2006

Letters - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - Great End - Sharp Edge - Statistics

1	2 January	15:45	High Spy / Nitting Haws area	A lady (52 yrs) slipped and broke her ankle.
2	16 January	13:01	Blencathra, Scales Beck	A man (54 yrs) was reported to be suffering from a shortage of breath and tingling fingers. He has a previous history of heart problems. With the assistance of the Team he was taken to Carlisle by the North West Air Ambulance.
3	10 February	18:30	Maiden Moor area	A couple (39 yrs) became benighted when descending to Grange. They had a GPS and knew where they were but were unable to find the route.
4	13 February	17:40	Grisedale Pike	Another couple (29 yrs) became benighted and cragfast in steep ground. They were located and roped down to the Force Crag Mine area of Coledale.
5	18 February	15:15	Blencathra - Sharp Edge	A passer-by encountered a group of 5 who were having difficulties on the Edge in snowy conditions. By the time the Team had set off, she had managed to help them to the top of the mountain.
6	19 February	00:17	Langstrath	A party of 6 had split up at 6 pm. 2 managed to get down to the valley but the other 4 had not returned. Happily they were found making their way down soon after the Team has started the search.
7	25 February	14:30	Skiddaw - Carlside area	A man slipped in snow and tumbled about 100' sustaining various cuts and abrasions. Other walkers phoned for help but also needed help in case they also fell.
8	27 February	13:48	Helvellyn - Birkside	A man (59 yrs) slipped off the path in snowy conditions and injured his ankle.
9	1 March	14:27	Watendlath Tarn	A lady (64 yrs) slipped on ice and injured her ankle.
10	2 March	14:58	Raise	A man (36 yrs) tripped over his crampons while walking and broke his leg. He was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to Carlisle while his friend continued his walk - on a rare, beautiful, crisp day.
11	10 March	15:15	Grisedale Pike	A lady (59 yrs) injured her ankle while walking. She managed to walk down to Whinlatter for an hour and a half before requesting assistance as she had become very cold and tired. She was located using SMS messages because the phone signal was not strong enough for phone calls.
12	11 March	11:48	Blencathra - Scales Fell	A man (41 yrs) slipped and broke his ankle. His boots may have become balled up with snow and ice, resulting in little or nor grip.

13	13 March	18:53	Thirlmere and Dunmail Raise	Forecast but unexpected blizzards caught several motorists out. We were asked by the Police to check the roads in the area for stranded motorists. We were able to assist until the road was ploughed.
14	16 March	15:08	Hindscarth - Far Tongue Gill	A solo lady walker slipped on hard snow and slid 150 metres down a gully, sustaining broken ribs, head and chest injuries. She was fortunately observed by a guided school group who raised the alarm. She was taken by RAF rescue helicopter to hospital. The team then ensured that the school group were safely escorted from the fell. Postscript (18 March) - having had a chest drain inserted for 24 hours, she is now back at home!
15	18 March	11:16	Seathwaite Fell	4 walkers became stuck on a steep snow slope while making a direct ascent of the mountain. Fortunately, they had the good sense to stay put and call for help. 2 groups of team members who were already in the vicinity were able to sort out the situation.
16	23 March	05:00	Murton Fell, Pennines	A man (75 yrs) failed to return home after a routine walk. After a night search, a large-scale search involving many rescue teams, search dogs and a helicopter, he was not located by the end of the second day. His body was found at Christy Bank near Appleby by a walker on April 29th.
17	23 March	16:46	Helvellyn - Brown Cove Crags	A man (27 yrs) walking with his father tripped over his crampons while descending. He heard a crack in his ankle and was unable to walk. The helicopter which was operational with the previous incident was diverted to assist. The man was flown to hospital while the team escorted the father down.
18	25 March	17:05	Stake Pass - Langstrath	A lady (39 yrs) slipped on wet grass and broke her ankle. She was flown by the Great North Air Ambulance to hospital. During this incident, another lost party was escorted back down the valley.
19	26 March	02:15	Dash Falls - Dead Crags	A lone camper (29 yrs) used his mobile phone to call for help when his tent became washed out by heavy rain. He was recovered with his equipment and brought back to Keswick to get dried out.
20	1 April	05:30	Central Fells	We were requested by Wasdale MRT to join in a search for a depressed man (52 yrs) whose car had been found at Wasdale Head. Despite the efforts of several teams, search dogs and a rescue helicopter, he was not found. Later that afternoon, some passing walkers encountered his body at the foot of Pillar Rock.
21	11 April	12:12	Lining Crag	A man managed to break his ankle. He was airlifted to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance before the arrival of the Team.
