Search

A search was mounted with assistance from S.A.R.D.A. for a family group from London reported overdue on fellwalk. Found at 11.15 p.m. No torch or compass.

Teams from the Lakes and Pennines assisted by R.A.F. Leeming M.R.T. and helicopters from R.A.F. Boulmer searched for a 75 year old man from Arnside reported missing on walk. Found alive two days later at base of small crag and flown to Lancaster Hospital.

The Kendal Team requested our assistance when a search was mounted for a teenage boy missing overnight on the fells. Found unharmed on campsite.

The Coniston Team requested our assistance to search for a group of 7 ladies from Barrow reported overdue on fellwalk. Located Wetside Edge by S.A.R.D.A. dog at 1.15 a.m. Group cold and exhausted. Escorted to safety by Team.

The Team were called to search a crag for a 13 year old boy who was last seen on ledges near a 200' drop. Darkness and snow showers hampered the search of the face. Eventually located and extracted to safety suffering from shock and exposure. Treated by team Doctor.

A man from Hemel Hempstead alerted police that his son was 4 hours overdue on fellwalk. A search was started around Stickle Tarn — Langdale Pikes. Keswick Team alerted and boy found 10-45 p.m. Seathwaite, Borrowdale.

A mother and daughter reported themselves lost on Crinkle Crags. We were able to estimate roughly where they were.

The Keswick and Wasdale Teams requested our assistance to search the Head of Langdale for a 69 year old man from Nantwich, Cheshire who was reported missing on walk to Scafell Pike. Found safe and well the following morning by Keswick M.R.T.

The Wasdale Team requested our assistance to search for a solo fell walker who was reported overdue between Cockley Beck and Angle Tarn. Located unharmed.

The Team assisted by S.A.R.D.A., Furness, Kendal, Penrith Teams searched for 13 hours for a Preston couple who had been reported missing after fell walk.

The Team, assisted by S.A.R.D.A. and R.A.F. Leeming M.R.T., searched for 2 men from Nottingham who became separated from main group in bad weather. Found at 9.45 p.m. Low down in Crinkle Ghyll very wet and exhausted. Escorted to safety by team.

The Team assisted by R.A.F. Leeming M.R.T. struggled in gale force 8 conditions to reach a 52 vear old female from Grimsby, reported to be suffering from exhaustion/exposure on Shelter crags. A protracted search ensued as casualty not at location given. Found at 11.15 p.m. in Rest Ghyll and evacuated by stretcher to Langdale.

A search was mounted with assistance from S.A.R.D.A for a 58 year old local man who disappeared during torrential rain and severe flood conditions. Body eventually found 15/3/81.

A search was mounted with assistance from S.A.R.D.A., Furness, Kendal and Patterdale Teams for a solo fellwalker who left a route card at a youth hostel but never returned. Teams searched for 11/2 days for this youth from York University. Located by police at a Keswick Youth Hostel.

A search was mounted after 2 adults and a child from Blackpool failed to turn up from a fell walk. Found at 3.15 a.m. in Rossett Ghyll. No torches, only a box of matches to guide rescuers to scene. Set off 1.15 p.m. for Scafell. Millom Team and S.A.R.D.A. assisted.

A search was mounted for 7 retarded/semi blind adults lost on a walk. Found Mickleden, unharmed but very tired. (Apologies for the terminology, transcribed directly from 1980 report, and hopefully demonstrating how things have changed!!)

A search was mounted for a 19 year old female from Cornwall. S.A.R.D.A. and Patterdale Team assisted. Found by search dog at 4 a.m. suffering from advanced exposure. A helicopter from R.A.F. Boulmer flew her to Whitehaven Hospital.

A massive search involving many Rescue Teams to find a male fellwalker with severe exposure on Great End. A five day search ended when the body was located under 4ft. of snow off Ill Crag by one of the dogs.

