'Alerts' are now included among the list of incidents - for general interest and as a result of a change in national reporting policy.
These 'alerts', however, are not added to the tally of 'rescues'.
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1 |
1 January |
18:05 |
Whinlatter Forest |
2 walkers phoned in for help when they got lost as it got dark. Fortunately they managed to find themselves as the team was departing. |
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2 |
5 January |
11:23 |
Skiddaw - Bakestall path | 2 walkers encountered the body of a man who had failed to return from his walk in the Windermere area the day before. At the time of reporting this incident, it is not possible to say how the man succumbed, but he must have experienced extreme weather conditions on the mountain the day before. |
| 6 January |
19:30 |
Honister area |
We were called by the police to assist a female, whose partner had fallen off a crag while trying to rescue their dog from a precarious position. She had made her own way off the fell, in conditions of failing light, to raise the alarm. When speaking to her, she was unable to give us an accurate location for the incident. As a result, we spent all night searching the fells with no success. During the early hours of the following day a find was made. We then preceded to set up belays and lower a team member and stretcher to the casualty, who, after treatment was airlifted to hospital by an RAF Sea King helicopter. His injuries were noted as cosmetic and the whole event happened to be caught on television cameras. With thanks to ITV and Coronation Street! |
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3 |
7 January |
10:54 |
Whinlatter Forest | A man (63 yrs) became ill with chest pains while walking with his wife. He attempted to make his own way down but was quickly unable to continue. He was treated at the scene by the Team and paramedics before being taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to hospital. |
| 11 January |
19:25 |
Skiddaw | We were alerted because some lights had been reported on the mountain. On further investigation, the lights appeared to be moving downhill, so we assumed that it was just some late walkers! Nothing else was heard! | |
| 13 January |
16:06 |
Calfhow Pike - Clough Head area | 2 walkers phoned in having lost the 3rd member of their party while walking in high winds, driving rain and low cloud! As we were talking to them, their lost friend turned up safe and well. | |
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4 |
16 January |
07:00 |
Wigton area | A despondent male (64 yrs) was reported missing from his Day Centre early the previous afternoon. A search that day had not found him. We joined in the search on Day 2 when he was located by a search dog at around 11:30 am. He was alive but suffering from hypothermia. |
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5 |
27 January |
17:04 |
Wythburn valley | A lady (59 yrs) slipped on steep boggy ground. Her ankle went back as she fell and she fractured her fibula. She was treated at the scene and carried down to a waiting ambulance which took her to Lancaster Royal Infirmary. |
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6 |
29 January |
07:30 |
Greta Gorge | A local lady (52 yrs) was reported as not having returned home the previous day. After her car was eventually located just outside the town, we enlisted support from Penrith and Kirkby Stephen MRTs, SARDA search dogs from the Lakes, England and Scotland, as well as a rescue Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley. Her body was located in the river by the helicopter. |
| 2 February |
18:39 |
Great End area |
2 climbers, having completed Central Gully on Great End, became lost and cold while trying to find their way off in a blizzard and in darkness. We eventually located them below Lambfoot Dub on the Corridor Route and escorted them back to Seathwaite. We were assisted by Wasdale MRT. |
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8 |
2 February |
21:00 |
Central Fells |
Whilst Wasdale MRT was searching for our 2 lost climbers (see above), they came across a 50 year old walker sheltering behind a wall, having become separated from his companion at 17:30 hrs. He had no map, compass or torch. As we were already in the vicinity, we were tasked with searching in the Esk Hause area for his companion (who turned up later at Wasdale Head). |
|
9 |
16 February |
13:24 |
Castle Rock, Thirlmere | Having climbed on the South Crag, a man (48 yrs) slipped and broke his ankle on the descent track. |
|
10 |
19 February |
17:29 |
Cat Bells | A man and wife (50 yrs) became separated after he went back to take some photographs. When he got back to the car, his wife was missing, so he went back up to the summit to find her. At this stage he got worried and call for mountain rescue. When he got back down a second time, the car was missing! We picked the man up and encountered his wife who was returning to the original car park to find her husband. We didn't stay to hear the exchanges! |
