CALL OUTS in 1999

Incidents Report
by Nick Owen
Incident/Location Date/time What happened
1. Ambulance Duty,
Bowness on Windermere		 12th January at 09.10 Heavy snow meant that the local ambulance could not attend an 11-year-old boy, who had slipped at an isolated outdoor centre. We went, armed with shovels and manpower and took him to Furness General Hospital.
2. Fellwalking,
Grizedale Tarn, Fairfield		 24th January at 19.10 Patterdale MRT requested our assistance with the evacuation of a 24-year-old woman from Fairfield. We made our way up to the Tarn and met them there in atrocious conditions and helped carry down into Grizedale and on to Patterdale. A late night for all those involved.
3. Search,
Garburn Pass, Troutbeck		 1st February at 19.40 We were asked to assist Kendal MRT in the search for a 30-year-old man who had gone for a 'short walk' at 12.30 and was now well overdue. Information we received suggested he was in Kentmere, or Scout Scar near Kendal. He was eventually located at Sandside, a small village on the coast, (it's miles away from where we were looking!) so we all went home. You just have to be philosophical at times like this.
4. Fellwalking,
Ore Gap, Bowfell, Gt Langdale		 13th February at 15.07 If ever we wanted to get revenge for the wild goose chase we had been sent on by Kendal MRT on the previous incident, then tonight was sweet. (We didn't really want revenge; it wasn't their fault). In the blue corner was an 18 stone, 6'8" man with a suspected fractured ankle, teamed up with icy conditions and darkness, and a long way from civilisation. In the red corner were LAMRT and Kendal MRT trying to rescue him. We did it, but it was a close fought battle and nearly a draw. Those involved took three or four days to recover and walk normally again. Finding and treating the man took 21/2 hours and the evacuation took 51/2 hours.
5. Search,
Grizedale Tarn		 13th February at 20.30 The team members who had managed to avoid the previous incident, (and we know who they were) were sent instead to Grizedale Tarn to check for the source of whistles that had been heard by two descending climbers. A search with dogs and personnel found nothing, but we later found out that an incident had occurred and the party had self-evacuated.
6. Search,
Crinkle Crags, Gt Langdale		 17th February at 16.14 Four separated parties met up on the summit of Long Top and phoned for help on a mobile when they became disorientated and frightened. A couple of fast team members were sent to locate them and start the descent, and a couple of ploddy ones followed up with more lights, hot drinks and a nameless chocolate bar to assist with the walk off. The worrying thing was that several of the party should never have been there in the first place, due to lack of experience. Two of the party should really have been able to find a way down, given they were carrying a GPS, and had sufficient experience to make it possible to sort themselves out.
7. Fellwalking,
Claife Heights, Windermere		 23rd February at 13.21 A 90-year-old woman, who walked regularly along the lakeshore, was reported overdue for her lunch. A small search was organised when she was located by two fell runners and taken home. She had slipped and sustained minor head, leg and wrist injuries.
8. Fellwalking,
Easedale Tarn, Grasmere		 23rd February at 15.16 A man collapsed with what was reported as a leg injury. Our diagnosis was a heart attack and we treated it accordingly. The leg pain was a consequence of the heart attack, not the cause of the problem. He was airlifted to Furness General Hospital.
9. Fellwalking,
Fairfield, Ambleside		 12th March at 14.06 Passing walkers discovered the body of a 49-year-old man. He had died of a heart attack. We were flown to the scene by RAF Boulmer and recovered his body to Ambleside.
10. Fellwalking,
Rydal Caves, Ambleside		 14th March at 12.44 A 41-year-old man slipped at the caves and fractured his right arm. We were called to help, but he was able to walk to our Landrover.
11. Fellwalking,
Hunting Stile, Grasmere		 22nd March at 10.30 A 61-year-old woman slipped and sustained an ankle fracture. Inappropriate footwear may have played a part.
12. Fellwalking,
Mickleden, Gt Langdale		 22nd March at 17.09 We picked this 26-year-old woman up in Mickleden after she had continued to descend after sustaining a pelvic injury. Despite the injury, she made good time and saved us going on to the hill.
