Incidents

A family group got into difficulty when the mother collapsed with exhaustion and was unable to continue. Initially reported as in Little Langdale, we sent a smal group to investigate, only to locate them on the ridge of Wetherlam Edge. We called Coniston MRT to assist, since this is in their area, and then provided first aid. We managed to get the woman moving again, but transferred her to a stretcher when Coniston team arrived with it. She was evacuated to Tilbrthwaite, fueled with hot chocolate and custard creams for the family's drive back to Leeds. All back in bed by 5am. It's good to see dawn from this side every now and again!

A woman reported her husband overdue at the campsite in Great Langdale. There was particular concern that he hadn't been 'rescued'  by a RAF Seaking that had been in the area on a training flight earlier in the afternoon. A couple of team members went to interview the woman to get more information. He turned up during this process.

A woman sustained a painful shoulder and arm injury when she fell and tumbled. She was treated by team members and evacuated to hospital by air ambulance

We were requested to assist the ambulance and air ambulance with a male who was reported as suffering a collapse near the summit of the Blea Tarn road. Unfortunately he died at the scene

While trying to locate casualty no. 79 we were led to this boy, part of the same group. After waiting in the ghyll with his injured friend, and having been left without adult supervision while their instructor tried to raise the alarm, this boy had descended the ghyll with part of the group, but had fallen in, got very wet and had been briefly unconscious. He was treated by team members and taken to Ambleside to be checked by a doctor. Group leader expressed their disatisfaction with this arrangement, but the apararent haphazard nature of their planning, and an obvious lack of 'soft skills' led us to believe that they were best not consulted in the matter. This group were part of a large organised camp and subsequently we have been assured that a review of arrangements will be carried out.

An initially confusing and frustrating rescue, that eventually came to a successful conclusion. A young boy was reported as suffering a knee injury on the "path to Old Dungeon Ghyll". The problem is there are many! Searches of a good number of them found nothing, until a team member came across a man reporting a boy having been found next to Oxendale Beck, briefly unconscious and wet. See rescue 80. From this boy we were able to establish the approximate location of our first casualty. This was then confirmed when we spotted a man waving on the ridge above Browney Ghyll. We were led to the boy, who had been on a guided ghyll scrambling trip up the ghyll bed. He had a knee injury, and along with his two companions was very cold. He was treated by team members and  and subsequently evacuated by RAF helicopter, thus avoiding a very difficult and technical stretcher descent.

A young woman with learning difficulties was reported missing from an organised coach tour. A search was organised in the Rydal and Grasmere and she was located at the summit of Dunmail Raise(!) by team members returning to the area to assist in the search. Sometimes, despite all the planning, you just get lucky!

Our base was opened and personell sent to assist Wasdale and Keswick MRTs in a search for a young man reported missing in the Styhead Tarn area. He was located in Langstrath.

A woman sustained an ankle fracture when she slipped on a steep, wet path. She was treated by team members and evcuated to Ambleside, where she was transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.

With a good number of team members committed to the previous rescue, another call for assistance was recieved. This time a man descending from Gimmer Crag after a days climbing, slipped on the very wet path and sustained a knee injury. Team members about to be deployed to the ongoing search were diverted to him and we requested assistance from Kendal MRT to make up numbers. He was treated and evacuated to hospital.

While dealing with the previous incident we were also trying to locate 2 men who had phoned for help after becoming lost on Crinkle Crags. We were unable to speak to them, so gaining any further information was impossible. After a lengthy search they were located near Brotherilkeld and returned to Ambleside. They were not suitably equipped for the conditions, had become very cold, had no torches, and one of them had missed important medication. We were assisted by a number of Search Dogs from across the county. Thier handlers were very appreciative of the post rescue pies.

A family group of 8 reported themselves lost and unable to find the way off 'Langdale Pike'. Attempts to recontact them to try and talk them down were hindered by being unable to get through to them on the phone. While we were planning a quick search, we were contacted again to say that they had been located by a more competent group, who were showing then the way down

We were requested to assist NWAS in recovering a woman who had slipped and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture.

A man sustained a leg injury near Angle Tarn. The team was mobilised on a rather unpleasant night to rescue him. We were assisted by Kendal MRT.

Flashing lights and shouts were heard from Raven Crag. An investigation found people working late at a farm, and darkness on the crag. Back in bed inside the hour!

A man became seperated from his group when they went up Seat Sandal and left him at Grisedale Tarn. They then continued to Patterdale without him. He was totally ill-equipped to deal with these circumstances and should not have been left alone. A search was being organised when we were informed that he'd been assisted down to Glenrdding by other walkers who'd found him struggling.

A man walking with his wife suffered a groin strain walking near Tarn Crag. He was probably surprised at the speed of his rescue, because we were training with a helicopter from the RAF. One team member got to him on foot, and a small group were airlifted to him. He was assisted to the helicopter and flown to the valley floor.
 

Having been called to this incident initially at 13:20, we handed it over to Keswick MRT since it was marginally in their area of operation, close to the 'border' between us. They subsequently called us to assist with the carry off down Wythburn

A 16-year-old boy sustained a lower leg injury between Harrison Stickle and Pike O'Stickle. He was picked up by the air ambulance and dropped off in the valley bottom. From there he was transported onwards to hospital.

The team was called to rescue a 60-year-old woman who had become cragfast on steep ground near the top of Steel Fell. After some searching to find her she was located and recovered to the valley unhurt.

