

Call from Ambulance Control for MRT assistance.  A male walker in his early 50's had fallen and sustained a dislocated shoulder.   Team members were airlifted to the cloud base on Lingmel Col by the Great North Air Ambulance and made there way up to the incident site, some 50m above the Mickledore stretcher box.  He was anaesthetized by the team doctors and his shoulder put back in.  22 team members were involved in the rescue and brought the injured walker down Mickledore Gulley to Hollowstones.  A sea king helicopter was called in from RN Gannet, Prestwick and the casualty was stretcher winched into the helicopter and flown to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.  The incident was closed at 10.30 p.m.

[NY21107 06957]


010:34(b) 7/06/10 (11.35 p.m.) - Monday  

A '999' call came in from a wife of an overdue walker on Scafell Pike.  He was well equipped and had no medical history.  Police checked the campsite where his wife thought he was staying and he was found there.  Incident closed at 11.48 p.m.


010:34(a) 3/06/10 (11.41 p.m.) - Thursday  

An informant at Wasdale National Trust campsite reported seeing flashing lights on the Scafells.  Leaders investigated the sightings but stood the incident down at 00.12 a.m. It became clear that the lights were unlikely to be a distress signal and were likely to be people walking off the hill in the dark.   Well intentioned false alarm.  Two team members involved but no fell going action necessary.


010:34 2/06/10 (4.55 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Team called out by Police to assist with the search operations following the fatal shootings in Cumbria.  Around 200 MRT members from across Cumbria, South Scotland, North East England and North West England were called in to assist Wasdale.  Search dogs from as far away as Glencoe were brought in to support Wasdale MRT.  Searches of verges and fields alongside all the local roads used by the taxi driver that carried out the shootings were completed by 10.30 p.m. The teams were reconvened at 5.00 a.m. the following morning to carry out similar searches to the north of Rowrah where the first shootings took place.  Incident closed at around 11.00 am on the Thursday.  Over 100 miles of roadside verges were involved.

 

May 2010

010:33 31/05/10 (1.20 p.m.) - Monday  

Mobile phone call to the police from an informant with an 18 yr old male who was suffering from severe dehydration on Scafell Pike.  15 team members attended but as the team were on their way another call came in to say that he was now moving down the mountain.  The incident was stood down after around an hour once it was established that he could make his way safely off the mountain with help from his friends.


010:32 26/05/10 (3.39 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Mobile phone call to the police from a walker who had heard shouts for help from the area below Lingmel Crags.  Subsequent calls confirmed that there was a genuine person in difficulty.  Full call out and 19 team members attended.  Before the team could get to the location (Piers Gill), the male walker had managed to make contact with passing walkers who had assisted him to get himself out of the gulley.  Piers Gill is one of the team's incident black spots.  Incident closed at 6.30 p.m.

[NY21152 08277]


010:31 25/05/10 (2.30 p.m.) - Monday  

'999' mobile phone call from a climbing party of two on Napes Needle, Great Gable.  Male climber in his thirties had fallen and lacerated his upper leg.  18 team members attended.  He was given casualty care on scene and marsupial'd down from the base of Napes Needle into the gulley bottom, then stretchered down the steep, very loose gulley to the walkers traverse where he managed an assisted walk back down to the valley bottom.  Incident closed at 7.30 p.m.  

[NY20955 09992]


010:30(a) 23/05/10 (12.01 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call came in from Cumbria Police for a heads up on a male at risk.  He had arrived in the Wasdale area, made contact with people back home and was at risk.  A second call came in from the police at 2.30 p.m. to advise that the missing person had turned up safe and well in Keswick.  No further action required. 


2010:30 16/05/10 (7.50 p.m.) - Sunday  

Male walker in his 40's accompanied by two males in their late teens was doing a recce for the three peaks challenge when he suffered severe chest pains.  A passing walker advised that he should rest in a survival bag whilst he carried on back to Seathwaite to raise the alarm.  The location of the group was bottom of Little Narrow Cove, Upper Eskdale.  A Sea King was requested and although airspace was closed due to volcanic ash, a flight was tasked.  An advance a and back up team were sent to the location on foot as a backup.