13. Search and Recovery,
Easedale Tarn, Grasmere		 29th March at 10.15 A visiting senior policeman spotted a 'cylinder type' object under a stone and reported a bomb to Cumbria police. We (!) were sent to investigate and the Bomb Disposal people were alerted. We found the suspect device to be conventional smoke flare and carried it down. Everyone went home.
14. Fellwalking,
Sergeant Man, Gt Langdale		 4th April at 13.32 The recurrence of an old knee injury meant that this 24-year-old man was unable to descend from Sergeant Man. We received slightly conflicting information as to his exact whereabouts, but eventually we found him and carried him off. Three members of RAF Leeming MRT who where in the area assisted.
15. Search,
Crinkle Crags, Gt Langdale		 6th April at 17.15 This location is becoming a favourite, and so are the circumstances. Lost in mist and unable to find their way off, this group of six used a mobile phone to ask for help. They were located by 'Paddy', a four-legged team member, and escorted off by some of our two legged team members. No one was injured. This was Paddy's first find.
16. Fellwalking,
Alcock Tarn, Grasmere 		7th April at 12.50 This 27-year-old woman slipped on the descent from Alcock Tarn and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. We did the usual and carried her down.
17. Fellwalking,
Alcock Tarn, Grasmere		 7th April at 13.15 While trying to find a short cut to the previous incident, and avoid the slog up a steep hill, one vehicle full of team members came across a second incident. Although similar, it was completely unconnected to the first.
18. Search,
Crinkle Crags, Gt Langdale		 9th April at 20.28 Two people became separated from their companions on Crinkle Crags. They were reported missing. The two were located during a brief search.
19. Fellwalking,
Silver How, Grasmere		 11th April at 13.52 A 60-year-old woman slipped and sustained a possible ankle fracture. We did our stuff.
20. Scrambling,
Black Crags, Wrynose, Little Langdale		 18th April at 12.40 A 34-year-old-man from a party of three slipped while scrambling in a gully. He sustained spinal and wrist fractures, as well as suffering shock and cuts and bruises. He was stabilised at the scene and flown to Furness General Hospital by RAF Boulmer.
21. Fellwalking,
How Top, Hawkshead		 18th April at 15.05 We were called to this incident in error. It is actually in the area covered by Coniston MRT. We notified them of the incident and called out their team. We located the informant and handed the incident over to them.
22. Search,
Pike O'Blisco, Gt Langdale		 18th April at 15.05 While on callout 20, we were notified that a man was missing in the same area. A brief search located him, safe and well.
23. Search,
Langdale Pikes, Gt Langdale		 24th April at 22.30 Campers, including an Auxiliary Coastguard, spotted flares in the vicinity of Stickle Tarn. The area was searched with manpower and a dog, but nothing was found.
24.Search,
Walthwaite, Gt Langdale		 1st May at 22.45 Two boys heard 'cries for help' in the Walthwaite area. A small search was organised to check the area but nothing was found. The noises were attributed to sheep.
25. Fellwalking,
Bowfell, Gt Langdale		 23rd May at 12.51 This 24-year-old man slipped and sustained an ankle injury. We were assisted in his evacuation by helicopters from RAF Valley and Boulmer. Investigation revealed that he was not as badly injured as we had been led to believe.
26. Search,
Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike O'Blisco, Gt Langdale		 23rd May at 21.12 Two men on a sponsored walk were reported overdue. They were amongst 20 or so unaccounted for, but for some reason were causing the organisers concern, when the others weren't. We found them after a brief search. We went home quickly before the status of any of the others changed. The organisers had a great plan in place with respect to emergencies, but like all plans they work really well until you introduce people into them! Mountain Rescue Teams in the Lake District share a common dislike for sponsored events on the hills. They bring inexperienced and badly equipped people into the hills who would not come otherwise, and although they raise money for very worthy charities, they cost our own very worthy charities a fortune in time and money.
27. Scrambling,
Dungeon Ghyll, Gt Langdale		 29th May at 15.30 A 50-year-old man jumped across the beck and slipped back, sustaining a leg fracture and head injuries. He was treated at the scene and airlifted to Whitehaven by RAF Leconfield.
28.Fellwalking,
School Knott, Windermere		 29th May at 16.05 This woman slipped and sustained an arm fracture. She was carried off the fell and taken to Kendal in our ambulance.