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11 |
19 February |
17:48 |
Gowder Crag/Lodore area | A man was reported to be lost and exhausted with his dog. He managed to get himself down as we were starting the search for him. |
|
12 |
1 March |
19:30 |
Central Fells | 8 walkers became lost and benighted in the cloud and darkness having had a late start and an injured party member. 4 of the group pushed on to back up the mobile phone call. There wasn't one torch between them and they were not really prepared for what they had taken on! After Wasdale MRT had located them and brought them from the Corridor Route to Sty Head, we were asked to escort them to Seathwaite from there. |
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13 |
8 March |
17:48 |
Barf | A father and his son became cragfast while they were trying to find a way up the mountain. We were only able to get to them using ropes. They were hauled up, one by one, to safer ground and walked down. Although they had no torches for such a late start (3.45 pm), they did have a whistle which helped up to locate them. |
| 14 March |
14:20 |
Whinlatter Forest | A party called 999 as they were lost in the forest. They had left their car at the Visitor Centre and were walking on a forest road near marker posts 71 and 12. They advised the Team Leader that they were cold and wet and their dog was shivering, but were otherwise unhurt. They asked when we would be there to rescue them. They were advised to follow the forest road until they re-located themselves. A further phone call from the party 1 hr later advised that they were back at their car safe and well, having asked a local to drive a mile to take them back to their car. | |
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14 |
14 March |
15:50 |
Low Briery - railway line path | A lady (40 yrs) was reported to be having breathing difficulties and feeling nauseous. We treated her at the scene and carried her to a waiting ambulance. |
| 21 March |
16:30 |
Bassenthwaite Lake |
2 men capsized their canoe in strong winds. They were then eventually blown to the southern end of the lake where they called for assistance as they were helpless and suffering from hypothermia. With the help of the Great North Air Ambulance one was taken to hospital in Carlisle; the other was assisted to his transport. The canoes were recovered by the Team. |
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25 March |
17:30 |
Robinson |
A party of 4 dialled 999 advising that they were stuck on steep snow covered ground on Robinson, Newlands and were unable to continue. They were also concerned that it was soon to get dark, but advised that they were ‘well-equipped.’ When contact was made with the party, they had extricated themselves from their difficulties and were descending via an alternative route and hoped to be back at their car before it went dark as they had no torches. (Well-equipped?) |
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16 |
29 March |
13:41 |
Narrow Moor | A lady (56 yrs) fainted as a result of low energy and no lunch. She was treated at the scene and carried down. |
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17 |
31 March |
20:59 |
Black Crag - Troutdale Pinnacle | 2 climbers (21 yrs) became cragfast when their abseil roped jammed. They were lowered to the ground and helped off. |
| 2 April |
12:30 |
One of a group on an adventure course fell and injured herself. As a precaution the instructor called for the assistance of the Team. By the time we had contacted the informant for more information, the casualty had recovered sufficiently that our services were not required. |
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18 |
5 April |
13:30 |
Cat Bells traverse path | A lady (51 yrs) stumbled and fell 20' off the path. She knocked herself out. The Great North Air Ambulance took her to hospital where she soon recovered. |
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19 |
8 April |
14:29 |
Cat Bells | A man (46 yrs) was reported to be semi-conscious. Again, with the help of the Great North Air Ambulance, he was transferred to hospital in Carlisle. |
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20 |
11 April |
11:26 |
Castle Crag, Borrowdale | A man (62 yrs) slipped while scrambling down the crag. He fell 60' through trees and tumbled down the scree below. He was taken by an RAF Sea King helicopter to hospital in Barrow with multiple injuries. |
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21 |
11 April |
15:16 |
Blencathra - Knowe Crags | A man (50 yrs) lost his footing while seeking shelter on the lee side of the path, falling 100' down the crags below. The team was lowered down the crag with a stretcher which was then winched into the Sea King. The man sustained a fracture/dislocation of his shoulder and various other injuries. |