22	12 April	20:30	Styhead Tarn	We were requested by Wasdale MRT to assist in the rescue of a family of four who had succumbed to the elements. The diabetic father (51 yrs) was carried down to Wasdale suffering from hypothermia while we stretchered the 2 teenage sons (who also were suffering from mild hypothermia) down to Borrowdale.
23	21 April	20:30	Stonethwaite	We were requested by Langdale/Ambleside MRT to rendezvous with 2 teenage boys (14 yrs & 16 yrs) who had lost their parents in the Stickle Tarn area while the family was looking for their lost dog!
24	30 April	03:45	Derwentwater	After a boat travelling at high speed, with 8 young people on board, careered into some semi-submerged rocks, catapulting its occupants on to the rocks and into the water, a major recovery operation was mounted. 4 people suffered head injuries, one seriously. The other 4 were lucky to escape serious injury, or worse. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer was involved, as were various lake boat operators, the police, several ambulances and paramedics and the Coastguard Agency.
25	30 April	11:15	Blencathra - Scales Fell	A lady (65 yrs) blacked out a couple of times while walking. Fortunately, we were able to take a back seat on this one as an ambulance crew was also in attendance.
26	30 April	15:22	Blencathra - Mousethwaite Comb	Again to the same location where another lady (50 yrs) had slipped on some loose stones and broken her ankle.
27	30 April	18:15	Esk Hause	A man (57 yrs) had tripped and landed badly, sustaining a badly cut eyebrow and a dislocated shoulder. We were again able to benefit from the assistance of a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer.
28	1 May	17:57	King's How	A mother and her daughter (7 yrs) had become separated from the father. They had lost the descent path and had got themselves into some nasty steep ground above the Bowderstone.
29	8 May	18:00	Blencathra - Doddick Fell	2 children (boy 10 yrs & girl 11 yrs) ignored calls from their mother when they went off up the fell. They turned up before the incident got out of hand!
30	11 May	20:22	Threlkeld Knotts	A girl (15 yrs) dislocated her elbow when she slipped while orienteering.
31	13 May	14:47	Causey Pike - Rowling End	A lady (52 yrs) slipped and fell, resulting in a broken tibia and fibula as well as a dislocated ankle!
32	15 May	12:06	Dalton's Cave area	A lady tripped and fell badly requiring over 60 stitches to put her face, nose and teeth back together!
33	18 May	16:25	Force Crag track, Coledale	An elderly couple were blown over by quite severe gusts of wind. He managed to get down to the village to call for help while she (76 yrs) waited on the track. She was complaining of pelvic discomfort.
34	27 May	16:18	Rosthwaite - Dock Tarn track	A lady (35 yrs) fell on the steep, rocky track and broke her arm. We were unable to find her so approached the scene from the opposite end of the track. However, we later discovered that she had managed to make her way to the hotel in the valley.
35	8 June	12:23	Troutdale - Black Crag path	A lady (69 yrs) took a twisting tumble down 12-15'. She was treated for spinal injuries and carried down.
36	17 June	14:05	Clough Head	A paraglider (36 yrs) made a heavy landing during a competition. He sustained a broken wrist and back injuries. He was taken by an RAF rescue helicopter to hospital. As we were completing this incident, we were called to the next ...
37	17 June	15:08	Skiddaw - Littleman	A girl (11 yrs) in a school party, became unable to continue with her walk when her knee gave her problems. We had some team members available on standby and they were backed up by those transferring from the previous incident!
38	21 June	18:05	Skiddaw summit	A man (in his 30's) got caught in severe weather when he reached the summit. He used his mobile phone to call for help. The Team battled in storm force winds, driving rain and poor visibility to bring the man to safety. (See Rescue 34 in 2000).
39	24 June	12:20	Corridor Route to Scafell Pike	We were asked to assist Wasdale MRT in locating a casualty with facial injuries and possibly an injured limb. The mobile phone which had been used to raise the alarm had subsequently been inaccessible. We searched up from Seathwaite while Wasdale MRT went in from their end. He was located on the Corridor route near Cust's Gully and dealt with by Wasdale MRT.
40	25 June	13:47	Sale How - Back o'Skiddaw	2 groups of 14-yr olds on a D of E expedition got lost in the cloud and called for help using a mobile phone. We located all 11 of them and brought them down to their waiting teachers.
41	27 June	14:45	Derwentwater - Ashness Gate	We were asked to assist the ambulance service by carrying a casualty from the lake shore to the ambulance.
42	4 July	10:49	Shepherd's Crag - Brown Slabs	A climber slipped while taking the descent route down from the top of the climb and managed to sustain a fracture/dislocation of his ankle. He was treated by paramedics and team members at the scene before being flown to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance.
