Incident Reports 2008

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Incident Report #101 2008

A man phoned for help after becoming cragfast near the Great Slab on Bowfell after descending on to heavily frozen ground. He was recovered and assisted from the hill. His predicament was complicated by becoming separated form his companion, and then throwing his rucsac down an ice-up rock pitch which he was then unable to descend himself, leaving him without spare clothing etc.

Man Hours
63
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY288075

Incident Report #99 2008

A lone woman became lost after taking the wrong direction of Fairfield summit. She had actually headed south east instead of north, and became concerned as ground steepened in the Hart Crag area. She phoned for help, and taking into account a medical condition, it was decided to search of her. We were assisted by Patterdale MRT, who located just below Hart Crag summit. She was escorted back to her accommodation in Patterdale.

Man Hours
91, plus Patterdale MRT
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY248060

Incident Report #98 2008

A couple phoned for help after getting lost in the Low Pike area. Attempts to talk them down initially failed, and we sent a small group out to try and locate them. While this was happening they managed to find their way down to a road from where they managed to work out where they where. We went home and they caught the bus back to their accommodation.

Man Hours
6
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY348059

Incident Report #92 2008

Heavy overnight snow made roads difficult, especially accessing the more remote communities. We retrieved a man from his house who had a medical condition, and transferred him to an ambulance in Ambleside, then followed the ambulance to see it past a well known trouble spot on the main road.

Man Hours
6
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
SD412990

Incident Report # 2008

We were requested by Police to check a vehicle for occupants, that had been stuck in a flood. They were OK and were going to have to sit out and wait for a recovery vehicle when water had subsided. By this time the journey to Langdale involved going to Grasmere first, being the only route where the road was still passable.

Man Hours
2
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #84 2008

A group of 4 became split up when one managed to cross a stream that the others weren't able to. They had only gone for a 'short walk' because of the weather! They had no torches, so had to stop moving once it went dark. They were eventually located at 03.15 by Kendal MRT members who had come to assist after we had been out in atrocious conditions for 4 hours. The evacuation was made difficult by the speed and volume of water flowing.

Man Hours
130
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY289078

Incident Report #83 2008

A family, with a 5-year-old child were reported as trapped on the wrong side of a stream up Rossett Ghyll. The team was dispatched to recover them, but were informed that they had got down safely while we were en-route. Getting through to the end of the Langdale valley was very difficult, with significant flooding and abandoned vehicles.

Man Hours
30
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY353121

Incident Report #80 2008

A man sustained a head injury in a fall on Jacks Rake. He was treated by team members, assisted by two team members from Bowland Pennine MRT and then assisted to the top of the Rake and then stretchered down to Stickle Tarn, from where he was airlifted to hospital by the RAF. We were also assisted by Kendal MRT with the stretcher carry

Man Hours
65
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY407964

Incident Report #79 2008

An unusually early start saw us heading up Orrest Head to assist a man with a suspected fractured humerus. He was treated and stretchered off to a waiting ambulance. We hope he made it to the wedding he was due to attend that afternoon. Maybe if he'd been able to be treated in Kendal, it may have been possible, but since he was going to have to go to Lancaster it seemed unlikely.

Man Hours
20
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY280104

Incident Report #78 2008

A group of 13 were reported overdue from their walk in the Langdale valley. Enquiries were made and a search planned, but we decided to wait, mainly due to the fact that we were already committed to the previous rescue. The party turned up very wet and late before we had finishes rescue 77, so no further action was required.

Man Hours
2
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY285078

Incident Report #77 2008

A group of 4 reported themselves as unable to find a way off from the Sergeant Man area after having turned back from their route when they encountered a river they could not cross due to high water levels. Unfortunately they returned via a different route, and encountered another river they couldn't cross! Their lack of preparation contributed to their problem. They seemed unaware of the problems that the very heavy rain could cause, had no compass, and as darkness fell it became obvious they had no torches.

Man Hours
60
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY288068

Incident Report #76 2008

Two young local lads reported flashing lights on Loughrigg. They took a couple of team members to where they could see the lights from. It was decided that the lights were from somebody on the summit, but most likely not in difficulty and were left on peace. False alarm with good intent.