The team provided first aid cover for the Windermere Triathlon. Two casualties were treated for minor injuries. The weather was horrible.

An 80-year-old women was reported missing from home by family members. After a large scale search by ourselves, Kendal, Duddon & Furness MRT, and SARDA, and Mij, a trailing dog from Lancashire,  she was located, cold, wet and confused, but OK, some distance form her home. She was transferred to hospital for a once over.

A solo male walker called for help after becoming disorientated in the Thornthwaite Beacon area. An enquiring telephone converstion put him in the vicinity of Park Fell Head. We were organising a group to go and look for him when he phoned again to say he had kept moving to keep warm and with newfound confidence in his position, was making his way confidently downhill.  We drove up to Kirkstone Pass to make sure he was OK and spotted him making his way down to the road.

We were requested to help NWAS access a collapsed diabeitc male at a remote house in Ambleside. Their ambulance was too big to get up the track. Our vehicle was used to transport the crew to the house and then transport the patient back to their ambulance parked near our base.

We were called out near midnight . A party of three were overdue at their rendesvous at Cockley Beck from Scafell. The oldest of the party; a 61-year-old man was a medication dependant diabetic and he would have missed his medication. There was concern for his wellbeing. It was also known that they had no torches. We were liaisng with Wasdale MRT and police and making a search plan when they phone police to say that they had made their way to Wha House on Eskdale and were safe. All MRT retired to the comfort of their beds, what with it being a school day...

A woman tripped and sustained an injury to her wrist. She was assisted down by her companions and met by the team close to the valley.

An exhausted female walker was assisted from Stake Pass and returned to Ambleside

A woman suffered a fit on a track near the road in Little Langdale. The ambulance that was called was unable to access the woman, so the team was called to deal with the incident. The woman was recovered to Ambleside

We were requested to assist the Police with a search for a 2-year-old child missing at the end of Langdale. The team was en-route when the child was located asleep in the back of a vehicle by a Police Officer.

A man was reported as being separated from his friends after an early morning walk up Loughrigg. The initial search was delayed to allow time for the man to make his own way down, but when he hadn't returned by 9am we began to organise a search. He turned up about 9.45am, unhurt, but unable to account for his movements. It's possible alcohol consumption steered events in this case.
 

While the previous incident was on-going we were requested assist the air ambulance, who had been diverted to a man who was suffering a serious medical condition on the approach to Helm Crag. A small group of team members were sent to assist with this while the remainder stayed the previous incident.

We were called to a man who had suffered a knee injury on Crinkle Crags. Due to the distance of the carry-off an air ambulance was requested, but before it arrived it was diverted to another incident which we were also requested to assist with. The team carried on with this incident and the man was treated and packaged ready for evacuation. He was subsequently airlifted to hospital when the other incident was resolved.

A couple were reported overdue when they became seperated from other family members. A search strategy was being established when they turned up safe and well and we were able to continue with the previous incident.

While the previous incident was ongoing we were called to a 49-year-old male with a lower leg injury. He was treated by team members and stretchered to an ambulance for onward transport to hospital.

The team recieved a request to prepare to assist Police with the clearing of streets in Ambleside and surrounding area following the news that a man was heading in this direction shooting, apparently randomly, from a car. At this stage he was thought to have killed 12 people and injured many, many more.
Before he reached this area, his body was dicovered in woodland near Boot in Eskdale, having shot himself.
The team was then requested to assist primarily Wadale MRT in searching a corridor either side of the route he had taken, to check for more victims. No more were located and the death toll remained at 13, with many injured, some serioulsy. All Lakes MRTs were involved in this tragic day for the county.

While the previous incident was ongoing a second casualty was reported on Calf Crag, his knee having given way and being unable to walk as a result. Team members attended and provided first aid and pain relief and the man was evacuated by the air ambulance, having dropped the previous casualty off at West Cumberland Infirmary. This was subsequently diagnosed as a dislocate patella.

A casualty was reported as suffering soft tissue injuries on Crinkle Crags.
Air ambulance was requested to assist and was able to lift the casualty before team members arrived. This was good, because we soon had another incident to deal with on Calf Crag.

Flashing lights were seen above the NT campsite in the Crinkle Crag area. A check of the area was made, but nothing was found

A woman, walking with a party down from Silver How, slipped and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. She was initially assisted down by her companions, but was handed over to us for the strtecher descent.

More checks were carried out in the search for the missing man from 21st May. Again nothing was found. Assistance was provided by Patterdale MRT, Bowland Pennine MRT and SARDA
 

A man fell and dislocated his shoulder while scrambling on Jacks Rake. He was treated with pain relief, and his injury immobilised. A rescue helicopter was requested, and were notified that there was one in the area, but this deveopled a fault and another helicopter was tasked. This was subsequently diverted to another incident in the Buttermere area, and then to the Keswick area for a succession of people hit by lightning strikes. A thrid helicopter from RN Gannet fiinally arrived and airlifted our casualty.

We were requested to assist the air ambulance with loading a casualty after she slipped and suffered an lower leg injury above High Sweden Bridge. She was treated by the air ambilance crew and carried the short distance by the team

Woman reported as having a leg injury, and suffering loss of vision and dizziness. Team attended and she was evacuated to safety

Requested to assist ambulance service with accessing an unconscious diabetic casualty at an isolated property.

An 82-year-old man was unable to continue walking due to the onset of chest pains. He was treated by team members and then evcauated to hospital by air ambulance

A man, walking with his wife, collapsed. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, air ambulance and ourselves, he was declared to have died on reaching hospital.