[NY22730 06604]


2010:29 15/05/10 (3.37 p.m.) - Saturday  

Call for a 35yr old female walker with a suspected fractured ankle on the Corridor Route down from Scafell Pike, near Chriscliffe gulley  .  Due to limited numbers of team members available, Sea King helicopter called in which assisted in the evacuation to West Cumberland hospital.   9 team members involved and the incident was closed at 7.00 p.m.

[NY21630 08034]


2010:28 13/05/10 (6.38 p.m.) - Wednesday  

'999' report to the police for an injured Labrador dog at Greta Gill.  The dog was stuck on the bad step, Corridor route descent from Scafell Pike.  The team responded and after bandaging the dogs paws assisted the walkers and dog back to Styhead Pass where they carried on down to Seathwaite. Incident closed later that evening.

[NY21895 08524]


2010:27 10/05/10 (5.16 p.m.) - Monday  

75 yr old male walker in a party of three with severe leg cramps descended from Styhead following a walk across from Langdale and could walk no further.  Located on the main path below Lower Kern Knotts on Great Gable. The informant raised the alarm from the Wasdale Head Hotel as there was no mobile phone signal from the casualty location. 15 team members attended.  While driving up the valley the call came in that he had managed to get himself back down to the valley bottom.  Incident closed at 6.15 p.m.

[NY21277 09495]


2010:26(a) 09/05/10 (9.20 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from the police to respond to a worried relative who had not heard from a group of walkers who had left to climb Scafell Pike earlier that day.  The Team Leader gathered more information on the group and potential incident which was eventually closed at 10.35 p.m. when the overdue walker turned up safe and well.  No other team members were involved hence recorded here as an alert.


2010:26 07/05/10 (4.53 p.m.) - Friday  

'999' call to the police from a stranded motorist on Hardknott Pass.  When the need for the team to respond was questioned by the Leader, the police advised that life was at risk as the car was over the edge.  5 team members attended following a limited callout but before they arrived at Hardknott pass they met a police vehicle returning that confirmed that the matter had been sorted.  Incident closed around. 6.00 p.m.  


2010:25 02/05/10 (3.26 p.m.) - Sunday  

Call from the police to rescue a 10 year old boy and his mother from the bottom of Greta Gill.  The young boy had fallen about 10 meters into the bottom of the gulley from the main corridor route path (very close to incident 23 and  20).  He sustained a serious head injury.  His mother had climbed down to him but fell and fractured her leg.  A Sea King helicopter was requested which flew the team doctors (three) plus team members to the scene.  Both casualties were given casualty care and evacuated by the helicopter to Whitehaven Hospital.  14 team members were involved and the incident was closed at 6.00 p.m.

[NY21905 08457]


2010:24(a) 01/05/10 (6.00 p.m.) - Saturday  

When the team got back the base from incident  23 and 24, there was a further '999' from two foreign walkers who said they were lost on Scafell.  Following a lengthy question and answer session over a one hour period it became clear that they were not on Scafell and most probably on Kirk Fell (the other side of the valley).  The eventually managed to see through the cloud and found a way down back to Wasdale Head.  Incident closed at around 7.00 p.m.

[NY19460 10435]


2010:24 01/05/10 (4.00 p.m.) - Saturday  

Whilst incident 23 was being dealt with the team were approached by the father of a 24 year old who was suffering from sever vertigo and could not proceed further.  He was at the head of Greta Gill and needed to climb the rock step before making his way back via Styhead.  He realised that he had to climb the rock step that the walker had just fallen from.  Two team members roped him up and led him across the exposed rock section and assisted him to climb the step.  Incident completed quickly and over by 4.30 p.m.  