Man Hours
2
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
SD412989

Incident Report #74 2008

A Canadian couple phoned for help after becoming lost in fields near Ambleside. They were able to tell us they were in a field with some horses. There seemed to be little chance of them finding their way down, so we went and got them. They were located quickly by search dog Beinn, who as a result of the speed of his find, has 11 1/2 hours of a 12 hour glow stick left on his rescue jacket. We were also aided by the local knowledge of our Chair, who has an alarming knowledge of which colour of horse lives in which field.

Man Hours
4
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY323059

Incident Report #72 2008

A man was reported as missing and potentially suicidal. His car had been located by Police near Rydal. A prolonged search ensued, and he was located at 1.45am unharmed. We were assisted by 6 dogs from SARDA, and it was one of the handlers who located the man.

Man Hours
115
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY278074

Incident Report #69 2008

A 15-year-old boy became separate from his parents at Ferry Nab. He was supposed to be running along the Claife Heights ridge and meeting them further along. When he hadn't appeared several hours later they reported him missing. A search was being organised when he turned up at their accommodation, having been found walking along the road by a motorist and given a lift back. He was cold and wet, but unharmed.

Man Hours
2
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
SD420976

Incident Report #66 2008

Four children were allowed to become separated from their parents at the summit of Pike O'Blisco. The parents returned to the car and the children weren't there as expected. We were called to find them and they were located by police at the roadside 1km from were they should be. We then had to find the father, who had gone back up to find try and find them. He was located and we all went home.

Man Hours
7
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY285032

Incident Report #65 2008

A participant in a 24 peak charity challenge left his companions behind on the hill and came down to Langdale. He then went back looking for them and panicked when he couldn't find them. Instead of reporting to the organiser, who seemed to have things under control, he dialled 999. A quick check with the organiser revealed that all people were accounted for, although some were being assisted down from Esk Hause by event marshalls. We went home. Have you noticed how many plans work, until you put humans in, who just bugger them up?

Man Hours
2
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY290080

Incident Report #62 2008

Two groups, one of 4 and one of 5 and part of the same organisation, set off separately from Wasdale to walk to Langdale. One of the groups contacted friends at about 6.30pm from Scafell summit. Both groups were reported overdue at 11.30pm. A search was organised involving ourselves, Wasdale MRT, and a number of search dogs. They were located at 5am, having come together and walked out to Brotherilkeld. Another Three Peaks walk bites the dust(or mud, given the weather).

Man Hours
56
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY245078

Incident Report #61 2008

A young woman fell about 5 metres when the muddy ledge she was standing on gave way. She landing with minor injuries on a small terrace. She was unable to get back up, and was perched over a drop of over 100 metres. She was recovered back up to Jacks Rake and assisted down to the valley. It would be fair to say she was very lucky. Rumours that she landed on a 4-leaf clover are yet to be confirmed.

Man Hours
68
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY288066

Incident Report #50 2008

We were requested by Keswick MRT to assist them with a casualty with a serious head injury at Esk Hause. A helicopter had been requested, but there was some doubt as to its availability. Team members were just about to set off from the end of Mickleden when we were notified that helicopter from RN Gannet had picked up the injured person and taken them to hospital.

Man Hours
8
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY326065

Incident Report #49 2008

A man fell from Jack's Rakes while scrambling with friends. He sustained very serious, multiple injuries. A helicopter was requested to assist, and the team attended, but sadly the man died. His body was recovered from the base of the crag and flown to the valley floor. His companions were escorted from the fell by team members.

Man Hours
47
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY300100

Incident Report # 2008

A group of 5 became stuck in what they describes as a 'white-out'. After speaking to them their priorities seemed to lie with maintaining a good mobile phone signal, rather than getting off the hill. They were persuaded otherwise, and after following directions, located Three Tarns and found their way down to Langdale.

Man Hours
1
Incident Type

Incident Report # 2008

A group of 6 managed to find their way onto Bowfell, while trying to navigate from Scafell Pike, back to Seathwaite, Borrowdale. With the aid a car sat-nav which gave a position in latitude/longitude, which we converted to OSGB and establish where they where, they were guided by phone to the top of The Band, from where they found their way down to Langdale.