A 16-year-old male was reported with a knee injury. The team was mobilised, and found the casualty about 600mteres from the road, being assisted by companions.
14 team members for 1.5 hours, plus Air Ambulance

Three members of a party of 4 were injured when one fell while scrambling up Dungeon Ghyll. An air ambulance had been called, but was unable to access the casualties due to the steep-sided ravine and the fact that hey were trapped some 20 metres up the rock face.
They assisted considerably by lifting team members and equipment to a reasonable access point at the base of the waterfall. The faller dislodged large amounts of unstable rock, causing head and hand injuries to two of the others. Remarkably, the faller sustained only minor injuries, despite a fall of some 20 metres!! The uninjured party member managed to climb out and raise the alarm. The other three remained crag fast in a very nasty place! They were treated by a team member, and then after some considerable difficulties, due to vast amounts of loose rock, were evacuated to safe ground and then flown out to the valley floor by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer. A difficult and protracted rescue!!

Male with dislocated kneecap (ouch!!) at the top of Rossett Ghyll

We were requested to assist with the search for an 18-year-old male, who had gone on to the fells, threatening suicide. He was located by friends and assisted down. Team stood down during preliminary response

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on wet ground on the descent from Slver Howe. She was treated by team members and evcuated to Ambleside for transport to hospital.

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on wet ground just below the summit of Snarker Pike. She was in a lot of pain and was treated by team members, then evacuated to Furness General Hospital by North West Air Ambulance.

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on wet ground just below the summit of Wansfell. She was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital

A couple set off from Grasmere to go to Sergeant Man, but got lost in the High Raise area when the path was obliterated by snow. During the early stages of the search the couple came across a group who knew where they where, and the way down. They were assisted towards Langdale and met by team members at Stickle Tarn

An elderly woman collapsed and became briefly unconscious. Upon coming round she also suffered prolonged vomiting. She was treated by team members and evacuated to an ambulance back in Ambleside

A 17-year-old girl, on a D  of E training expedition, collapsed, probably from a combination of exhaustion and hypothermia. The team set off, requesting assistance from air ambulance. She was evacuated by them, and we escorted the remainder of the party to the valley, then retirned them to their planned campsite at Wasdale Head. Life being anything but simple, we were then flagged down from the roadside by a man whose walking companion had taken a fall on Scafell, sustaining head, lower back and rib injuries. We were able to contact an ambulance and request help and stabilised the man until the ambulance arrived. Late for dinner!

We were requested to assist in recovering a man who was suffering from a heart condition some way from the road. The team attended and helped evacuate the man to hospital.

A rucsac was reported abandoned on the Climbers Traverse. The team was on a training exercise with a helicopter from RAF Leconfield and had just collected a group on board. They flew over the area, searching it extensively, helpd by the many extra pairs of eyes on board. Nothing was found and the search was called off and the training exercise was continued. Probably not the most strenuous 'rescue' we've been on

Shouts for help were reported from the area of the crag. A small group went to investigate and found a hunt coming down off the fell. Nothing else was found

A member of Patterdale MRT was driving over Kirkstone, going home after a lengthy rescue, when he spotted lights high on the crag in a similar location to the previous incident. He reported them to us and we went to investigate. When we arrived, they had got to the crag and were seen making their way down via a different route. We checked they were making reasonable progress and went home

Lights were spotted, stationary, high on the crag above Kirkstone Pass. They didn't move for a long time and it was reported that shouts for help were heard. A callout was initiated but as team members approached it became obvious that whatever was going on, the occupants of the icy ledge didn't want our help, and team members were stood down and the lights were left to get on with what ever they were up to. P.S. I have subsequently met one of these men who, much to his embarrassment, had been climbing when his partner dropped his ice axe, and they had both spent around 4 hours trying to retrieve it! (They are expensive bits of kit!!)

A local woman slipped outside her house on an icy path. The ambulance was unable to reach her due to the ice covered road, so we collected her and transferred her to a county ambulance.

A man suffered a suspected hamstring injury, making walking very difficult and painful. Showing great fortitude, and assisted by his companions, he made significant progress down, before coming to a halt near Stickle Tarn. He was rescued from here by the team, assisted by Kendal MRT. With many of our team in Scotland enjoying superb conditions for winter training, Kendal's assistance was much appreciated

A group of five were struggling with one torch, approaching darkness and steep snow covered paths. They were located by team members and escorted to the valley floor.

We were requested by North West Ambulance Service to assist in accessing a remote, snowbound property where a patient required urgent evacuation to hospital with a serious medical problem.

A group of three young men became stranded when one of them finally succumbed to a knee injury sustained earlier in the day. It had swollen horribly and he could no longer walk. Team members originally intending to look for the victims of rescue 22 were diverted to this incident while the previous search continued. The young man was treated and stretchered off the hill, and then sent on to hospital in his friend's car. Team members from this rescue quickly refueled on hot chocolate and generic chocolate covered caramel and nougat bars and set off again to join the ongoing search. All safely in bed by 3am. One thing mountain rescue does is get you to places and at times you might never normally consider. On this occasion we witnessed a temperature inversion, with the clouds in the valley glowing orange from street lights. Very spooky! Add to this an amazing view of the stars, where else would you want to be? Oh, yes, bed, I remember now! Sadly, attempts to photograph this failed due to the limitations of camera phones

Two young women reported themselves benighted and very uncertain as to where they were. A search was being organised and a couple of team members who were just about to start climbing on Pavey Ark were requested to make a preliminary check of the area, since the two women had seen lights and it seemd likely that it was them approaching the crag. While this was happening a second incident occurred (see below). The search continued and the area became larger as it became apparent that the women were not in this area. The women were eventually located on Helm Crag. The sighting of lights was complicated by fact that it was a brilliantly clear night and you could see for miles!! Also the women were struggling in the dark and cold to take compass bearings on lights they could see. Having concluded incident 23, other team members joined the search which had moved eastwards on to Helm Crag. They were eventually located on steep groung just below the summit, and assisted off the hill, and returned to Ambleside.

A woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped. The team was mobilised, and was on route when we were notified that an RAF helicopter that was assisting with a Keswick MRT incident had diverted and picked her up. Having established that the rest of the party was able to get themsleves off the hill we turned around and went home. Just as well 'cos then things got a bit busy!

A woman sustained a suspected lower leg fracture, when she slipped on frozen and damp ground. She was treated by team members and evacuated by Great North Air Ambulance.

We were requested to join Keswick and Wadale MRTs in a search for a solo female walker, lost in snow and encroaching darkness in the Central Fells. She was located near Great End as the team was assembling, and escorted down.

A ill-prepared couple phoned for help when it started to snow heavily, and they found that they were unable to make safe progress off the hill due to the snow cover and underlying ice. They were quite specific about their requirements, which included a waterproof jacket, since they only had one between them.

A woman was reported as seperated from her group near Sergeant Man. She was reported by her companions as having no torch and missing since 15:30. The group had searched for themselves for a couple of hours, attracting the attention of other hill-goers. They eventually returned to the valley bottom, after which a couple of other walkers heard shouts for help, and found the woman lying at the bottom of a snow filled gulley, suffering from multiple injuries including lower spinal pain and rib injuries, causing pain and breathing difficulties. Our initial search plan was quickly abandoned and a rapid response was made to the known location. She was treated by team members and then evacuated by RAF helicopter to Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle.

A man was reported as suffering chest pains near the dam at Stickle Tarn. The team mobilised, treated his symptons and he was evacuated to West Cumberland Infirmary by RAF helicopter

Two people were reported as seperated from their party, having no torches and limited experience, and overdue at Kirkstone car park. Two team members set off the interview the informant. On route, the vehicle was flagged down by two people walking up Kirkstone and trying to scavenge a lift. They denied that they weren't the people we were looking for, but when they were given a lift to the top they were identified by the informant as the missing people, so they were returned to them for safe keeping.

A 72-year-old man was reported as having collapsed near the summit of Calf Crag. The team was dispatched and helicopter assistance was requested. The air ambulance arrived a short time before the first team members, stabilised the man and then evacuated him to hospital. Team members then escorted the man's wife and friend off the hill and back to Ambleside. An RAF Seaking also attended, since the timing of the incident meant that the air ambulance attendance wasn't guaranteed due to the approaching darkness

A man slipped and sustained a suspected fractured wrist. The team was called and eventually located the group, despite them having moved from their original position and having got a little lost near the top of Rest Ghyll and giving us a latitude/longtitude position from some device or other that suggested that they were on Long Top. Due to the potentially lengthy nature of the evacuation, Kendal MRT were called to assist, however, with the man's injury securely splinted he was able to walk with assistance and some loaned 'jelly' crampons, speeding and simplifying the evacuation considerably. A passing member of Duddon & Furness MRT assisted as well.
There were an alarming number of people out without crampons and ice axe. Full winter conditions persist above approximatley 300 metres with extensive snow cover and variable ice conditions.

An obcenely early start to assist the local ambulance crew recover a man who had slipped on icy ground and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture

A second delivery of groceries to a remote property, whose occupants had been unable to leave for three weeks, and needed resupplying. Assisted by Ambleside Spar shop.

We were requested to assist with a vehicle recovery on Kirkstone Pass. The road is still impassable, but despite this a number vehicles were trying to cross.
The vehicle occupants had dug themselves out before we arrived. Later a care worker was transported to a remote household to tend to an elderly resident.

A man sustained a nasty lower leg fracture when he slipped on an icy path. We set off, but found the man on the roadside being attended to by Paramedics, having been dragged there on a bivvy bag by his helpful friends. We assisted at the roadside and went home.

We transported an elderly male back to his home after some time in a residential care home and took a care worker to an elderly rersident in a remote house. Both destinations were inaccessable via conventional means due to snow and ice on steep roads.

A man slipped and fell approximately 5 metres down steep bank, sustaining a nasty head injury and suspected neck injury. He was treated by Paramedics and a doctor from the air ambulance, and then evacuated from the steep ground by the team.

Groceries and medication transported to a remote property, whose occupants had been unable to leave for two weeks, and were running low on supplies. Assisted by Ambleside Spar shop and Bells Chemist.

A young couple trying to get to Eskdale to celebrate a birthday became stranded on Wrynose Pass, while following a sat-nav. Fresh snow was falling on an ice covered road, making progress far from straightforward, even in a Landrover. The vehicle was pushed, towed and generally cajouled back to recognisable tarmac. We've now rescued considerably more people from cars this year, than we have from the fells!

May I suggest that before setting out in current conditions, drivers read the section in the sat-nav instructions that refer to the road condition predictive function. If you find it, let me know! Use a map, read the road signs, and engage brain.