[NY21907 08474]


2010:23 01/05/10 (2.00 p.m.) - Saturday  

Male walker in his mid 40's with three friends from Berkshire were descending the rock step above Greta Gill on the Corridor Route when he fell around 40 meters down the slope sustaining chest, shoulder injuries and damaged knee.  He was treated on scene by a team member who was close by and eventually joined by 13 team members.  Due to the nature of the incident a Sea King was requested and RN Gannet from Prestwick attended.  The casualty was given analgesic by the team doctor, placed in a Vacuum mattress on a stretcher and winched into the helicopter and taken to Whitehaven hospital.  15 team members attended and the incident closed at 6.45 p.m.

   [NY21857 08512]

April 2010

2010:22(a) 30/04/10 (5.04 p.m.) - Friday  

'999' call received from an informant who reported a dog barking and whistling across the Lake on the Screes.  When questioned it became apparent that the shouts were limited to one episode and that there was no real evidence that someone was in difficulty.  A well intentioned false alarm.  No team members put out on the fell, incident closed at 5.30 p.m.


2010:22 29/04/10 (4.07 p.m.) - Thursday  

Rescue of a female walker in her 20's who was descending Great Gable in a party of four.  She fell and sustained an open (compound) fracture of her tibia (lower leg).  She was losing significant blood and in addition a further member of the group had an injury to her ankle and was struggling to walk.  Around 15 team members attended and the two casualties were evacuated by Sea King helicopter to Whitehaven hospital.  Incident closed at 9.00 p.m.  

 

[NY20865 10442]

 

 


2010:21(a) 24/04/10 (4.16 p.m.) - Saturday  

Team called out by the police following a '999' call from a walker who heard cries for help.  When the team leader contacted the lady, she advised that the cries for help had now stopped and the person was able to make his/her own way off.  Incident closed with no action taken.


2010:21 23/04/10 (4.16 p.m.) - Friday  

Team called out for a cragfast walker on Scafell.  A Party of seven were descending via the Broad Stand path when one of their party became stuck on some loose scree.  The callout was made and although the team were looking in the Foxes Tarn area, the stranded walker was in fact above Broad Stand.  17 team members attended and the stranded walker was assisted by rope onto safe ground and then walked back down to Brackenclose.  Incident was closed around 10.00 p.m.

[NY20945 06827]


2010:20 (d) 11/04/10 (4.08 p.m.) - Saturday  

Team called out by police but no action taken - a bit of a theme developing here


2010:20 (c) 10/04/10 (9.10 p.m.) - Friday  

Team called out by the police but no action taken


 

2010:20 (b) 08/04/10 (9.48 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Team called out by the police for two missing walkers on the Pike.  No action taken but decision to review again at 11.00 am the following day.  They turned up safe and well at 9.00 a.m.  Incident closed.


2010:20 (a) 07/04/10 (9.23 p.m.) - Wednesday  

Team called out by the police for a missing walker who had set off to walk from Boot to Langdale.  No action was taken at that stage but the situation was to be reviewed the following morning.  The missing person turned up safe and well at the Woolpack in Eskdale the following morning.  No team members put out on the fell 


2010:20 04/04/10 (1.33 p.m.) - Sunday  

Called out to rescue a 24 yr old male who had sustained a closed fracture of his left forearm.  The party of six had left Seathwaite to climb Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route.  Whilst descending the rock step above Greta Gill, a large boulder came away, falling down and hitting his arm and sending him 5m down the rock step .  Fortunately he was prevented from carrying on don into the Gill by another walker who stopped him falling further.  He was given analgesia on scene and a Sea King from RAF Boulmer winched the casualty on a stretcher and strop lifted his wife.  They were both flown to whitehaven hospital.  Around 12 team members were involved and the incident was closed at around 5.00 p.m.

[NY21895 08524]


2010:19 03/04/10 (1.57 p.m.) - Saturday  

Female walker in her late 40's slipped on the path between Eel tarn and Boot.  Dislocated fracture of the left ankle.  She was given strong analgesia in addition to entonox and was stretcher carried down to the vehicles.  She was passed to the ambulance crew at Boot and taken to Whitehaven Hospital.  Around 15 team members attended and the incident was closed at around 5.00 p.m. 