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22 |
12 April |
14:20 |
Blencathra - Halls Fell | A man (66 yrs) suddenly collapsed while walking. He was given CPR by his friends until we arrived. A Sea King rescue helicopter was already in the area doing another rescue in Langdale. Having picked up the first casualty, it then collected ours and took them both to hospital in Carlisle. |
| 12 April |
17:50 |
Langstrath - foot of Stake Pass | A man who was finishing off a big mountain biking day managed to fracture his patella. We carried him down to Stonethwaite. See letter. |
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19 April |
20:00 |
Esk Hause area | A group returning to Seathwaite from Scafell Pike without torches in approaching darkness separated, with the faster members heading down to get there before it got dark. When the slower group arrived in Seathwaite the first group had not arrived, having made a navigation error at Esk Hause and ending up in Langdale. |
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24 |
24 April |
19:27 |
Skiddaw - Gibraltar Crag | A local reported seeing something like a downed paraglider in the crags high up on the mountain. We investigated and drove a Land Rover as far as we could to get a good view using binoculars. It turned out to be an old patch of snow in the evening light! |
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25 |
30 April |
13:55 |
Eagle Crag | A young lady (25 yrs) slipped on her descent and fell about 10' down a rake. She ended up sustaining a compound fracture of her tibia and fibula. A lucky lady because she was just able to get a mobile phone signal, otherwise she could have been there for a long time in a relatively remote place! She was treated at the scene, lowered down some awkward ground and then taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to hospital in Carlisle. |
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| 4 May |
21:35 |
Grisedale Tarn | A man (35 yrs) was taken ill while walking. We carried him down to Thirlmere where he was transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital. See letter. |
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27 |
8 May |
14:13 |
Helvellyn from the Swirls | Walkers came across a collapsed male. Despite their best efforts, the man was declared dead - a suspected heart attack. |
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28 |
11 May |
15:10 |
Grisedale Pike | At the end of a week of exceptionally warm weather, a lightning strike caused a fell fire to start. We were assisted by the Fire Service and Cockmouth MRT in bringing the fire under control. There was a concern that the fire might have spread to the forest! |
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| 11 May |
17:00 |
Blencathra | Whilst we were involved with fighting the fell fire on Grisedale Pike we were called by an anxious parent regarding his son and grandson who were overdue from walking on Blencathra. Knowing about the heavy thunderstorm in the area he was concerned for their whereabouts. We agreed on a ‘wait and see’ period, during which the overdue walkers returned safe and well. | |
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29 |
12 May |
14:56 |
Castle Crag - Allerdale Ramble | A lady (84 yrs) stumbled on the path and sustained lacerations to her head. She was treated at the scene and taken to Keswick Cottage Hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance. |
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30 |
12 May |
15:20 |
Shepherd's Crag - Eve | As we were approaching the previous incident, we were alerted to a climber (59 yrs) who had fallen 12'-15' from the first pitch while seconding the climb. He sustained an ankle injury. We carried him down to the field below where he was picked up by the Great North Air Ambulance which had just dealt with our last casualty! |
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31 |
23 May |
19:04 |
Watendlath - Dock Tarn area |
A man (66 yrs) was reported to be overdue from his walk by 2 and a half hours. He was wearing wellies and had a medical condition. He turned up as the team was mobilising. |
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32 |
24 May |
00:35 |
Buttermere to Grasmere |
A male mountain biker (37 yrs) set off from Buttermere at 4 pm to cycle across the fells to Grasmere. He turned up at Grasmere at 4 am having taken a tumble near Angle Tarn, sustaining minor head abrasions. |
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33 |
24 May |
18:03 |
Derwentwater |
A couple capsized their dinghy and were unable to right it as the mast had become stuck in the mud. Observers saw the upturned boat but no sailors so they raised the alarm. The occupants had somehow managed to get to shore, but had caused a bit of a stir for a while! |
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34 |
27 May |
00:10 |
Skiddaw area |