The Team were called out to search for a 23 year old woman and a 19 year old man from Burton-on-Trent and Tatbury after they had been reported overdue at Langdale by a friend. They had been on a walk to Scafell. After searching all night they were found safe and well at 9-00 a.m. on 24th December.
Footnote: This couple had a tent with them and night caught them out on the tops so they camped at "Langdale Comb". They seemed rather cold but otherwise O.K. Weather Conditions: Snow and Sleet, Cold, Mist, Ice Underfoot, also Wet.

It was reported that a 14 year old boy from Stapleford, Notts., had collapsed from exposure but when the Team arrived at Gt. Rigg Man there was nobody there. He had been escorted down to Grasmere by his friends.
Footnote: This was a "wild goose chase". In fact we were so concerned that we called in a Helicopter that was on a practice flight in the area to search for this young man. Weather Conditions: Hail and Sleet, Cold, Windy, Frozen Ground.

The Team were called out to search for 2 adults aged 48 and 28 years and 9 Cadets average age 17 years from Wealdston and Harrow area. They were all safe and well (just) at 2-30 a.m. on 29th October. They had no idea where they were and navigation was very poor as was their equipment.

A search was called for two youths from Ashstead and High Field in Surrey. They were found safe and well at 6-20 a.m. on 24th October. Poor navigation had resulted in them "getting lost" so they had decided to go to ground for the night.
Weather Conditions: Cold and Wet Underfoot.

A search was mounted for a 24 year old man from the Kirkstone Pass Inn, Ambleside after he failed to report for work at 12 noon. The man was found dead behind the Inn at 8-30 a.m. on 13th October.
Footnote: 8 Mountain Rescue Teams, Search Dogs and an R.A.F. Helicopter from Boulmer took part in this search. Local Mines were searched by Mine Rescue Unit.
Weather Conditions: Cold, Clear, Wet Underfoot.

The Team were called out to search for a lady who had separated from her husband on a walk from Thirlspot to Wythbum. The Team did not find her but she turned up safely in Grasmere.
Footnote: A case of searching for someone before they were lost. Weather Conditions: Rain, Low Mist, Cool and Wet Underfoot.

A search was launched for two girls aged 9 and 8 years and a boy aged 11 years from Wane, Herts., after they had been allowed to run off and away from the adults in the party. They were found safe and well at 7-45 p.m. near Wrynose Bridge.
Footnote: These children had shorts and Wellingtons. Very little protection against the weather that prevailed at the time.
Weather Conditions: Low Mist, Showers, Very Wet Underfoot.

At the request of Kendal Team our Team searched the Kirkstone and Troutbeck area for 9 Cadets (Soldiers) who were found safe and well after a long search.
Footnote: These Cadets were found in the Nan Bield area by the Kendal Team and
one of our Dog Handlers.
Weather Conditions: Low Mist, Sleet, Snow, Ice under old Snow.

The Police requested that the Team search a wider area for the lost equipment from Call-out No. 4 (previous day) but with negative results. It was three weeks before this man was identified.

A report was received of 3 men caught in an Avalanche. Search by Keswick Team all. night. They were found the next afternoon at Eskdale.
Footnote: Team was taken by Helicopter (R.A.F. Boulmer) to the Central Gulley area (with Avalanche Probes) to assist Keswick, Wasdale and S.A.R.D.A. This was the first time we used the new "Sea King" Helicopter.
Weather Conditions: Cold, Waist Deep Snow, Low Cloud.

Nine students from Leeds were reported missing by friends when they failed to report at Langdale. The Team and SARDA made a search of the fells - at 12 midnight the students were found by the Team at Angle Tarn suffering from exposure. The Team escorted all nine to safety. They were seen by a Doctor and then taken to Windermere for baths and bed.
Footnote: This party had little equipment and with the weather as it had been all day - appalling - they should never have started out - once again bad judgement.
Weather conditions: HEAVY RAIN, LOW MIST, COLD, VERY WET UNDERFOOT

Four teenage schoolgirls and one female school teacher from Radcliffe, Manchester were reported lost by other members of the school party. The team searched from the Grasmere and Langdale sides of Stickle Tarn. The Team found this group at 8.30pm near Tarn Crag, Langdale they were escorted from the fellside.