Incident Reports (Advance)

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Incident Report # 2009

A couple phoned for help after losing their way on Long Top. They were given directions but were unable to contact us further to confirm if they had found their way down. A check was made for their car, to see if they'd left the valley. We were unable to find it, so came to the vague conclusion that they had made their way off, and for some reason were unable to contact us. We were contacted the following morning to say that they'd camped in the valley, and hadn't received the message until they left.

Man Hours
3
Incident Type

Incident Report #93 2009

A male with as suspected dislocated shoulder was reported on Pavey Arc. The air ambulance was en-route and we were requested to attend in case they couldn't access the casualty. As it transpired, they were able to complete the evacuation, so we joined the audience at the Langdale Folk Festival, which was raising money for the Fix the Fells project, and SARDA Lakes.

Man Hours
14
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY283082

Incident Report #86 2009

Cumbria Police passed on details of a very truncated request for mountain rescue. Very little additional information was forthcoming. Tracking of the phone call suggested it originated in the Skelwith Bridge area, with a large margin for error. A rapid search of the footpaths and river bank in the area was organised, with nothing found. While this was going on we became aware that Coniston MRT had received a similarly vague call from another mobile number. They were also carrying out a search to try and locate their casualty, who had been reported ashaving a leg injury.

Man Hours
91, plus Coniston MRT
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY275006

Incident Report #85 2009

Called direct from the hill by another MRT member who had come across a male with a suspected leg fracture. Team mobilised only to discover that someone else had phoned via the 'normal' means and Keswick MRT had also been mobilised. The injured man lay on the boundary between the two teams, so we left them to it. Subsequently the injured man was recovered by air ambulance.

Man Hours
10
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY290105

Incident Report #78 2009

A solo male phoned for help after becoming cragfast, after a passing shower rendered the rock he was climbing very slippery. The team were en-route when we were informed that he had been assisted off the crag by two passing scramblers. \"Unsuitable\"" footwear (his words) will have played a significant part in this incident. "

Man Hours
11
OS Grid Reference
NY285078

Incident Report #73 2009

While we were dealing with incident 72 this happened. Another woman sustained a lower leg injury at Angle Tarn. This incident was dealt with initially by team members diverted from incident 72, backed up by team members from Kendal MRT. A long, hot, sweaty day was had by all, ended with a healthy crop of midge bites. All in a days work.

Man Hours
50, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY246077

Incident Report #72 2009

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped at the top of Dungeon Ghyll. While our initial response was under way we were made aware of incident 73. Our resources were split and we continued with this rescue, splinting the injury and stretchering her down, assisted by Kendal MRT.

Man Hours
36, plus Kendal MRT
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY278074

Incident Report #70 2009

A couple phoned for help when one of them sustained a knee injury and the became lost while trying to return from Scafell to Langdale. Only minimum information was received before contact was lost. After some discussion it was decided that a search should be organised. Along with Wasdale MRT and SARDA a search was planned. Further contact with the two meant that we could determine their position more accurately, and it was decided that they were descending to Wasdale via Styhead Tarn, at which point we went home and left Wasdale MRT to tidy up loose ends.

Man Hours
11
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY201093

Incident Report # 2009

A family group became separated, with one party becoming lost. Their phone call came to us via the Isle of Man, enjoying a brief holiday en-route. Contact was made with the group and it was established that they had reunited and were now confident that they could find their way down. The Bad Step diversion strikes again!?

Man Hours
1
Incident Type

Incident Report #65 2009

The remainder of the group was being assisted down, when a second member of the group succumbed to a similar problem. She rapidly became too weak to continue and a stretcher and additional team members were requested to evacuate her to the valley. About this time we enjoyed a brief but violent thunder storm; something that always enlivens any rescue.

Man Hours
36
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY290080

Incident Report #59 2009

A 58-year-old man was reported as having breathing difficulties, and with tingling sensation in one arm. The team was dispatched, and assistance form the Air Ambulance was requested. With team members on the hill, it eventually became obvious that, despite communication difficulties, the man had been picked up by the helicopter and evacuated to the pub! It took most of us considerably longer to get back to a decent supply of fluids! It's probable that the man's condition wasn't as serious as first reported.

Man Hours
51
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY265087

Incident Report # 2009

Walkers reported a sheep stuck in a bog on Wansfell. Two team members, walking in the area, investigated and found a sheep stuck in a bog. Equipment was brought up to allow people to get on to the bog surface without sinking, and the sheep was hauled out. It failed to express any noticeable gratitude, and ran of followed by its hungry lamb.

Man Hours
8
Incident Type

Incident Report #57 2009

A 76-year-old man was reported overdue from a walk in the Grasmere area. A search was organised, and team members and search dog handlers were being deployed when we were informed that he had managed to make his way into Langdale via a steep, unidentified gulley, and was now safe at the roadside. The man was reported to have a medical condition that gave us cause for concern, and the weather had been hot and dry all day. Eight search dogs were involved.