[NY18420 01914]


2010:18 01/04/10 (12.35 p.m.) - Thursday  

Family of four including two very young children were stuck in their car near the summit of Hardknott Pass.  They had pulled off the road to avoid another car and were totally stuck.  Although below the snowline they were very cold and had no way of walking off.  They had contacted the AA who referred them to mountain rescue.  A limited callout was made and 7 team members were involved.  The car was duly pulled back onto the road and the family carried on their journey to Ambleside.  Incident closed at 2.15 p.m.

[NY22730 01492] 

March 2010

2010:17(a) 20/03/10 (3.56 p.m.) - Saturday  

Called out by police to help a male walker who believed he was lost on the summit of Scafell.  When questioned by the Team leader he was actually on the summit of Scafell Pike.  He was given directions over the phone and he made his way safely off the mountain into Wasdale where he got a taxi back to Seathwaite.


2010:17 20/03/10 (3.56 p.m.) - Saturday

Team paged by the police following a '999' call from a lone male walker on the summit of Scafell Pike, lost in low cloud.  The team leader established that he had no idea where he was apart5 from a steep snow slope with rocks.  He had been with a larger group but had become separated.  A full team callout was made due to the conditions.  Shortly after the lost person had managed to make his way back to the summit.  The full callout was reduced to  a limited callout as the lost walker managed to tag along with another group.  he was eventually re-united with his group at Brackenclose.  Incident closed down early evening when it was confirmed he was safely off the fell.  


2010:16 (b) 12/03/10 (6.25p.m.) - Thursday

Call from Police to assist two ladies on Illgill Head (The Screes) who had lost their map which had blown away in the wind and didn't know the way down.  Contact was made by mobile phone and established that they were at the top of Great Hall Gill. Both had torches and there were no injuries nor medical conditions. The decision was made to talk them off the fell down to the Irton Pike road where they walked down to the Santon Bridge Inn.  Incident closed at 20:35 hrs 


2010:16 (a) 10/03/10 (4.37p.m.) - Wednesday

Police contacted the team to deal with a cal that came in regarding overdue persons on Scafell Pike.  The team leader conducted further investigations and stood the team down at around 5.00 pm. with no further action required.


2010:16 03/03/10 (2.16 p.m.) - Wednesday

Call from the Police regarding a '999' call from an informant climber who had observed a male solo climber, climbing Window Gully (140m classic winter route) on Great End.  The solo climber had triggered an avalanche at the top of the climb and had not been seen.  Keswick MRT were alerted, supported by Cockermouth MRT, SARDA Search dogs and 23 members of Wasdale MRT.  In addition a Sea King helicopter attended from RN Gannett plus the air ambulance.   Fortunately the climber (who was very experienced) had managed to scramble out of the avalanche and was unhurt.  He was met at the bottom by a member of Keswick MRT and SARDA Search Dogs.  Incident closed at 5.30 p.m. 

http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/teesdale-news/story,2572.html



[NY22770 08512] 

February 2010

2010:15(a) 14/02/10 (later that afternoon) - Sunday

Call from the Police regarding a family who had set off to walk up Harter Fell.  They became lost on the way down and wanted to speak to someone who knew the area and could help them find the way off.  While speaking to them on their mobile they said they could see car headlights quite close and were happy to walk towards them to find the road.  Nothing more heard.  Recorded as an "a" because no action was needed by the team.


2010:15  14/02/10 (2.40 p.m.) - Sunday

'999' call to respond to a 46 year old male who tumble fell 30 metres down scree near the bad step on the Corridor Route, Scafell Pike and sustained lacerations to his head.  17 team members attended from Wasdale and 6 from Cockermouth MRT.  He was treated on scene, put in a cervical collar and vacuum mattress and carried by stretcher back down to Burnthwaite before being taken to Gosforth to meet up with an Ambulance.  Weather conditions were damp with light rain and cloud down to virtually the valley bottom.  Incident closed at around 10.00 p.m.