An 11-year-old boy sustained a painful leg injury. He was treated by team members, diverted from the previous incident. The boy evacuated to hospital.

A woman slipped on a very icy path and sustained a suspected wrist fracture. She was treated by team members and then evacuated.

Assisted ambulance crew in accessing a casualty on a steep ice bound road.

We were requested to assist police in evacuating 13 people from a Hummer stretch limo after it became stuck in deep snow at the summit of the pass. The driver had followed his sat-nav, which failed to warn him of the snow. Looking out of the window obviously failed to provide enough information. Sadly we failed to get any photos.

A woman slipped on a very icy path and sustained a suspected wrist fracture. She was given pain relief and evacuated to Ambleside for onward transport to hospital.

Heavy snow, driven by the wind caused an unclear number of car to become stuck at Kirkstone summit . We were requested to assist police in checking that nobody was left in any abandoned cars and all people were safe. We were assisted by Patterdale MRT in difficult conditions.

We were requested to assist in the search for a teenage runaway, lost and cold in fields near the railway line at Windermere. She was located by Police officers while the team was responding.

A local man slipped on ice which caused a nasty ankle injury. An ambulance was called but was delayed as it was coming from Coniston. Passing team members fetched medical equipment from our base. The casualty's pain was managed and his leg was splinted before handing over to the ambulance service.

Another day of providing support to ambulance and care services. We accompanied an ambulance to an Ambleside housing estate to make sure it could get up and down the steep hill, and then later transported a Windermere based District Nurse around snow covered roads to carry out her duties in remote snow-bound locations. Road conditions varied enormously during the day.

We were requested to assist the ambulance in reaching a 19-year-old female with abdominal pains on an Ambleside housing estate. With snow continuing and road conditions treacherous two vehicles attended, Mobile 3 as Ambulance and Mobile 4 carrying personnel and shovels in case there was a need to dig! The young woman was delivered safely to the Maternity Unit at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Snow plough/gritters were out in force but at times constant heavy snow was cancelling out their work within minutes of passing.

While in the area, the team was requested to check parking locations for a car belonging to a vulnerable missing person. Nothing was found. The car was later located in the Torver area and the woman was subsequently located safely.

Light were reported in the Raven Crag area, seemingly struggling to find a way through the crags. When investigated, it turned out that they had made their way of the crag and out of the area.

A woman sustained a fractured ankle in a sledging accident. She was treated by team members and evacuated by stretcher. She was then transported to Ambleside, from where she was transported to hospital by RAF helicopter, along with the previous casualty. The road conditions did not permit the ambulance to transport either casualty.

Two incidents were dealt with during heavy snow, when normal ambulances couldn't get to casualties due to snowy road conditions. The first incident was a man found semi conscious and hypothermic in the street in Windermere. The second was a woman who had sustained a knee injury after the car she was in lost control on a steep snow covered drive and crashed through a wall. She was injured as she tried to jump free. She managed to get back to the house and she was 'rescued' from there. She was transported through to Ambleside; the intention being that she be transported to hospital in a conventional ambulance.

Our vehicle was used to transport paramedics to a casualty with a leg injury to an area inaccessible due to snow conditions.

A runaway dog was recovered from a steep, loose crag on the side of Silver How and reunited with its owner.

We were requested to provide assistance and water safety equipment during a search for a man missing from his boat on Windermere. A body was located by Police shortly after the search was stood down due to darkness.

A 27-year-old woman sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on wet and frozen ground. She was treated and evacuated.

While the previous rescue was in full flow we were alerted to another incident involving a 16-year-old girl from a party of 13 who had fallen around 100metres down the fellside while the party were descending from Yoke. She suffered head, neck, chest and leg injuries. Other team members, not already involved with the previous rescue were dispatched, and along with a request to Kendal MRT and the helicopter to assist. Team members arrived just after the helicopter, and along with a couple of Kendal MRT treated the girl, helped load her into the helicopter, and then escorted the remainder of the party off the fell. Members of Kendal MRT also assisted in removing our vehicle from a deep muddy gully in which in had become stuck on the way to this incident!!

A 59-year-old man suffered a suspected heart problem, with chest pains and nausea reported. The team was dispatched immediately, along with a request for a helicopter to attend. There was a little confusion as to the location, with it given as Hanging Knotts, but the grid reference given put it on the north summit of Bowfell. The latter was correct. The helicopter arrived on scene first, and airlifted the man to hospital, while team members located the rest of the party, and walked back down with them. This is our standard procedure in these circumstances, since we can't be sure the remainder of any party is capable of sorting themselves out until we've met them. This group were capable and experienced. The hills have received their first decent covering of snow.

A District Nurse was transported to a vulnerable patient in Langdale.