29. Fellwalking,
Hunting Stile, Grasmere		 30th May at 14.22 A 62-year-old man slipped on the wet grass and sustained a knee injury. He was carried off the fell and taken to hospital in his own car.
30.Fellwalking,
Silverthwaite, Gt Langdale		 9th June at 16.40 A participant on a National Park guided walk slipped and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. The leader called for help via their headquarters by radio, and we were alerted. We did the usual stuff and she was sent to Keswick Hospital.
31. Search,
Wansfell and Troutbeck		 12th June at 20.35 Two women were reported overdue at their coach after a walk. They turned up in Ambleside as we were organising a search.
32. Fellwalking,
Greenburn, Grasmere		 22nd June at 13.46 A 44-year-old man fell down a small hole and sustained an ankle injury. Kendal MRT assisted us on this rescue.
33. Fellwalking,
School Knott, Windermere		 25th June at 14.30 This woman sustained pelvic injuries when she slipped just a few miles short of completing the Dales Way.
34. Fellwalking,
Orrest Head, Windermere		 28th May at 12.53 A New Zealand woman slipped and sustained an ankle injury. We did our usual stuff, with the aid of an interpreter, and took her to Kendal Hospital in our ambulance.
A casualty receiving major treatment on the fellside -
including use of a saline drip and defibrillator
35. Fellwalking,
Ferry House, Far Sawrey		 29th May at 15.27 A 16-year-old boy slipped in training shoes and after hitting a tree root, sustained an open fracture to his lower right leg. He was treated with painkillers and a splint and carried to an ambulance, for onward transport to Furness Hospital.
36. Search,
Harrison Stickle, Gt Langdale		 9th July at 23.55 People leaving the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel observed flashing lights from the valley. When team members arrived, they also saw them. When they arrived on the summit to investigate, they found approximately eight people scattered around the few flat bits sleeping peacefully. They denied any part in any flashing light type antics, but there seemed little likelihood that anyone else was involved.
37. Fellwalking,
Rossett Ghyll, Gt Langdale		 10th July at 18.49 We were called out to assist a man in difficulty with a leg injury. When we got there he had made his way into Mickleden. We picked him up in our ambulance and didn't need to go on the hill.
38. Fellwalking,
Nab Scar, Ambleside		 11th July at 12.51 A 69-year-old woman collapsed with heat exhaustion. She was treated with intravenous fluids and oxygen and taken by helicopter to Furness General Hospital.
39. Fellwalking,
Helm Crag, Grasmere		 11th April at 17.40 A 66-year-old man collapsed with heat exhaustion. He was treated with oxygen and taken to Westmorland General Hospital.
40. Fellwalking,
Rossett Ghyll, Gt Langdale		 19th July at 17.39 This 28-year-old man travelled all the way from Victoria, Australia, only to slip and sustain a suspected fracture of his lower leg. We treated him with the usual compassion, took advantage of his inability to escape by telling him bad jokes and then carried him down.
41. Fellwalking,
Esk Pike, Gt Langdale		 28th July at 11.06 A 54-year-old man had to shout for help after he slipped and sustained a suspected ankle fracture on the screes below Esk pike. He was treated at the scene and airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital by RAF Boulmer. The helicopter then very decently came back and carried team members down as well.
42. Fellwalking,
Side House, Gt Langdale		 30th July at 12.30 This 71-year-old woman collapsed with suspected high blood pressure. She was taken in our ambulance to Ambleside Health Centre where she was seen by a GP.
43. Fellwalking,
Rydal Caves, Ambleside		 11th August at 13.41 A 17-year-old girl suffered a serious asthma attack near the Caves. She was walking with a group of other asthmatics. They treated her with their own equipment, including oxygen and we stretchered her of the fell.
44. Search,
Loft Crag, Gt Langdale		 17th August at 19.00 Two people became lost in the mist descending Loft Crag. By chance they found a work hut left by the National Trust. They were told to stay put while a couple of people went up and escorted them down.
45. Fellwalking,
Fairfield, Ambleside		 19th August at 14.29 We were called out to attend a 60-year-old woman, who had tripped and fallen, sustaining pelvic injuries. The team assembled and waited for a lift uphill from an RAF helicopter in the area, but it went and rescued the woman without us. She was flown to Furness General Hospital for treatment.
