A major operation swung into action when a coach crashed through a wall at the bottom of Kirkstone Pass, tipping onto its side. There were in excess of 40 people on board, many of whom were injured, some seriously. The rescue operation involved Police, Ambulance, Fire Service, Air Ambulance, ourselves and Kendal MRT. Our Lowfold base was used as a casualty clearing station were the less seriously injured were assessed by Paramedics, before being sent to appropriate hospitals. Our vehicles were used for transport.
We were requested by the Police to go and recover two people who had got their car stuck on Wrynose Pass in icy conditions. They claimed not to have seen the 'Road Closed' signs and became stuck on ice near the top. The recovery was hampered by a number of other cars abandoned and blocking the road.
A small search was initiated for a 76-year-old woman missing from a local holiday resort. Four SARDA search dogs and 4 team members were mobilised but the woman was found by police before dogs were deployed. A happy ending.
We were requested to assist Police with a search for a 19-year-old man missing from a local residential school. The area was searched, with help from SARDA, and the man was located. He was unharmed.
We were called to help evacuate a man who was found collapsed in the woods. He was stabilised by a Paramedic, and transferred to the air ambulance, and flown to Furness General Hospital.
After some late night revelry an 18 year old Student from a local training centre fell 30ft from the roof of the Bridge House and sustained spinal and internal injuries. Horizontally raised out of the beck on a stretcher to an awaiting ambulance.
Cumbria Police requested the team to search for a 28 year old man from Bury who was suffering from severe depression. Located near lake shore, escorted to safety.
A search was mounted when a 44 year old Windermere woman failed to return home 5/27 84. Team and S.A.R.D.A. searched surrounding woodland. Her body was subsequently found in the lake by police divers at 1.30pm 7/2/84.
Whilst being taken to hospital with a broken leg, a man aged 40 from the Kirkstone Pass Inn was trapped for 5 hours in his snow-bound Land Rover. The team's Land Rover, with special studded snow tyres and a "digging crew" recovered passenger and vehicle and returned both to Kirkstone Top. Weather conditions: gale force winds, deep snow drifts, Pass road blocked.