The team continued to provide support to Police and Ambulance, but with water levels receding and work to clear road access continuing, we were able to reduce our commitment, the final job being to transport a District Nurse to a home visit in Chapel Stile at 9am.
Access continues to be difficult to some areas, with floodwater still present and extensive damage to many road surfaces and edges. The cleanup will take some considerable time. The Ambulance Service will be resident in our base for some time, while their own station is dried out and repaired.
The rainfall has been described as 'one in a millennium' event, which, given it's only 4 years since we suffered a 'one in 100 years' event is a bit of a worry! It would have helped considerably if people took notice of 'road closed' signs and didn't continue to drive into deep water without thinking through the consequences! Even the flashest four wheel drive is still a car, not a boat. Boats tend to be pointy at the front, are waterproof underneath, and don't have doors that open below the waterline.
Some semblance of normality has now returned to the area. Some road surfaces are damaged, but most are passable. It will take a while to clear up completely, but this area doesn't compare to the devistation in the Cockermouth and Workington area. Our best wishes go to all those affected.
We have received numerous good will messages, some directed at the team, but many directed at the whole community. Various appeals have been set up to recovery in the area. If wish to help, you can donate to this team, using the 'Donate Now', to Lake District mountain rescue as a whole at Lake District Search & Mountain Rescue Association. If you wish to contribute to one of the appeals for the region you could consider Cumbria Community Foundation or Wainwright Society Flood Appeal

With considerable difficulty getting about due to continued flooding and consequent damage, the team continued to provide backup and support to local Police and Ambulance. With many local roads still impassable our vehicles' four-wheel drive and deep water wading capabilities continued to be used to support local communities and visitors. The New Island Republic of Ambleside got a new bridge access, The Kirkstone Pass Road Bridge, the only other access involving a significant detour into the waters of Windermere. Unfortunately one of our vehicles was badly damaged when part of a road collapsed. Luckily, the occupants were OK, with the vehicle narrowly avoiding falling into deep water.

It rained, like it has never rained before. Many people woke up to extensive flooding. Homes and businesses were flooded, cars washed away, boats sank and many people stranded. The local ambulance station was completely flooded. Ambulance, Police and Fire Service all spent the day operating from our base, with 4-wheel drive support being provided to the Police and Ambulance, along with swiftwater rescue backup to Police Officers out and about. People were rescued from flooded vehicles, various care workers were transported to visit vulnerable people in the community and our base was used by Environment Agency and Council employees who were working on limiting the damage, trying to clear drains and providing sandbags. We also became an information point for those trying to get in or out of the New Island Republic of Ambleside.

A pair of walkers reported themselves in difficulty as mist descended. They thought they were between Harrison Stickle and Pike O'Stickle. With darkness approaching it was decided that a quick daylight search was the order of the day. The were located (in the dark) between Thunacar Knott and High Raise (!) and escorted to the valley floor.

During the preliminary checks on the previous incident, a police officer spotted some lights on Blake Rigg which appeared to be people struggling to find a way over difficult terrain. Additional team members were sent to investigate, but it became clear that there was probably nothing wrong when all the lights suddenly moved uphill en-mass. Probably trainees on a night navigation exercise.

A man was reported as overdue from his walk on Crinkle Crags by his wife. Enquires were made and while a small team were making some preliminary checks of the road and parking places, a phone call was received from the man saying he was OK, but it was unclear due to poor reception where he was. A second call was later received from Brotherilkeld, Eskdale, to say he was safe and well. The search was called off and he was returned to his car. He had actually gone up Bowfell (deliberately) but made an error, descended to Ore Gap, mistook it for Three Tarns and descended into Eskdale instead of Langdale.

A pair of walkers were forced to stop when the torch they proved insufficient to light their way. They were located by team members and escorted from the fell.

A pair of walkers were forced to stop when the torch they had failed and left them unable to find their way in darkness. They were located and escorted down by a couple of team members.

A solo male reported himself as cragfast on Jack's Rake. The team was deployed, but recalled shortly afterwards, the man having been assisted by two others who had come across him struggling. With their assistance he was able to get to safer ground and continue to the top.

A 64-year-old male slipped on very wet ground and sustained a reoccurrence of an old knee injury. He was treated by team members and stretchered to the valley floor, from where his companions took him to hospital in their own transport.

A group of walkers came across a man who had slipped and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. He couldn't have got much further up! They stayed with him until we arrived. A helicopter was requested to assist along with Kendal MRT, in case the helicopter couldn't get through the fog and low cloud. The first helicopter couldn't get through the fog, but the second one managed it, airlifting the man to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.

A woman slipped on a very wet path and sustained an ankle injury. She was treated with pain relief and a splint and evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital.

While the previous rescue was ongoing we were made aware of a group of 9 with one torch and 8 glow-sticks(!) had gone to ground on steep ground in the vicinity of Esk Hause. A small group was detached from rescue 106 to do a check at Esk Hause and Esk Pike. They weren't found on this preliminary search so a larger search was organised involving Keswick MRT and SARDA, and they still weren't located. Over the course of the night more information was gathered and they were eventually located at Ore Gap, having descended from the Bowfell area at 11am. All we had to do then was to get them back to the valley across a series of rivers swollen by the night and morning's heavy rain.

A female participant from a large walking party slipped and sustained a lower leg fracture on the path from Esk Hause above Angle Tarn. She was located and treated, then stretchered off. The descent of Rossett Ghyll with a stretcher is a difficult and strenuous one, and the drive out of Mickleden is very rough. Unfortunately our casualty didn't take the rough ride in very good grace and was rude and grumpy. We'll put that down to the circumstances and won't hold it against her. Her companions were very nice.

We were requested to attend a woman with an ankle injury near Easedale Tarn. As we arrived at the bottom of the hill, we were informed that we had been overtaken by the Air Ambulance and the woman was on her way to hospital.

A group of three were reported overdue at Grasmere on the Coast to Coast walk. We were requested to assist Keswick MRT, along with SARDA, to search for them. They were located by Keswick MRT at Flour Ghyll, near Greenup Edge, unhurt, and escort from the fell

A 76-year-old solo walker became cragfast when he strayed from the path while climbing Harrison Stickle. His detour took him onto an area of vertical rock and dripping gullies. After a bit of hunting around he was located, and with some considerable technical difficulty, evacuated to safe ground, from where he was accompanied to the valley floor. He was given a lift back to his accommodation, the delay having caused him to miss the last bus! We were also complicit in a lie, to stop this gentleman being grounded by his Granddaughter. If anyone asks, we've never met!