[NY21892 08487] 


2010:14(a)  9/02/10 (6.58 p.m.) - Tuesday

Telephone call from an informant at the Wasdale head Hotel.  Overdue walkers who were experienced and well equipped.  The team leader decided to wait until later that evening before taking action.  At 9.00 p.m. a call came in from the missing persons who were located above Langstraff.  The incident was passed over to the Keswick MRT who were at that time assessing six flashes of lights in the that area.  Incident stood down from the Wasdale side.


2010:14  4/02/10 (1.42 p.m.) - Thursday

Mobile call from a female walker from Derbyshire who had lost the path in low cloud her walk around the area of Great End / Broad Crag.  She had ascended via Grains Gill, Seathwaite.  The incident was passed onto the Keswick MRT but following a request for support, Wasdale MRT and Langdale MRT were called out.  14 team Wasdale team members attended.  She was eventually located around Stand Crag, just off the Corridor Route near Piers Gill by Wasdale MRT.  The incident was closed at around 8.00 p.m. 

[NY21870 08722]

January 2010

2010:13  31/01/10 (1.35 p.m.) - Sunday

Call from a walker who had seen two climbers fall down a gully on Gable Crags, on the north side of Great Gable.  Around 18 team members attended.  Weather fine.  Due to the nature of the incident and the report from the informant, a Sea King helicopter was immediately requested and attended.  5 team members including the two team doctors were airlifted close to the incident site.  Both climbers, in their 50's and from outside the area, had fallen whilst winter climbing the gully.  The surviving climber with serious multiple injuries was given casualty care on scene and airlifted to Whitehaven hospital.  The second climber tragically  did not survive.  He was stretchered down the mountain to a point where he was airlifted by the returning Sea King.  Incident closed at around 7.00 p.m.  

[NY21100 10592]

2010:12 (a)  28/01/10 (5.49 p.m.) - Thursday

'999' call from a male walker who had become lost descending from Great Gable.  Contact with the walker could not be made however it was clear that he was already low down in the Ennerdale valley on his way towards the Blacksail Hut.  The incident was handed over to Cockermouth MRT with support from Wasdale MRT.  The man was located in a forested area.  Incident stood down at 7.43 p.m. .  Wasdale MRT involvement was limited to information gathering.


2010:12  20/01/10 (3.10 p.m.) - Wednesday

'999' call from a male walker who had fallen down a gulley snow slope on Scafell Pike.  Two 30 year old climbers from the Sheffield area were descending from Scafell Pike when one of them slipped and slid 100m down a compacted snow slope dislocating his shoulder.  It took some time to locate the injured person who was eventually located in the Chambers Crag area in Little Narrow cove.  He was given analgesia and his shoulder reset.  He was stretchered out - to below cloud base where a helicopter
could attend.  He was then airlifted to Barrow Hospital by a Sea King from RAF Valley.  22 Wasdale MRT supported by 13 Cockermouth MRT attended and the incident was closed at around 2.30 a.m. the following morning.

[NY2176 0714]


 

2010:11  06/01/10 (4.10 p.m.) - Wednesday

Call from the police to help clear a vehicle stuck on ice in the Wasdale valley.  Lorry was blocking the road and in a location that would create further incidents. Limited callout with 8 team members turning out.  The landrover was fitted with chains and five team members attended.  Vehicle moved to  a safe location.  Incident closed at 6.30 p.m.

[NY15242 05560]


2010:10  01/01/10 (5.19 p.m.) - Friday

Call from the police to assist a group of walkers who were stuck on the Screes path alongside the far side of the lake.  Limited callout to guide them back to the road head.

 

2010:09 (a) 31/12/09 (5.16 p.m.) - Thursday

Call from the police following a report of a red flare having been sighted.  The team leader discussed the incident with the police  and the decision taken that no further action was necessary unless people were reported missing.  New Years eve is a time when fireworks and flares are set off.  


