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!
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.
A 62-year-old woman suffered a suspected lower leg fracture when she slipped on the path while descending. She was treated by team members and stretchered off the hill.
A couple of team members went up Far Easedale in a vehicle to check on the man reported with a head injury. He was located making his way down. He was assessed and given basic treatment before continuing on his way, having declined any further assistance.
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!
Another hour spent trying to locate two people overdue from the Esk Pike region. They were eventually located, again having made their way safely off the hill a little later than planned.
We were made aware of a group of 12 overdue by some 2 hours from a walk over Crinkle Crags. No action was taken at this stage, and further enquiries later found that they had made their way off safely.
Another woman was reported as having sustained an ankle injury on the descent from Stickle Ghyll. She was cared for by passersby, and then treated and evacuated to the valley floor for onward transport to hospital by ambulance.
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.
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.
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.
A woman walking with her family suffered a recurrence of an old knee injury which meant she couldn't continue to walk. She was stretchered down to our vehicles and transferred to their own vehicle for onward transport to hospital.
A 12-year-old boy got separated from his mother, who reported him missing. A search was quickly organised. He was located and all were reunited.
An elderly man collapsed, and was unable to get up again.. The team attended, stretchered him back to our vehicle, and then returned him to his coach, for transport home. He declined any further medical attention.
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.
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.
A woman slipped and suffered a knee injury. She was treated by team members and evacuated to her own car for onward transport to hospital.
We had only just seen the previous casualty over the horizon when we were called to a woman who had sustained a suspected fractured lower leg. She was stretchered off the hill and taken to hospital in Lancaster.
A woman slipped and sustained a head injury and suspected fractured collar bone. She was treated by team members and evacuated by Great North Air Ambulance to Cumbria Infirmary, Carlisle.
A pair of elderly walkers became separated from their family group. The remainder of the group made it down, but the other two were reported overdue. We assisted Patterdale MRT and SARDA with a search for them. They were located fairly quickly on the Patterdale side of the hill.
A 60-year-old woman was reported as collapsed and unconscious near a remote farm. The team attended, along with Great North Air Ambulance, and she was airlifted to Furness General Hospital for treatment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A man slipped and sustained a suspected fractured ankle. We set off to rescue him, requesting helicopter assistance. This was provided by RAF Leconfield and the man was airlifted to Carlisle Royal Infirmary.