Having dealt with the previous debacle we were called upon again with a report of a woman and 11-year-old boy overdue from a walk from Crinkle Crags. They were located during initial checks of the valley bottom, having made a navigational error, and coming down in the wrong place. They had been delayed by this, but were located en-route back to Ambleside.

In what must rate as one of the most ridiculous situations we have found ourselves on for quite some time, we found ourselves hunting down various members of a group who were incapable of organising themselves and taking responsibility for their actions. Initially a group of four were delayed when one of them had a minor fall, subsequently causing darkness to become a problem. One of them reported themselves on 'the path from the tarn to Chapel Stile'. Instinct warned us that this was probably not the case, and that they were probably on the Stickle Ghyll path; subsequently confirmed when one of the group made it to the New Dungeon Ghyll pub and phoned again. He was unable to decide if the 'injured' person was injured or if the problem was simply a lack of torches. Apparently unable or unwilling to borrow a torch and retrieve the party, the informant was erring on the side of the injury being a problem. Eventually we gave up and sent a small group to get them. However, when we got down the valley we discovered that, in a startling outbreak of self-reliance (shame it was too late) someone had borrowed a torch and set off to retrieve the party. You'd hope that would be the happy ending, but nothing could be that simple.....another member of the group decided he was going up to help as well. Unfortunately he contrived to miss the others, and continued up the hill; the others having made their way down. Another member of the party then set off to try and catch the other. We finally managed to catch them both up and point them back in the direction of the valley. All along, the group were insisting that they were 'experienced' walkers and knew what they were doing. We would disagree strongly that this was the case!

A party of 10 split at Great Knott, with the faster 5 continuing part of their intended route Crinkle Crags and coming down The Band. The slower group were reported overdue at 18:30, after it became obvious that they hadn't returned to their parked car. The group was of mixed age, youngest 11-years old and the oldest 69-years-old. A search was organised, with assistance from Wasdale MRT, Duddon & Furness MRT and SARDA. During the planning stage, another phone call was received via the police, reporting two people sheltering in a tent in Lingcove Beck. The call was cut short by poor reception, so it was unclear if this was connected with the ongoing incident. As teams were being deployed we received a phone call from part of the missing party who had managed to find their way to the farm at Brotherilkeld. It was eventually confirmed that the two in the tent were part of this party and had taken shelter in the tents of a seemingly well-organised group, camping high on the fell at Lingcove Beck. It was decided that the best option was to leave the two in the care of the group to make their way down the following day.

A party of three males, including a 13-year-old boy became benighted when they ran out of daylight, having earlier made a navigational error that had taken them into Upper Esk area. They were clearly not going to get any further in darkness without torches so we went and got them. We were accompanied by team Search Dogs Kitt and Beinn, with Kitt arriving at our casualties first, thereby claiming her first 'locate'. The group were escorted to the valley floor and reunited with their car.

A woman slipped and sustained a very painful arm fracture. She was administered pain relief and evacuated from the fell.

Shouts for help were reported in the region of Raven Crag. An investigation revealed hounds and followers making their way across the top of the crag. At the time they were initially heard they were out of sight beyond the skyline. False alarm with good intent.

A female was reported with an ankle injury on Blea Rigg near Stickle Tarn. The team attended and the woman was evacuated

A woman was reported overdue when she failed to return home at the expected time. There was concern for her welfare, so a search was organised. SARDA were called as well, and she was located around midnight, by a dog handler, with a minor leg injury. She was returned home.

Old mobile 3 was being demonstrated to its' new owner (Rossendale & Pendle MRT) when it was flagged down on the street with a request to assist a woman who had collapsed on the roadside. Help was given for a brief time before a regular ambulance arrived.

Assist with search for people missing in Scafell area. Turned up during initial stages. Wasdale, Keswick and Duddon & Furness MRTs also involved.

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.

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.

A young male sustained back and neck injuries when he slipped down a dirt bank in the woods at Orrest Head. It was obscenely early to be out of bed! At least nobody was late for work.

A group of 4 were reported overdue from a scrambling trip. They turned up while initial enquiries were being made.

A female was reported with a leg injury near the summit of Calf Crag. The team set off but while en-route we were informed that she had been recovered by the air ambulance.

Man reported as confused and in unspecified difficulty. Enquiries revealed that incident was in Howgill Fells, and was being dealt with by air ambulance and another MRT.

Man reported 4 hours overdue. We phoned him. He was OK. No further action was taken.

A couple became 'bracken-fast' while trying to descend from Loft Crag, straying into the Gimmer Crag area. They were located by team members and escorted to safety.

Requested to assist ambulance service with the evacuation of an injured female from a difficult location.

A woman suffered a fracture/dislocation of her ankle in a slip. She was treated by team members, then evacuated by air ambulance.

A man descending from a days climbing slipped and sustained a lower leg injury. He was treated by the team and then evacuated down very steep, nasty ground to the valley bottom.

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. Eventually it became obvious that we were looking for the same group. They had located a casualty in the Swirl Howe area. Once we were convinced that there were no more people unaccounted for, Langdale team members went up Greenburn to meet them and assist with the evacuation. 'Twas wet. And dark. And Dinner time. Many mid and post rescue pies were consumed. Many an army has marched on its stomach. MRTs march in varying depths of water, fuelled by pies.

