A WALKER fell down a treacherous gill during his descent from the summit of Scafell Pike and was left injured for 24 hours in poor conditions before rescue. 

Nearly 50 people from various mountain rescue teams were involved in the call, which started at 00.50am on February 29 and lasted for nearly 17 hours. Wasdale MRT received an initial call from Cumbria Police mere hours after the conclusion of another incident that involved a full dispatch. 

The Mail: The weather conditions were treacherous The weather conditions were treacherous (Image: Wasdale MRT)

The walker's friend rang emergency services after he had not returned at the time expected. The police located the walker's car at Brackenclose, but little other information was known. The weather had deteriorated in the early afternoon of the previous day.

The Wasdale MRT Team Leader escalated the call to the other Lake District teams as the crew were still recovering from their previous call and had the prospect of searching Scafell and Scafell Pike, as walkers often talk about one but mean the other. 

The Mail: The stretcher being lifted out of Piers GillThe stretcher being lifted out of Piers Gill (Image: Wasdale MRT)

"The poor weather of the previous day made the search urgent due to risk of hypothermia," the incident log states. "Visibility was still poor and the temperature was forecasted to drop further throughout the day."

A member of the Cockermouth MRT team heard a shout from the bottom of Piers Gill, an area of Scafell Pike known as an accident blackspot. They discovered the walker, but he had suffered injuries to both ankles and needed a stretcher. He had been trapped in the gill for about 24 hours after mis-navigating during his descent. 

The Mail: The mountain rescue team pulling the stretcher out of the gillThe mountain rescue team pulling the stretcher out of the gill (Image: Wasdale MRT)

Once he was lifted out of the gill using specialist rope equipment flown in by helicopter, the weather prevented air transport from the scene. The team had to do an 'energy-sapping' uphill carry to Lingmell Col. The walker was finally flown to the hospital for further treatment.  

A spokesperson from Wasdale MRT said: "We’d like to offer huge thanks to all supporting teams and agencies, including offers received later in the morning and not required. This is an example of fantastic multiagency working, both voluntary and professional, to get the best possible outcome for the walker. As a team we are very thankful for the swift response to help."