43	8 July	16:30	Dollywagon Pike	We were asked to assist Patterdale MRT in the rescue of a lady (57 yrs) who had slipped and fallen, sustaining a broken arm and injuries to her nose. We carried her down to Dunmail Raise from whence she was taken by ambulance to Lancaster Royal Infirmary
44	8 July	17:04	Grains Gill	A man (58 yrs) slipped and broke his leg while descending. We brought him down by stretcher to Seathwaite.
	8 July		Grains Gill	While attending to the above casualty, we also encountered a lady (44 yrs) who was on the 6 Peaks Event - who had also fallen - and had broken her wrist. Both casualties were taken by ambulance to Carlisle hospital.
45	9 July	13:46	Thirlmere valley	A girl (14 yrs) in one of 2 groups of D of E expeditioners complained of breathing difficulties and tingling extremities. She was attended to by the Team's doctor and paramedics before being taken to Keswick Cottage Hospital for further checkups.
46	11 July	13:00	Great End	2 sheep were rescued, one from Aspirant and the other from Window Gully. Both survived but were very hungry.
47	11 July	16:05	Spooney Green Lane track to Latrigg	A lady slipped on the gravelly path and broke the neck of her femur while walking with her family. After being attended to by the Team, she was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to Carlisle Hospital.
48	18 July	13:28	Taylorgill Force track	A man (41 yrs) fell from his mountain bike and broke his arm.
49	20 July	19:00	Gillercomb	We rescued a sheep (" Flossie" ) which had become stuck on a rock face.
50	30 July	11:56	Latrigg - Spooney Green Lane	A lady (57 yrs) was reported to be unconscious having experienced bouts of nausea and faints.
51	31 July	19:30	Central Fells	We were requested by Wasdale MRT to assist in the search for an overdue Dutch walker. He was located at Broad Crag Col.
52	7 August	19:48	Clough Head - Old Coach Road	A paraglider (25 yrs) made a heavy landing and broke his lower leg.
53	13 August	08:00	Brampton	We were requested to assist in the search of a missing man (75 yrs) with medical problems, who had gone walkabouts. He was found the next day 4-5 kilometres outside the search area!
54	16 August	12:28	Cat Bells - Manesty/Hause Gate path	A lady (71 yrs) was reported to be suffering from breathing difficulties and faintness.
55	16 August	16:52	Blencathra - Scales Fell	A report was received of flares and smoke. A search was made but nothing was found. 2 groups later admitted to letting off fireworks to celebrate (their going home?).
56	20 August	11:15	Watendlath - Rosthwaite path	A mountain biker (M 31 yrs) rode off the path into the beck (puncture?). He managed to fracture his pelvis and 2 ribs.
57	22 August	22:17	Glaramara	A father (41 yrs) and his son (15 yrs) become lost, hurt and tired so went to ground. They were located in the area of the top of Hind Gill. The father had turned his ankle and had also damaged his boot. We rendered first aid to the ankle and to the boot before safely escorting them down.
58	25 August	14:49	Lodore Falls	We were contacted by the Ambulance Service who required assistance in locating and assisting a collapsed woman. However, neither the ambulance paramedics nor the team were able to find anyone. It had to be assumed that the casualty had managed to bet herself down.
59	27 August	02:12	Stake Pass area	We were requested by Langdale/Ambleside MRT to assist in locating a lone male walker (43 yrs) who had failed to return tfo the valley.
60	27 August	14:46	Ullock Pike	A lady (48 yrs) had slipped on a tussock of grass and broken her leg.
61	28 August	14:08	Ard Crags	A lady (53 yrs) slipped on steep, wet grass, broke her wrist and injured her back.
62	29 August	20:22	Sergeant's Crag - Heron Crag area	A report was received from a passing walker that he thought someone was shouting for help and becoming more agitated. Despite a search of the area, nothing was found. A false alarm with good intent.
63	7 September	21:07	Gillercomb	A couple were reported to be overdue in arriving at Rosthwaite after completing a secting of the Coast to Coast walk. They had been seen at Black Sail Hut at 4 pm and at the head of Gillercomb at 6 pm in a collapsed condition. A party went out to look for them. They were found coming down Sourmilk Gill.
64	8 September	16:57	Castle Rock - Thirlmere Eliminate	A lady (62 yrs) fell 40' off the end of her abseil rope. She sustained a nasty scraping wound to her leg. She was treated at the scene by the team and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance which flew her to Carlisle.
65	12 September	14:47	Quayfoot Buttress area	A man (31 yrs) got stuck in steep ground. He was assisted off by the Team.
66	18 September	13:13	Blencathra - Sharp Edge	A man (21yrs) and his partner (19 yrs) became cragfast on Foule Crag while descending to the Edge. Having attempted to cross the gulley on the north side, they then encountered greater difficulties so traversed into even worse ground. They were both lowered 40 metres by the team to the foot of the gulley and escorted down the fell.