Man Hours
22
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY304067

Incident Report #47 2009

A 69-year-old male member of an American walking party sustained a sprained ankle. The party had made a good attempt to get themselves off, but eventually the pain became too much. He was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital. There was some initial confusion, since the informant gave a misleading location.

Man Hours
22
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY321708

Incident Report # 2009

More of the same. A party of two became disorientated on Crinkle Crags, having descended part-way down the west side, and then struggling to find the summit ridge path. Given instructions and advise to help locate Three Tarns. They eventually met up with another group, who were a little more certain where they were, and more importantly, knew the way off!

Man Hours
2.5
Incident Type

Incident Report # 2009

A group of 5 became split in poor weather when they separated in to two parts; one to go over the Bad Step and the other to go round. They failed to re-unite on Long Top. One group phoned the police for assistance. They were given directions and instructions to head for Three Tarns, were they managed to meet the rest of their party. Possession of a GPS was of limited use in these circumstances, because the party were only able to use it to tell us where they were, and not able to use it to get to where they wanted to be. The same applied to the map and compass they were carrying.

Man Hours
2
Incident Type

Incident Report #44 2009

A man sustained a lower leg injury when he slipped while descending. He was treated and evacuated from the hill. While assembling at the rendezvous point for this rescue a passerby reported another man, making his way slowly from Far Easedale, with a head injury. Kitt's first rescue as a qualified Search Dog. No one had the heart to tell her that we knew where he was!

Man Hours
36
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY327087

Incident Report #41 2009

A woman was reported as immobilised by an ankle injury. Unfortunately, their location was uncertain. A bit of detective work located them, and the injury was treated. Before we could evacuate the casualty, we were made aware of incident 42. The woman was evacuated by the team with help from team members arriving a little later, and a handful of team members who went across to help having concluded rescue 42.

Man Hours
56
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY313075

Incident Report #40 2009

Having sustained the injury, our team member was making a painful and valiant effort to get down with minimal assistance, but as a precaution a stretcher was requested to be brought up to meet the party. Luckily, the helicopter that had assisted earlier was able to return and airlift our team member back to Ambleside with dented pride and a swollen ankle. Injured team member assisted to RN rescue helicopter

Man Hours
24
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY302099

Incident Report #39 2009

A man walking the Coast to Coast with a small group suffered a lower leg injury. Some initial confusion over his location was cleared up, and we treated his injury. He was then evacuated by Royal Navy helicopter to West Cumberland Infirmary. We then set off with his walking partner to return to the valley. Unfortunately on the descent one of our team members sustained an ankle injury.

Man Hours
42
Incident Type
OS Grid Reference
NY292104

Incident Report # 2009

A couple reported themselves having difficulty finding their way of what they thought to be Great Rigg. They were given some directions and advice that should have led them in to the Rydal valley. We then lost touch with them, but had a reliable sighting of them in the Brotherswater Inn(!) later that evening. We eventually established that they had found their way off, and were safe.

Man Hours
1
Incident Type

Incident Report #35 2009

A 57-year-old male fell around 20 metres from Jack's Rake, sustaining injuries to his head, face, arm and leg. He was initially cared for by a paramedic who witnessed the fall, then treated by team members, and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital. Waiting for more help to carry the stretcher

Man Hours
52
OS Grid Reference
NY286080

Incident Report #34 2009

Flashing lights were reported from the Nab Scar area. While trying to spot the lights and identify if there was a problem, team members came across a group who admitted to having just come of the hill, having had a late start and a long day, and who had come that way with one torch between them. No other lights were spotted, so we went home.

Man Hours
4
Incident Type
Location
OS Grid Reference
NY356071

Incident Report #29 2009

A male was reported missing and with a possibility of him self-harming, there was cause for concern for his safety. A complicated and protracted search ensued, where it was possible that the man was evasive, avoiding action. After much discussion and negotiation he was persuaded to come off the hill and into the care of the police. We were assisted by local SARDA dogs, and a tracking dog and handler from Bowland Pennine MRT.

Man Hours
135
Incident Type

Incident Report #28 2009

That's 1st March, not April. A swan was reported in difficulty at Skelwith Force. The police had tried to contact the RSPCA in Preston, but were unable to get them, so contacted us. A small group went to investigate, retrieving it without too much difficulty, and liberating it to do whatever it is that swans do to fill their time. No arms were broken in the rescuing of this swan.

Man Hours
8
Incident Type

Incident Report #27 2009

A family group of three went up to the Langdale Pikes area. They became lost after several attempts to find a way off. Although they had a map and compass and GPS, they were unable to use any. We were able to establish their altitude from the GPS, but it wasn't much use for anything else, since it wasn't set on British Grid. They were too cold and the process of setting the GPS up in any useful way was looking unlikely, so eventually located by the combined method getting them to take bearings to our vehicle lights in the valley bottom, and wonder-dog, Beinn.