Campers at Thornthwaite reported seeing a flashing light for about an hour. We went to the campsite to investigate. We also checked that there was no-one overdue. No action was taken. |
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35 |
31 May |
13:00 |
Ruddy Gill |
A female walker taking part in the 3 Peaks Challenge was unable to continue due to a painful knee. With the help of Wasdale MRT and the Great North Air Ambulance, she was taken to Seathwaite where she was transferred to her own transport to be taken to hospital. |
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36 |
3 June |
1507 |
Grains Gill | A lady (45 yrs) tumbled 15' into the gill sustaining various lacerations. She was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to hospital. |
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37 |
7 June |
1509 |
Clough Head |
A paraglider (in his 40s) made a heavy landing and broke his ankle. He was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to hospital. |
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38 |
7 June |
1514 |
Rigg Head Quarries |
Within minutes of the previous call we were alerted to a lady (52 yrs) who had twisted her ankle and was unable to continue. After it had dealt with the previous incident, she was also taken to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance. |
| 13 June |
18:30 |
Dunmail Raise |
Team alerted by Police to a group of people who had been observed stationary on a large, bright-coloured groundsheet on the fellside above Dunmail Raise. No action taken. Thought, possibly, to be a support group for a Bob Graham event. |
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39 |
14 June |
10:18 |
1000' Boulder |
A man (51 yrs) in a party of 13 collapsed. We attended to him at the scene and carried him to the waiting Great North Air Ambulance. |
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40 |
14 June |
13:58 |
Whinlatter Forest |
A young woman went over her handlebars whilst trying out the new mountain bike trail. She sustained multiple abrasions and bruising. We treated her at the scene and carried her to the waiting Great North Air Ambulance. |
| 19 June |
19:00 |
Helvellyn area |
We were alerted by a guest house proprietor in Greystoke to an overdue walker, who turned up in our ‘wait and see’ period. |
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41 |
21 June |
15:36 |
Ruddy Gill | A man (70 yrs) was suffering from exhaustion due to the cold and wet weather and was unable to continue. The helicopter was unable to assist because of the poor weather conditions so we carried him down. |
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42 |
25 June |
13:14 |
Sourmilk Gill | A young lady (18 yrs) slipped on wet grass while scrambling up the gill and fell only 3' but she exacerbated an old knee injury and was unable to walk. |
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43 |
27 June |
11:38 |
Whinlatter Forest | A man (33 yrs) lost control while descending part of the new mountain bike trail and broke his femur. He was carried to the waiting North West Air Ambulance for transfer to hospital. |
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44 |
1 July |
12:50 |
Blencathra - Blease Fell | 2 brothers (in their 20s) became cragfast on a rocky ledge. We located them and assisted them to safety. |
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45 |
3 July |
14:12 |
Great End - Cust's Gully | A party of 6 experienced walkers had been scrambling up the gully when the leading climber dislodged a large boulder when climbing out of the top of the gully. The boulder managed to injure 2 of the climbers below. A man (61 yrs) sustained crush injuries to his hand and a woman (64 yrs) sustained a haematoma on her quadriceps. A difficult rescue ensued as it was punctuated by a spectacular electrical storm and hail stones. The helicopter managed to find windows of opportunity to fly the casualties to hospital after they had been assisted to the top of the gully. We were helped by Wasdale MRT and the RAF Sea King from Boulmer. |
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46 |
6 July |
14:52 |
Ullock Pike - Longside Edge | A lady (41 yrs) suffered from a fainting fit and her husband considered that he would be unable to get her down without assistance - which we gave. |
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47 |
6 July |
15:45 |
Ullock Pike | Whilst approaching the above casualty site, one of our team members was taken ill. He was tended at the scene and taken to hospital in Carlisle by the Great North Air Ambulance. Happily, he was back at home later that evening! |
| 6 July |
16:53 |
Lining Crag | Whilst the above 2 incidents were taking place, we were advised of a girl (15 yrs) who had slipped and injured her ankle while doing the Coast to Coast walk for her D of E Award. We enlisted the help of Cockermouth MRT and brought her down. Her supervisors then took her to hospital for x-rays. |
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