67	21 September	15:00	Greenup Gill near Lining Crag	An experienced lady twisted her ankle and sustained an ankle injury. She was treated at the scene and carried down to the valley.
68	25 September	14:30	River Derwent west of Keswick	We were asked by the Police to take our rescue boat to the scene of a potential jump from a bridge. We also had assistance from the staff of an outdoor centre nearby. Happily, the police managed to engage with the man and no further action was required.
69	26 September	21:57	Ennerdale - Honister (Coast to Coast Walk)	A party of 4 adults were last seen at Ennerdale Bridge at 1.15 pm on their route from Cleator to Honister Pass and they failed to meet their transport. A search lasting most of the night was made, involving 2 rescue teams and a search dog, but nothing was found. They turned up the next morning having spent the night in Gillercomb. They were only 15-20 minutes away from the valley but had no torches.
70	13 October	13:00	Watendlath area	A lady (55 yrs) slipped and sustained an ankle injury.
71	17 October	19:38	Cat Bells - High Spy Ridge	6 teenage boys (15 yrs to 18 yrs) set off for a walk without regard to the time of day or worsening weather forecast. When they became lost in cloud and darkness, they used their failing mobile phone to call for help. They were eventually located near the summit of High Spy. They had 2 waterproof jackets between them, 2 torches and one rucksack. They did not seem to understand their errors of judgement or the consequences for others who might have to find them.
72	21 October	11:45	Derwentwater - Brandlehow	A man (42 yrs) slipped and sustained an ankle injury while running round the lake. As a result, he was unable to remove his car from the Central Car Park in Keswick. As part of our service, we recovered his red Ferrari for him!
				The Team's new Rapid Response Vehicle!
73	25 October	14:16	Grange Fell	2 adults and 4 children (3-7 yrs) phoned to say that they had lost the path. Happily, they had been assisted by other walkers just as the Team was departing.
74	25 October	23:30	Central Fells	A lone walker (52 yrs) failed to return from his walk to Scafell Pike. 3 teams spent the night looking for him. He was located by Keswick Team at the Esk Hause shelter at 2:35 am.
75	26 October	13:54	Stonethwaite area	A man (65 yrs) managed to break the neck of his femur. We were asked to assist the ambulance crew in transporting him to the roadhead.
76	29 October	12:59	Watendlath area	A lady (60 yrs) slipped on the wet ground and sustained a leg injury.
77	8 November	19:15	Glaramara	2 walkers, a man and a woman, became lost in bad visibility and failing light when on the summit. They went to ground and called for help. They were located and escorted down Hind Gill to Seathwaite.
78	11 November	16:22	Keswick - Howrahs	We were requested to assist the ambulance service with the recovery of a collapsed patient on a footpath across some fields just outside Keswick.
79	22 November	18:15	Cat Bells area	A man (63 yrs) failed to return from a walk over Cat Bells and then back to his holiday lodge. He had a background of medical problems and the weather was not friendly, so a massive search lasting 22 hours was mounted involving, at its peak, over 90 searchers from 7 mountain rescue teams, 3 search dog organisations and a RAF rescue helicopter using infrared thermal imaging. The man's body, guarded by his labrador dog, was discovered on the second day, by passing walkers, well out of the expected search area near the head of the Newlands valley. The events leading up to his death will probably never be fully understood, but he certainly died doing what he wanted to do.
80	25 November	13:15	River Greta	A kayaker had earlier capsized his canoe and exacerbated a previous knee injury. He was stretchered from the riverside path.
81	25 November	16:55	Glaramara	We were alerted to a walker with a leg injury but were not required after a local farmer reported the group to be off the mountain. We happily returned to Base!
82	1 December	07:52	Eel Crags/Crag Hill	After a 'needle in a haystack' search for a man (36 yrs) whose car had been reported to be parked in the same location for a couple of days, his body was located at the foot of some crags. The likely scenario was that he was blown off his feet by the very blustery conditions which had prevailed over the previous few days. He was spotted by a team member from a RN rescue helicopter. This was the second major search within 10 days!
83	13 December	22:00	Esk Hause area	We were asked by Langdale/Ambleside MRT to assist in a search for 3 lost walkers. Just as we were setting off, we were advised that the missing walkers had provided a GPS grid reference of their location, and that LAMRT would go up and escort them down. In the event, 2 of the party had to be stretchered off with mild hypothermia.
84	17 December	15:38	Langstrath	A man (55 yrs) slipped on a steep slope and broke his ankle. He managed to hobble most of the way down before being met by the team.
85	22 December	21:45	Scafell Pike area	Requested to assist Wasdale MRT in a search for 2 overdue walkers (18 & 30 yrs). They turned up as the team was being deployed.
86	29 December	19:30	Back o' Skiddaw	An overdue epileptic fell runner turned up just after the team had deployed.