2010:09 29/12/09 (5.46 p.m.) - Tuesday

'999' call from three vehicles stuck on ice on Birker fell road.  10 people were reported to be in difficulty including 4 children under the age of six.  The two team landrovers attended and got the cars safely back into the valley bottom.  Around 8 team members attended and the incident was closed later that evening.

[SD 16300 99024]


 2010:08 24/12/09 (8.37a.m.) - Thursday

Call to assist in the search for a dog who had become injured and lost on the Screes path.  The team boat was used to search from the lake and the dog was located in the boulder field, recovered and returned to its grateful owners.  Nine team members involved and incident closed after a couple of hours 

[NY15390 04677]


2010:07 (b) 17/12/09 (4.04 p.m.) - Thursday

Call from a male and female couple who were stuck in their car on Hardknott pass in icy conditions with a 3 month old baby.  The team Landrover was sent out but they managed to get turned round and got back down.  Landrover turned back and incident closed with no further action necessary


2010:07 (a) 13/12/09 (1.08 p.m.) - Sunday

Weather clear when a police page came in for an individual who reported himself lost of the mountain - whilst the team leader was gathering further information from the police he called back in to say he had come across a couple of other walkers who were helping him down.  Incident closed with no further action required.


2010:07  12/12/09 (4.34 p.m.) - Saturday

'999' mobile call from an informant located on the corridor route path at the head of Piers Gill.  Two male walkers had descended Piers Gill, on their descent from Scafell Pike.  They had got themselves down the two waterfall steps (around 4m drops) and decided to return.  Only one could get out with assistance from his friend who then had to remain in the bottom after failing to climb out.  15 team members attended.  He was assisted out from the bottom and suffered beginnings of frostbitten toes but walked back down to Brackenclose.  Incident closed at 10.00 p.m.

[NY 21150 08292]


2010:06 5/12/09 (5.23 p.m.) - Saturday

'999' mobile call from a group walkers who were lost somewhere on Scafell Pike.  They had provided a GPS position in latitude and longitude which, when converted to a normal grid reference put them in Carnforth.  Another call came into the police from an informant from Wasdale Head hotel who was concerned over this same group.  The team leader interviewed this informant and they were last seen making their way up Broad Crag scree in worsening weather.  The Team Leader decided to hold off calling the team out until 8.00 p.m. - the weather conditions were poor with low cloud and driving rain.  The group also only had one torch between 8 of them.   At 7.55 pm a call came in from Boot in Eskdale to say that the group were now down safe and well.  The team were stood down from standby state.  Counted as an incident as team members did roll with a vehicle to interview the informant.    

 
November 2009

2010:05 29/11/09 (4.24 p.m.) - Sunday

'999' mobile call from three walkers, believed to be on the summit of Scafell Pike and gave a grid location in Latitude and Longitude.  Their map had blown away and it was dark with bad weather forecasted and snow laying above 2,500 feet.  They were located safe and well at 6.12 p.m. in Quagrigg Moss on the western flanks of Scafell and taken back down to the valley bottom.  Incident closed at around 8.00 p.m. with 4 team members involved.

[NY 2116708212]


2010:04 28/11/09 (9.16 p.m.) - Saturday

Called by an informant staying at a Seathwaite lodgings, concerned over a group of three climbers in their 30's and 40's who had set off to climb Napes Needle, Greta Gable at 10.00 a.m. that morning and had not returned or called in.  I t was a clear night with snow on the high fells.  Around 16 team members attended and searched the west and eastern routes of the mountain.  They were located safe and well around 11.00 pm midnight finishing a route.  They were walked back down to the Gable traverse and returned to Seathwaite via Styhead.  Incident closed at around 2.00 a.m.

[NY 21057 10017]


2010:03 19/11/09 (5.37 p.m.) - Thursday

Team called to search for three walkers in their late teens who were lost on Scafell Pike just below cloud level - they had given a grid reference which put them in the area of Middleboot Knotts, just to the north of Lingmell.  Around 16 team members searched the area and they were located on the Lingmell Crags side of Piers Gill.  They had descended the Gill and climbed half way out.  They were reasonably well equipped.  They had been doing a training walk for their DoE award.  They were walked off the mountain back to Wasdale Head Hotel.  Incident closed at 12.00 a.m.