Man Hours
1.5
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #44 2008

While trying to work out whom, if anyone, was missing from the previous incident, we were notified of a second missing pair, unrelated to the first group. This time we managed to speak to them quickly, having worked out where they were, and were able to direct them to within sight of Stickle Tarn, from where they were able to locate a way down
Man Hours
2 team members for 1 hour
Incident Type

Incident Report #38 2008

As we stretchered casualty 37 to Three Tarns we encountered three men on their slow and painful way down from Scafell Pike. One of them was suffered severe pain in his knee and was struggling. Already a little busy, we left a couple of Kendal team members with him. They strapped the knee, administered pain relief and started the very slow walk down. Once we'd got the previous casualty safely to the valley, another stretcher was organised and team members started the long, sweaty haul back up.

Man Hours
12, plus Kendal MRT, and RAF Leconfield
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY371063

Incident Report #35 2008

A couple phoned for help after becoming lost on Fairfield. Attempts to talk them down appeared to have failed, but we were fairly certain they were heading down to Patterdale. Patterdale MRT were requested to assist, as were SARDA. They were located just above Hartsop above How. They had a torch and compass, but were struggling to navigate with any certainty.

Man Hours
65, plus Patterdale and SARDA
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY286080

Incident Report #34 2008

A solo male mountain biker was reported overdue after setting off late in the afternoon. Working with Keswick MRT, a search was organised including the bridleways across the central fells, and Greenup Edge, Grasmere. He turned up at his accommodation in Grasmere at about 4am, having had something of an epic day, including a couple of minor falls and a navigational error that meant he returned via Keswick.

Man Hours
51, plus SARDA and Keswick MRT
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY356071

Incident Report #31 2008

Gimmer again! This time for a 62-year-old male who fell while climbing on Gimmer Crag. He fell about 10 metres, breaking his ankle ankle in the process. He was treated and lowered off the crag and then evacuated to the valley floor for onward transport to hospital. It was a fine day for climbing...there's never a good day for falling!

Man Hours
78, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #30 2008

We were requested to assist a woman who had sustained a knee injury near Gibson Knott. A few remaining team members were dispatched to start this rescue, with backup provided by Kendal MRT..<br /><br />...Having completed this rescue, it became obvious that the earlier one was not going to be easy. Having gained access to the ledge, it was proving very difficult to extract the woman without inflicting masses of pain. Kendal MRT had joined us to assist and the specialist expertise on rock removal was requested from Clapham based Cave Rescue Organisation.

Man Hours
12, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #28 2008

A group of five youths set off late to climb Scafell from Langdale. They were warned by people in the valley about their late start, but chose to ignore the advise. They phoned for help around 5am, having become lost, cold and very distressed. It was a combined effort by Wasdale MRT, Kendal MRT, ourselves and a helicopter from RAF Valley. They were located by Wasdale team members near Cowcove Beck, 3km south of Scafell and airlifted to Furness General Hospital for treatment for hypothermia.

Man Hours
30
Incident Type

Incident Report #27 2008

A man phone to say he was cragfast. Speaking to him suggested that he might be on Heron Pike. We were able to determine that he was probably on a north facing slope. After a prolonged search involving 4 mountain rescue teams and 2 SARDA dogs, he was located on very steep ground below Hart Crag. He was very cold and very stuck. He was evacuated up to better ground and then escorted off. The weather was very poor, being very wet and windy. Many other parties were encountered abandoning their routes, some of whom were heading in the wrong direction.

Man Hours
127.5, plus 9 Patterdale MRT, 10 Kendal MRT, 2 Penrith MRT and 2 SARDA (that's a lot of people!)
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #26 2008

Sometimes you take people's word for things and other times you have reason to distrust them. A man reported his friend as having sustained a suspected fractured ankle near the summit of Fairfield. In fact just a few hundred metres south of the summit. Maybe it was that the man didn't have a map, or maybe it was the description of a location near a wall, but something made us doubtful that he knew what he was talking about. We located them just below the summit of High Pike and the injured man was treated by team members.

Man Hours
32.5
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #25 2008

A woman was reported as suffering suspected appendicitis, complicated by being pregnant. They were camped at Codale tarn, as part of a large group. The team was mobilised and set off. A helicopter was requested and overtook us as the first team members approached the Tarn. The woman was airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.

