Rock climbing

A group of 3 climbers were reported overdue. The Team searched the crag and the surrounding area. They were eventually found in Middlefell Gully having become benighted on their descent.

A 17 year old girl fell 25 feet whilst climbing under instruction on her first day rock climbing. She sustained a dislocated elbow, spinal injuries and fractured ankle.

The Team recovered the body of a 23 year old Kendal man who had fallen whilst climbing alone receiving fatal injuries. This man was a very experienced climber and it was an especially sad occasion as he was well known to many Team members.

Two male climbers in their twenties were reported overdue by friends. A local farmer heard shouts and saw flashing lights on Gimmer Crag. A helicopter from R.A.F. Boulmer winched the two men (who had become cragfast and were now suffering from exposure) from the rockface. Both men had either little or no experience.

A 17 year old youth from Merseyside fell about 40 feet whilst he was under instruction during an abseil. The belay point did not hold, and he sustained spinal and leg injuries and lacerations. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and taken to hospital in Kendal. Footnote: This was an accident that should never have happened, because this novice should have had a safety top rope whilst under instruction. The weather was warm, with clear skies, and dry.

A novice rock climber aged 22 from Berwick-orv Tweed slipped and fell about 15 feet into a gulley on Raven Crag, Langdale. She sustained a broken leg and the team carried her down on a stretcher and she was taken to hospital at Kendal. Footnote: This was a well equipped climbing party under very good supervision, and the incident was a genuine accident. The weather was very warm, clear and sunny and dry.

A 28 year old rock climber from Bury fell 20 feet while leading on Billberry Buttress, Raven Crag, Langdale. He sustained pelvic, back and arm injuries. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and then taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This accident occured on the rock face. It is not clear if this climber had any runners on, but information at the time indicated he had not. The weather was warm, with sunshine, and the rock was dry.

A 21 year old rock climber from Prescot was found by a friend after descending from a crag at White Ghyll, Langdale. It is thought that he had fallen about 100 feet. He died on the crag of multiple injuries despite the fight for his life made by the team doctor and team members for over an hour. His body was brought down the fell by stretcher. Footnote: Most of the team knew this young man personally. The accident remains a mystery, as nobody was with him during his descent from the crag. The weather was dry, turning to heavy rain with winds later, and ground conditions were wet.

An 18 year old boy from Pendlebury, Manchester, slipped and fell 30 feet on to a ledge and became crag fast. The team lowered him 60 feet to safety, and although he was uninjured, he was treated for shock. Footnote: This young man was very lucky because he could have fallen another 60-100 feet but for the ledge. The weather was cold, fairly clear, with occasional snow showers.

A 20 year old man from Nantwich slipped and fell about 150 feet in a gulley on Raven Crag, Langdale whilst descending after finishing a rock climb. He was carried off the crag by stretcher suffering from multiple injuries. The team assisted R.A.F. Learning who had already started the carry down. He was taken to the County Hospital, Kendal. Footnote: This accident happened whilst this climber was descending. This is not an uncommon occurence with rock climbers. The weather was fine, dry, but dull.

This man fell 20 feet to be stopped only by the ground, due to his companions lack of belaying technique. The man sustained serious h€&d, spinal, arm and leg injuries. The team conveyed him off the fell using a vacuum mattress.

This 22 year old man fell whilst bouldering, sustaining an open fracture of the lower leg. He was in considerable pain and required lowering down steep ground using ropes and stretcher. Having got him to the roadside, he was taken to Lancaster Hospital by ambulance.

Whilst ascending the gully they belayed around an unstable boulder, which fell and hit the couple. The man sustained a fractured lower leg and ankle, the woman received leg injuries. Both were taken to hospital for treatment.

'Flashing' lights were seen on Scout Crag. A small party went to investigate and found 4 women climbers (aged 40-60) who had finished their climb rather later than anticipated. All were unhurt and nobody was in any difficulty.