[NY 2116708212]


2010:02 19/11/09 (4.00 p.m.) - Thursday

Team called to assist Cockermouth MRT with the worsening flood situation.  The swift water rescue technicians along with the team rescue boat and Landrovers were mobilised and worked with Cockermouth MRT over the following 5 days rescuing and evacuating trapped people in their homes. The team were eventually stood down at 4.00 p.m. on Monday the 23rd November - 10 Wasdale MRT members were involved over the 5 days (including the 8 Swift Water Rescue Technicians) with most of the rescue work undertaken on the Thursday night/Friday morning - over 800 houses were evacuated and at the height of the rescues on the Thursday night, all 5 of the UK's SAR total Sea King helicopter assets were supporting the evacuations 

 

See photographic links here  

http://www.cockermouthmrt.org.uk/floodphotos.aspx    and http://www.ldsamra.org.uk/publicnews.aspx#newsid50

also a video of prince William's visit to the MRT rescue base - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8384033.stm

 


2010:01 18/11/09 (7.55 p.m.) - Wednesday

Team called to assist walkers down from Lingmel Col who had inadequate equipment and requiring help to get them off the mountain.  Limited callout of team members to effectively guide them off the mountain. 

 

 

November 2008 up to the AGM on 16th November 2009 when the Team Year ends

 

Number of '999' calls to 16 November 2009  = 128 which includes 92 with the team on the fell and 36 alerts, where the incident was reported in as a '999' but there was no need for any significant team involvement and therefore not formally logged as an incident (given postscript (a) or (b)) - this is where, for example, the Team Leader talks them off the mountain with minimal team member involvement or missing persons turn up before the team is fully mobilised.

 

 

The following are the last 10 rescues of the 2009 incident listing

2009:92 5/11/09 (11.27 a.m.) - Thursday

Team called out by the police to assist with the recovery of a diver in Wastwater.  It was unfortunately the second fatality in a month on the lake.   Base closed around 2.00 p.m.


October 2009

2009:91 31/10/09 (11.15 p.m.) - Saturday

A WMRT / SARDA dog handler was asked to assist Keswick MRT with a search for a lost group of 9 on Allen Crags after Langdale Ambleside MRT had searched for the group near Esk Hause with no success. Wasdale MRT base was manned to support the dog handler and navigator. After 6 hrs the group hadn't been located and KMRT and SARDA stood down till the morning.  At this point further information came in and LAMRT located them near Ore Gap around 11.00 a.m.  Weather conditions were bad but not as severe as forecast.  3 team members involved.  Based closed at 6.35 a.m. on the Sunday

[NY 24067 07184]


2009:90 31/10/09 (4.20 p.m.) - Saturday

An informant had reported herself, another individual and a group of 3 all lost near Dow Crag [Esk Buttress] in Upper Eskdale after coming off Scafell Pike in low cloud and having insufficient torches to get down safely.  Location provided from a GPS as being near Knotts of the Tongue.  Given that it was close to dark and severe weather was forecast they were advised to walk along the edge of the river Esk towards Brotherilkeld whilst a small group of team members walked up to meet them with torches.  6 team members involved.  Based closed at 21:45

[NY 23172 07762]


2009:89 29/10/09 (7.41 p.m.) - Thursday

An informant in Keswick had reported a 25yr old female friend hadn't returned from a solo walk up Scafell from Boot in Eskdale and that she couldn't contact her on her mobile.  Whilst 2 team members were searching the car parks in Eskdale for the car the informant rang back to say her friend had rung her from her home near Durham to say that she had lost her phone on the hill.  3 team members involved.  Based closed at 10.15 p.m.