Man Hours
22.5
Incident Type

Incident Report #23 2008

A woman phoned for help after becoming lost on Crinkle Crags in mist. She was given directions to try and find Three Tarns. Three hours later she had made little or no progress to anywhere useful, and was becoming cold and distressed, so we gave up and sent the team to look for her. She was located at 7pm just north of Long Top and escorted back to civilisation.

Man Hours
78
Incident Type

Incident Report #22 2008

A party climbing Jack's Rake came across an abandoned rucsac, with a hot flask and no identification with it. Concerned that someone may have fallen, they informed the Police. We searched around the area, but found nothing. In addition, some people camping at the tarn and who had been there since mid-afternoon, were questioned and reported seeing nothing. The bag is now in the care of the Police, awaiting its owner to claim it.

Man Hours
6
Incident Type

Incident Report #19 2008

A man was reported several hours overdue from a walk. His car was traced to Kirkstone Pass car park by Police, and a search was organised. The trailing dog was able to point us to the Red Screes side of the road. Sadly, after a search of the area, a man's body was located, high on the fellside, around 11pm. He was recovered to Ambleside.

Man Hours
90, plus 6 SARDA, 1 trailing dog from Lancashire and Patterdale MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report # 2008

While we were attending to the previous incident, a group of mountain bikers arrived requesting help with their companion who had sustained a nasty head injury in a fall. The first aid that had been carried out was adequate, so arrangements were made for a visit to hospital for some stitches.

Man Hours
1
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #10 2008

A man phoned for help after apparently suffering a leg injury near Ore Gap. He was in mist, and not entirely sure of his position. The team was mobilised, and due to the extreme weather that was forecast, we requested assistance from a RAF helicopter. The helicopter managed to get to the man through a break in the mist and lift him off, saving us from having to go all the way up. Despite his leg injury, he managed to walk to the helicopter, and out at the other end, so it would seem that the mist and uncertain location was closer to the real problem.

Man Hours
48, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #9 2008

Two poorly equipped men became stuck somewhere on Crinkle Crags and phoned for help. They only had lightweight fleeces and waterproofs and the weather was as poor as predicted, with very strong winds and heavy rain. They had been heading north to Three Tarns, but having got in to difficulty around the Bad Step, decided to retrace their route to Red Tarn. They then became lost. They were located on Little Stand, some distance from their last known position and very cold and wet. Their evacuation was complicated by their cold and fatigue and a couple of swollen river crossings.

Man Hours
90, plus 12 from Wasdale MRT and 4 SARDA dogs
Incident Type

Incident Report #6 2008

A tale of two men, two mountains and two days. Sometimes you go up one mountain and by some quirk of fate, accidentally climb another. Two men went up Crinkle Crags on Friday, became disorientated and reported themselves lost, cold and unable to find a way down. An initial search of Crinkle Crags was organised, followed by a more extensive search of Bowfell as well, after we failed to locate them. With four SARDA dogs and Wasdale MRT helping out, they were eventually located at the north end of Bowfell.

Man Hours
112.5, plus SARDA and Wasdale MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #5 2008

Snow and freezing conditions combined to render Kirkstone Pass impassable. This didn't stop the drivers of several vehicles trying to cross it, despite the 'Road Closed' signs. This resulted in a number of minor accidents and a number of people stranded when they could make no further progress. Vehicle trapped included a 4-wheel drive. Those who chose were recovered to Ambleside to await a thaw.

Man Hours
7.5
Incident Type

Incident Report #4 2008

A man reported his two companions as suffering from hypothermia on the summit of Crinkle Crags. A search was organised, because he was uncertain exactly where they were, which is no surprise, since they were eventually located on Bowfell. The two casualties were cajoled on to their feet and all were escorted down The Band. We were assisted by Kendal MRT. A combination of poor judgement, poor equipment, and poor navigation combined to cause this incident.

Man Hours
63, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #3 2008

Two men were reported overdue back at their hotel in Keswick by their wives, having set off from Langdale to complete a trip over Crinkle Crags. They failed to return. Their car was located in Langdale and a subsequent search, assisted by Wasdale MRT and SARDA located the men near Heron Crag, Eskdale. They were found by members of Wasdale MRT finding their way by the light of their mobile phone and making very slow progress. They were returned to their car for the journey back to their hotel. Team members were able to return to their beds around 1am.

Man Hours
56, plus Wasdale MRT and 2 SARDA dogs
Incident Type