Man Hours
12
Incident Type

Incident Report #20 2009

Two men became stuck on steep, frozen ground and were unable to up or down. They were following a route in a book, had no map, compass, torch, crampons or ice axe. There was inevitability about events. We were assisted by SARDA and Rossendale and Pendle MRT, who were in the area, and were co-opted from the pub. 

Man Hours
127.5, plus SARDA and Rossendale & Pendle MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #19 2009

Three men became stuck on steep, frozen ground and were unable to continue down. They were located by team members, roped together and escorted down via a series of steps cut by team members. Regrettably, the message that we have been trying to get out for several days seems to have fallen on deaf ears. They were not equipped for the conditions and seemed surprised by the fact that the snow had re-frozen once the sun was off it.

Man Hours
76.5
Incident Type

Incident Report #18 2009

A man slipped and fell approximately 100 metres from the Climber Traverse on Bowfell. He sustained serious head injuries. His fall was witnessed by another man close by, who raised the alarm, and then went to assist. The team were mobilised to help, and a helicopter was requested to attend. Team members were airlifted in to the site and provided emergency care, along with the winchman. The man was then airlifted to West Cumberland Hospital. He received head, chest and hand injuries. He was well equipped.

Man Hours
68
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #17 2009

A male walker was reported overdue by his wife. We were given a rough outline of his plan, and a search was organised. We were assisted at this stage by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer, and also SARDA and Kendal MRT. The search went on until 4am without success. We reconvened at 8am, this time with help from Keswick, Wasdale, Duddon and Furness, SARDA and Bowland Pennine MRT's and a helicopter from RAF Boulmer. Sadly, a man's body was located by helicopter in the late morning. He was recovered to West Cumberland Hospital, where he was confirmed as having died.

Man Hours
84.5 plus Kendal, Wasdale, Keswick, Duddon and Furness, Bowland Pennine MRT's and SARDA.
Incident Type

Incident Report #16 2009

A male climber sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. In a determined attempt to get down, his climbing partner assisted him a significant distance, before the pain became too much. The team found him at the base of Rossett Ghyll and stretchered him from there. His perseverance is to be applauded. They were experienced and well equipped.

Man Hours
15
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #15 2009

A number of people ended up together in a group after getting into difficulties in the frozen conditions. While trying to find a way off they got onto steep ground. At this point one of them slipped and fell several hundred metres, sustaining fatal injuries. He was evacuated from the fell by RAF helicopter. The rest of the group were evacuated over very difficult ground to safety.

Man Hours
67.5
Incident Type

Incident Report #14 2009

A man slipped and fell approximately 100 metres from the Climber Traverse on Bowfell. He sustained serious multiple injuries. Two members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were fairly nearby, so were directed to the scene to assist while the team set off from the valley bottom. A helicopter was requested and arrived from RAF Boulmer. The man was stabilised and airlifted to West Cumberland Infirmary. His friend was assisted to the valley.

Man Hours
56, plus 2 Keswick MRT
Incident Type
Location

Incident Report #13 2009

A man slipped, falling around 10 metres,  and sustained a twisted knee and gashed hand. He struggled to get to a location where he could get a text message to his wife requesting help, and get some shelter from the weather. Initially he reported a suspected fracture, but he was able to make slow and painful progress down the hill. He was met by team members and assisted to the valley floor. We were assisted by Kendal MRT. Prolonged winter conditions experienced so far this year have been rare in recent years, however the message is the same as always. Be prepared.

Man Hours
45, plus 15 Kendal MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #12 2009

A group of 4 became stuck in frozen conditions near the summit of Shelter Crags. One of them had slipped and was being prevented from falling further by a short length of rope. Her companions were unable to recover her. The group were located by search dog Beinn. She was recovered to safe ground, then escorted, along with the rest of the party, down The Band. Shortly after the start of this rescue, we were alerted to callout number 13 (see below). They were suffering fatigue, hypothermia and minor injuries.

Man Hours
120, plus 14 Kendal MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #9 2009

Two men took the decision to descend from Link Hause to escape the frozen conditions they had found on the ridge. Unfortunately, while still high on the headwall, one of them slipped, avoiding his friends attempt to stop him. He fell several hundred metres, coming to rest above a small crag. He sustained fractured ribs, suspected fractured arm, and multiple other injuries. He was treated and stabilised by team members, then airlifted to Lancaster Royal Infirmary by RAF Leconfield. His friend was also airlifted, having suffered hand and facial injuries in his attempt to stop his friend.

Man Hours
60, plus 2 Duddon & Furness MRT
Incident Type

Incident Report #7 2009

In atrocious weather conditions, the team was called to assist a man who had become separated from his walking companion. Unfortunately he was discovered fatally injured at the bottom of the ghyll, seemingly having fallen some 70 metres from the path. We had requested the assistance of an RAF SAR helicopter, but they were unable to reach us in the prevailing weather conditions.

Man Hours
154, plus Kendal and RAF Leeming MRT
Incident Type

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