2009:88 27/10/09 (4.48 p.m.) - Tuesday

Call from the police regarding a lone male walker who was lost on his descent from Scafell Pike in the growing darkness.  He was somewhere on the west side of Piers Gill below Lingmell, a well know black spot for walkers getting lost and a dangerous location.  He had walked as far as the gulley but not crossed it.  He had already slipped and hurt his back.  He was located high, beneath Lingmell crags and needed to be roped up and given a helmet before being assisted down to the safe area below. 16 team members attended, He was safely walked back down to Brackenclose.  Incident closed at around 11.00 p.m. 

[NY 21080 08130]


2009:87 25/10/09 (8.03 p.m.) - Saturday

Callout for a missing group of 5 walkers in Upper Eskdale who had been walking on Crinkle Crags.  The request for support came in from Langdale MRT.  Weather conditions were poor with heavy rain and high winds forecasted. The team were mobilised and the 3 members of the missing group were quickly located at Brotherikeld in Eskdale at around 8.30 p.m.  The 2 remaining missing persons were eventually confirmed as being safe and well in tents at Green Hole at the top of Eskdale.  12 team members were involved along with 2 SARDA search dogs and their handlers.  Incident closed at around 11.00 p.m. 

[NY 23977 05694]


2009:86 23/10/09 (7.05 a.m.) - Friday

Called by Cockermouth MRT who had been out since 2.30 a.m. that morning to support them in a search for an Epileptic.  The search had already involved SARDA search dogs and a helicopter.  Wasdale team deployed in vehicles but were stood down on arrival at Cockermouth as the missing person was located at around 8.30 a.m.  7 team members were involved from Wasdale MRT.


2009:85(a) 18/10/09 (8.14 a.m.) - Sunday

Police paged the team for a rescue on Scafell Pike with no injuries.  Two males requested support due to being lost in cloud near the summit of Scafell Pike.  The Wasdale deputy leader of the day suggested that they had a full day to find their own way safely off the mountain and would probably find other walkers to help them down. By 9.20 a.m. the deputy team leader had established that no further action was necessary and the incident was closed. 


2009:85 14/10/09 (7.00 p.m.) - Wednesday

Police call regarding a group of 6 x walkers who were benighted at the bad step on the Corridor Route, near Stand Crag.  Team members duly went to provide light and to guide them as far as Sty head, where Keswick MRT kindly met the group and guided them back to Seathwaite.  Incident closed at midnight.  (An incident that should have been avoided if people would take responsibility for themselves and carry torches of their own)

[NY 21902 08682]


2009:84 14/10/09 (3.58 p.m.) - Wednesday

Police call regarding a 44 yr old male from the Grantham area who had severe cramp in his legs and was unable to walk.  He was on the summit of the Pike and turned out to have a medical background which gave rise to the underlying cause of the cramp.  He was able to walk off himself, albeit slowly, and was escorted by team members.  12 team members involved and finished at about 7.30 p.m.

[NY 21547 07229]


2009:83 11/10/09 (9.28 p.m.) - Sunday

Call from the Police, regarding a 64 yr old male, reported long overdue from a walk to Slight Side, Eskdale.  The informant was at Wha House Farm and described last seeing the missing walker quite low down and at about 6.00 p.m.  Given the short distance between their vehicle and the point he'd last been seen the Team Leader did have concerns for his safety.  2  SARDA (Lakes) search dogs and handlers were immediately involved and more team members followed up the search as quickly as possible.  The missing walker was located fit and well and not far from Taw House Farm.  He was assisted back to their vehicle and the Base was closed at about 1.00 a.m.  15 team members involved.

[NY 21097 01789]


2009:82 11/10/09 (11.46 a.m.) - Sunday

Call from Police requesting assistance to search Wastwater for a missing diver.  The team used their rescue boat and conducted lake shore searches of the area but nothing was found.  The team stood down once the Police diving unit (from Lancashire) arrived at about 3.45 p.m.   11 team members were involved involved.  The body of the diver was recovered from the lake at around midnight but the team was not involved.

[NY 15410 05435]