Incident Report #6 2003
The team was made aware that two people had become stranded near Crinkle Crags summit, and were unable to make their way down.
The team was made aware that two people had become stranded near Crinkle Crags summit, and were unable to make their way down.
A 37-year-old lone male walker was reported overdue. A search was organised, with assistance f
A man slipped on an icy path and sustained a suspected fractured ankle.
With a good number of team members committed to the previous rescue,
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.
A family group of 8 reported themselves lost and unable to find the way off 'Langdale Pike'.
A 21-year-old man from the West Midlands phoned his parents to say that he was benighted at Angle Tarn. His parents phoned for help. We instigated a search and he was eventually located near the summit of Bowfell. We were assisted by Keswick MRT. Santa, if you're checking Christmas lists this early, can he have a torch for Christmas please?
We received a call to man who had camped out overnight below Cambridge Crag on Bowfell. He had called for help and an air ambulance was sent. He had become very cold and wet overnight and couldn't move. They couldn't find him, so we were called. We located him, gave him food and drink to warm him up, and then assisted him to walk down.
While we were finishing off from the previous rescue we were made aware of a family who were lost in the vicinity of Stickle Tarn. They were cold and unable to find a way down in the mist. They were located just below Stickle Tarn, and escorted to the valley floor.
Two 20-year-old men from Manchester became cragfast when they got on to steep ground, without torches, above Bright Beck. They were located by team members, escorted back to the valley floor and transported to their accommodation.
We had just finished clearing up and repacking from the previous incident when we were called to attend another. A woman had sustained a suspected ankle fracture after a slip descending Stickle Ghyll. She was treated by team members and evacuated to the valley floor by the helicopter that was still in the area.
A 66-year-old woman slipped on a very wet path and sustained an ankle fracture. We plodged through big puddles to rescue her. A fun time was had by all.
A man walking with his friend suffered head and chest injuries when he fell near the top end of Rest Ghyll on the back of Crinkle Crags. He was unconscious for a short time. His friend descended to get help and Wasdale MRT were alerted. Because the informant didn't appear absolutely certain were he had left his friend we were also called. He was located by Wasdale MRT members and treatment was given. With our help he was evacuated from the ghyll and the long carry out down Mosedale began. Other personnel came up Mosedale to assist, including members of Kendal MRT.
A Maltese man slipped and sustained a lower leg injury. We don't normally go up hill, but in this case we took the slightly scenic route because the smooth, grassy descent around the back of Tarn Crag is much better than the rocky descent of Stickle Ghyll. After seeing the man safely in to an ambulance we retired to the pub to refresh ourselves. A couple of men at the bar who had seen us go up, and who had read about the team offered to stand us a round. A much appreciated gesture! Thanks.
A woman used her mobile to report herself lost. We located her and returned her to her accommodation.
A man sustained an ankle injury on Scafell. He struggled as far as Rossett Ghyll before he could go no further. This level of self-reliance has to be applauded. The man was embarrassed and apologetic for calling us out, but realistically he could not have been expected to get much further. He was treated by team members and evacuated by stretcher.
We were asked to assist Wasdale MRT in a search for a couple trying to find their way down from Scafell. They were reported as having no waterproofs, little food, and the homing facility on their umbrella had failed. They were located in Little Narrow Cove.
A woman in her 20s was seconding a climb when she fell off. She fell approximately 15 metres, penduluming into the crag. She sustained a serious head injury, despite her helmet, and injuries to her lower back and ankle. She was treated at the scene and airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle by RAF helicopter. Again we were assisted by Kendal MRT.
Three men became lost on Bowfell. They were inadequately equipped for the conditions which were cold, wet and windy. They happened upon a group of Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates who, although slightly off route, were equipped for, and coping with, the conditions. The young people from the D of E expedition realised that the men were in trouble, and put tents up for them, and prepared to spend the night. They contacted their assessor to let them know that they weren't going to make it to their planned campsite, and that they would continue in the morning.
A 68-year-old climber set off ahead of his friends on the descent from Bowfell Buttress, supposedly via Three Tarns and the Band. He never arrived back at their campsite in Langdale. He was reported as very experienced, but didn't appear to be very well equipped. As a search was organised, he turned up at Wha House Farm in Eskdale. He seemed to have made an interesting navigational error, having probably turned right at Three Tarns instead of left.
While the previous incident was under way we were alerted to another incident below us on the same path. A woman had slipped and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. Having left the previous casualty with paramedics at a point where the helicopter could pick them up, we descended, met other team members and dealt with the second casualty. She was stretchered to the valley floor and sent to hospital. She was wearing inappropriate footwear.
A 45-year-old man slipped while descending, fracturing his ankle in the process. An air ambulance was called and we were asked to assist because of the difficult location. A number of team members were airlifted to the dam and made their way down to the cas site. The man was evacuated uphill to the dam and airlifted to hospital. Let me just say that uphill is bad. Very bad. It hurts.
A group of five young people were reported overdue at their campsite on their Duke of Edinburgh expedition. They were last seen at Easedale Tarn at around 1pm. They failed to arrive at their planned campsite at Stickle Tarn. A search was organised and they were located at Easedale Tarn. They believed that they were at Stickle Tarn. They were escorted down and reunited with their supervisors.
A 54-year-old woman slipped and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. She was treated and taken to Kendal Hospital.
A 13-year-old girl slipped and sustained an ankle injury. She was airlifted to hospital by an RAF helicopter.
An RAF mountain rescue team member was assisting with the clean-up of debris from the crash site from the previous day’s incident when he fell approximately 100 feet, and sustained serious multiple injuries. He was treated at the scene by some of his colleagues and flown to hospital.
A second operation was then organised to rescue the Kendal team member who was injured. He was stabilised by people on the crag and eventually airlifted to Carlisle by the RAF. The initial casualty was then recovered and also flown to hospital. Coniston MRT also came to assist at this point.
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 in his 20s blacked out and fell a short distance, breaking his arm badly in the process. Because of the inaccessible position and the black-out, a helicopter and Kendal MRT were called to assist. Langdale team members were making their way to the site on foot when the helicopter arrived. It picked up some Kendal team members from the valley and flew them up. A couple had been winched out when the helicopter rotor clipped the crag, causing serious damage, and causing the helicopter to pull away and land very heavily in Mickleden.