46. Fellwalking,
Lingmoor, Gt Langdale		 23rd August at 15.07 A woman slipped and sustained an ankle injury. She was splinted and carried down the hill and taken to Westmorland General Hospital.
47. Rock Climbing,
Pavey Ark, Gt, Langdale		 28th August at 15.35 A 30-year-old woman was abseiling from a rock climb when her belays failed. She fell 60ft before coming rest on a ledge in a gully. The team worked for several hours to get her out, and then she was airlifted to hospital in Carlisle with multiple injuries. Two climbers in the vicinity went to her aid soon after her fall, and stayed with her the whole time. Their actions are worthy of praise; having suffered cold and rock falls to assist.
48. Fellwalking,
The Band, Gt Langdale		 1st September at 23.04 We were called to assist a blind man and his wife who were making very slow progress. They had been delayed after getting lost and having to retrace their steps. Two men came across them. One stayed to help while the other one went ahead to get help. When we arrived at Stool End Farm the farmer had gone up on his quad-bike and brought them all down. The two men who helped then realised they had lost their car keys when one of them had slipped. They were put up at the farmhouse and they went home next day. It was unfortunate that they should suffer this inconvenience after helping the others. Sometimes life is cruel.
49. Fellwalking,
Side Pike, Gt Langdale		 4th September at 16.17 A 72-year-old woman slipped and sustained a knee injury. Her leg was splinted and she was stretchered off the hill. Poor footwear may well have contributed to this accident.
50. Mountain Biking,
Troutbeck Tongue, Windermere		 5th September at 12.00 A man descending on his mountain bike lost control and collided with a wall when he failed to negotiate a bend. His helmet prevented head injuries but his leg was trapped in his rear suspension. His friends dismantled part of the bike to free him, and we treated his injuries and evacuated him.
51. Fellwalking,
Harrison Stickle, Gt Langdale		 5th September at 13.25 While the previous incident was in progress, we were alerted to cries for help from a steep slope on the side of Harrison Stickle. We spent 3½ hours checking the area before all persons were accounted for and we could return home. A good example of inappropriate use of a mobile phone.
52. Fellwalking,
Ill Bell, Troutbeck		 5th September at 14.08 Number 3 of a busy day. We were asked to assist Kendal MRT with the treatment and evacuation of a woman who had collapsed suffering from the effects of heat. She was near the summit of Ill Bell. Before we got there a helicopter appeared from nowhere and took her away. It took us a bit by surprise, but it saved us a fair bit of sweat.
53. Search,
Esk Hause, Gt Langdale		 8th September at 02.20 We were requested by Keswick MRT to open our base to assist with communications and provide a search dog to assist in finding two young men missing in the Central Fells. They turned up later that morning, unharmed.
54. Search,
Stickle Ghyll, Gt Langdale		 9th September at 21.30 Lights were spotted and we went to check them out. Nothing was found, so we went home at midnight. A well-intentioned false alarm.
55. Fellwalking,
Orrest Head, Windermere		 12th September at 14.06 A 53-year-old London woman slipped and suffered a suspected ankle fracture. An ambulance had been called and we were requested to assist with her evacuation.
56. Fellwalking,
Stickle Ghyll, Gt Langdale		 26th September at 17.43 A 51-year-old man slipped and fell, sustaining a suspected wrist fracture and multiple lacerations. He was treated on the hill and then evacuated to the valley by stretcher.
57. Fellwalking,
Bright Beck, Gt Langdale		 2nd October at 14.14 This 39-year-old man slipped on steep, loose ground and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. Once we actually located him, we did the usual sort of stuff.
58. Fellwalking,
Kirkstone Pass, Ambleside		 7th October at 20.30 The Police requested us investigate shouts for help. We located an 83-year-old Belgian man struggling in the dark with a broken finger and no torch. He was helped back to his guesthouse for a sleep, and his finger was treated the following day.
59. Fellwalking,
Upper Dungeon Ghyll
Gt Langdale		 10th October at 15.22 A 57-year-old South Cumbrian woman tripped and fell 100 ft. into the upper reaches of Dungeon Ghyll. She suffered very serious multiple injuries and despite our best efforts, sadly, died during the evacuation, We were assisted by RAF Leeming and three members of Furness MRT.