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.

Requested to assist ambulance in recovery of casualty with arm fracture.

A young man sustained a serious ankle fracture when he slipped on a steep wet slope. He was treated by team members and stretchered to Grisedale Hause, from where he was evacuated to hospital by air ambulance.

Two people phoned for help after becoming lost and unable to find a way off Loughrigg. Uncertain of where they'd started from, and without a map, they didn't really help themselves. Poor mobile phone signal made assisting them a little frustrating, but eventually they found a way off.

A family group of 5 ground to a halt, struggling with one torch, a dodgy knee, fatigue and cold, after a navigational error caused them a significant delay, on an already long day. They phoned for help, were located by team member, and assisted from the fell. All in bed by 4am.

A 54-year-old male slipped and sustained a lower leg injury. He was treated by team members then evacuated to an ambulance waiting at the roadside.

Male, overdue. Located walking on road to Ambleside after navigation error.

Male, overdue phoning in with his wife. Located in campsite without phone signal.

A female sustained an arm injury. She was treated by paramedics and the evacuated by the team.

Male, lost, a little clueless. Talked back to the road.

A young couple became benighted and slightly lost. The female quickly became cold, and unable to continue. After a bit of guess work and a long walk, they were located near the summit of High Raise, and assisted down to Grasmere.

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. "

A 25-year-old female sustained a lower leg injury when she slipped on steep loose ground. Her injury was splinted and she was evacuated by stretcher to the valley floor.

A 39-year-old woman collapsed with severe abdominal pain. A teenage family member ran down a steep dirt bank to help her and slipped, sustaining back, neck and knee injuries. Both were treated and stretchered to waiting ambulances.

A 14-year-old female on an activity holiday suffered a serious and prolonged asthma attack. She was treated initially by her instructors, then by the team, before being evacuated to hospital by helicopter from RAF Valley. Did we get wet...of course we did!

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.

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.

A couple with two dehydrated dogs phoned for help when they became 'bracken-fast' on Loughrigg. They were given directions back up the hill to find a path, and it was suggested they got the dogs a drink when they crossed a stream.

Four young women had spent the night in a tent up near Sprinkling Tarn. When trying to find their way down in the morning they became lost. In conjunction with Keswick and Wasdale MRTs we searched for them. They were located by Keswick MRT and escorted to the valley.

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.

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!?

A team member sustained a nasty dislocated ankle fracture when he slipped on rescue 68. His injury was splinted and he was evacuated to an ambulance .

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with the recovery of a 15-year-old unconscious female from a local beauty spot.

A 72-year-old fellrunner fell while descending and sustained a serious injury to his hip/pelvic area. He was evacuated in a full body splint and packed off to hospital.

A man fell into the gorge below Wrynose Bridge while attempting to take a photo. He was extracted by the team and airlifted to hospital by air ambulance, with leg injuries. Rumours of a beautiful photo of the sky are yet to be confirmed.

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.

A young woman was reported as suffering from prolonged vomiting while on a camping expedition. A helicopter was requested to assist and she was airlifted from the fell, after being treated by team members

A young woman suffered severe pain in her legs, possibly caused by shin splints. She was stretchered off the fell.

We were requested to attend a man who was suffering chest pains near Angle Tarn. We were overtaken by an air ambulance while en-route, and it was confirmed that he had been evacuated to hospital by them.

Female with lower leg injury. Treated and stretchered off the fell. Transferred to ambulance to hospital.

A 38-year-old man sustained a lower leg injury near Whorneyside Force. He was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley, where he was transported to hospital.

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.

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.

A 62-year-old man suffered from suspected heat exhaustion while walking the ridge as part of an organised group. He was treated by team members and then assisted to where the Great North Air Ambulance had landed. He was evacuated to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

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.

Reports of flares sighted on a crag at the end of Langdale. Investigated, but nothing found. Complicated by the disappearance of the informant..

An 80-year-old woman collapsed due to heat exhaustion. She was looked after by passersby initially, who gave her drinks, then treated by team members, and evacuated to the valley floor. A helicopter that had been requested to assist was stood down en-route, when she wasn't as ill as first thought.

A 65-year-old man sustained a knee injury while walking with his family. He was treated and stretchered off by team members.

Requested to assist the ambulance service with evacuating a casualty from Brant Fell.

A woman slipped while walking with her family, and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. She was treated by team members and then evacuated to the valley for onward transport to hospital.

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with a woman who had fallen in the river near Chapel Stile. When we arrived, she was out of the water, being cared for by quarry staff who had gone to help her.

A 60-year-old male, walking with friends and work colleagues suffered a suspected heart attack. The team attended, but sadly the man had died. His body was recovered to Ambleside.

We were requested by Keswick MRT to open our base to provide communication with a group of their team members who were evacuating a casualty down Far Easedale. Transport was also provided, but not required.

We were requested by Keswick MRT with recovering a party of 3 in the Esk Hause area. We were stood down when they were located and the decision was taken to evacuate them via Borrowdale.

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.

A couple became separated during their walk. Male reported missing. Turned up during initial enquiry stage

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. Unfortunately, mere ownership of equipment doesn't guarantee protection..knowledge of its working is vital too.

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!

We were requested to assist the ambulance service with the recovery of a motorcyclist who had gone off the road and down a road-side bank.

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.