25 Team members were involved for 3 hours when a 33year old man fell 40 feet from 'F' route, sustaining back, leg and buttock injuries.

A 22 year old female from Cambridge fell 20 feet down a gulley on Middlefell, Langdale, after completing her rock climb. She sustained a serious compound fracture of the lower leg. The team carried her on a stretcher, and then by ambulance to Lancaster hospital with police escort. Footnote: Sadly for this young lady, this was her first attempt at rock climbing. The utmost care must be taken when descending after a rock climb, as this is when most accidents happen. Weather conditions: Good, clear, dry with moderate wind. Dry and loose rock underfoot.

22 year old man fell 50 feet and fractured his arm and sustained possible spinal injuries. Team assisted by RAF Leeming and RAF Valley MRTs.

35 year old man fell whilst leading and sustained serious multiple injuries. Team assisted by RAF Boulmer Removals Ltd.

21 year old man slipped whilst soloing and sustained multiple injuries.

25 year old man fell 120 feet whilst climbing and sustained multiple injuries which proved fatal. Team assisted by RAF Boulmer.

20 year old man fell and dislocated his kneecap whilst climbing. RAF Boulmer were in the area and flew him off.

20 year old man slipped and fell 30 feet fracturing his ankle.

A 20 year old male from Barton, Bedfordshire slipped on screes while descending from Raven Crag, Langdale. He sustained a compound fracture of the right leg, plus facial injuries. The team carried him down on a stretcher and then by ambulance to Lancaster hospital. Footnote: A popular crag, fast becoming loose and polished through human erosion. Weather conditions: Dry, hot, clear. Very dry underfoot.

A 37 year old Darlington man was struck by a falling rock whilst waiting to climb a route on Pavey Ark, Langdale. He sustained a serious shoulder injury. The team escorted him down the fellside after he had elected to walk. He was taken by a friend to hospital in Kendal. Footnote: Accidents like this happen every year, when the victim is unjured due to no fault of his own. There was a possibility of this accident being caused by a party ascending Jakes Rake, which is very 'loose' indeed. Weather conditions: Dry, warm and clear. Very dry underfoot.

A 16 year old boy from Blackburn fell 20 feet whilst under climbing instructions on Black Crag, Langdale. He sustained pelvic injuries and minor cuts. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and then by ambulance to hospital in Lancaster. Footnote: This boy was under climbing instruction from an adult instructor. Weather conditions: Clear, dry, warm. Dry underfoot

A 28 year old woman from Crewe fell 20 feet whilst leading a rock climb on Middlefell Buttress, Langdale. She sustained spinal and head injuries. The team lowered her by stretcher 200 feet from a rock ledge. She was taken by ambulance to hospital in Lancaster.

A 21 year old woman from London slipped and fell 20 feet, landing on a ledge on Raven Crag, Langdale. She fractured her right ankle and leg. She was lowered 30 feet by TRAGSITZ harness, and then carried on a stretcher to an ambulance for Kendal hospital. Footnote: This particular climbing club or group of people, of which this woman was a member, had been involved in three climbing accidents in seven days. Weather conditions: Good, dry, clear, warm, rock conditions "Greasy" — wet rock.

A 21 year old man from Nottingham fell 45 feet whilst on a solo rock climb on East Raven Crag, Langdale. He sustained severe cuts to the head and body, also bruises and shock. He was carried down the fell on a stretcher and seen by the team doctor. Footnote: This man had no climbing gear at all, footwear was training shoes, yet the route being attempted was "MAMBA". Quote from genuine climbers in the area "He was fooling about". Weather conditions: Good, clear, dry, warm. Dry underfoot

43 year old man fell from the second pitch up Bilberry Buttress and broke his wrist and badly cut his arm.

4 lads, 3 aged 14 and one 28, decided to climb Middlefell Buttress despite not having any experience. They became cragfast and were lowered off. Described as being 'less than sensible'.