60. Search,
Rydal Valley, Ambleside		 25th October at 11.02 An Ambleside resident spotted flashing lights. We investigated and found a local farmer going about his business. We left him to it. A false alarm with good intent.
61. Fellwalking,
The Band, Gt Langdale		 26th October at 18.34 An 83-year-old man got into difficulty and became exhausted while descending The Band. His party was overtaken by darkness. We stretchered him off and escorted the rest of the party down.
62. Fellwalking,
Bright Beck, Gt Langdale		 28th October at 14.36 A 58-year-old man slipped while descending and sustained injuries to his head and hip. He was stretchered from the fell and taken to Ambleside Health Centre for a once over by a doctor. We were assisted by Kendal MRT.
63. Search,
Stickle Tarn, Gt Langdale		 29th October at 15.17 A couple in their 50s phoned 999 on their mobile phone when they became lost in mist. They had no idea where they were, but our shrewd detective work pinned them down to the Stickle Tarn area. Once they were guided to the tarn, they were able to find their way off the hill. We really have got better things to do with our time!
64. Fellwalking,
Alcock Tarn, Grasmere		 2nd November at 11.29 An early start to the rescue day saw us slogging up to Alcock Tarn to retrieve a 65-year-old man with a lower leg injury. He was carried off the fell and taken to hospital.
65. Fellwalking,
Great Rig Man, Grasmere		 6th November at 13.30 This 64-year-old got into difficulty after he started to suffer from chest pains. He was treated at the scene by the team and then flown to Carlisle Hospital, accompanied by the team doctor. He was later confirmed as having had a heart attack.
66. Fellwalking,
Raw Pike, Gt Langdale		 7th November at 17.14 A couple in their 20s got into difficulty when they overestimated their ability and became benighted, cold and wet. They phoned for help on their mobile phone. We located them after a brief search, and assisted them from the fell. Apart from some damage to clothing, they were unscathed. Unfortunately, if they learned anything from their experience, it wasn't immediately obvious.
67. Search,
Angle Tarn, Gt Langdale		 29th November at 23.00 A father and son were reported overdue. A search was organised, involving Keswick MRT, Wasdale MRT and SARDA. They were in the Calf Cove area by a search dog, unhurt, but cold. They were lucky, because information about their route was sketchy, and the area covered was very large.
68. Fellwalking,
Rydal Caves, Ambleside		 5th December at 12.50 This 62-year-old woman sustained a leg injury when she slipped and fell.
69. Sledging, Seat Sandal, Grasmere 5th December at 14.52 A 36-year-old woman sustained a suspected fractured pelvis and spinal injuries after she became separated from her sledge. She was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital in Lancaster.
70. National Park work party,
Raise Beck, Grasmere		 20th December at 16.10 A 33-year-old local man working on the path repairs on Dollywagon Pike sustained injuries to his leg when a rock rolled on to him. His colleagues helped him to the top of Raise Beck and we carried him down from there.
71. Fellwalking,
Red Screes, Kirkstone Pass, Ambleside		 28th December at 16.25 Surely nobody would venture up a steep, snow and ice covered hillside, dressed only in town clothes to take a photo of the sunset and then get stuck when it went dark? This kind of foolishness may result in a mountain rescue team being called out to rescue them before they fell or froze to death. Well sometimes the most unlikely things happen and in this case two brothers, aged 19 and 23, did just that. We rescued them and in debriefing them pointed out that the clothing, crampons, torches, ice axes and ropes that their rescuers were wearing and carrying were not part of a fancy dress costume! But our year didn't end there.
72. Fellwalking,
Codale Tarn, Grasmere		 31st December at 16.54 "Let's all meet-up in the year 2000" sang Jarvis Cocker. You know him; he did a couple of good songs and pointed out that Michael Jackson was an egomaniac. Anyway, before we got chance to do this we had to meet one more time in 1999 to go and rescue this woman from high above Slapestone Edge. She had lost the path and got stuck in decreasing daylight. She was reported as in difficulty by three separate parties, not one of which went to her aid. We located her and returned her to her accommodation, just in time to join the party! We did all meet up in the year 2000, and not far in to it either, but that's another year.