Mountain rescue teams in multiple call outs in snowy conditions

Members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT) spent more than 19 hours rescuing a man who broke his leg whilst walking up Scafell Pike with his dogs.

There had been heavy snowfall on Scafell Pike when a concerned dad reported his son overdue from a hike up Scafell Pike with his two dogs.

There was stunning, snowy conditions in the Lake District this weekend (Image: Fell Top Assessor)He was reported to have reached the summit at around 4pm however he had made no contact after that.

Due to the 'very cold conditions' and the walker's inexperience, a full callout was mobilised around 8.14pm involving nearly 50 people from various mountain rescue teams.

These included Keswick MRT, Duddon and Furness MRT, RAF Leeming, RAF Valley and Coastguard helicopter.

The walker was found with ‘serious injuries’ and couldn’t move but had managed to keep himself out of any water.

Where the rescue took place (Image: WMRT)As quickly as possible in the challenging conditions, a stretcher, casualty bag, heat blankets, vacuum mattress and dual rope system was also established, and the walker was packaged securely.

All that was left was to rescue the walker’s two dogs. Team members from Duddon and Furness MRT and Wasdale volunteered to rescue the stranded pair.

This major rescue was one of six in just three days for the volunteer led, charitable organisation and the first of four in one day on Friday, March 1.

The first saw two walkers reporting themselves as lost, tired and cold having tried to walk up Scafell Pike. The team were able to talk the pair down the fell and back to safety.

The second rescue required a search party to investigate and escort off walkers of the corridor route of Scafell.

Members of the team on a snowy Scafell Pike (Image: Supplied)However, shortly after this request was made, contact was made with the walkers; they had managed to descend on the correct path to Seathwaite and no longer needed help.

The third call out involved a party of three inexperienced walkers who were lost on their descent of Scafell Pike.

Their waterproofs had failed and footwear was inadequate so they were concerned for their safety. They were stuck and unable  to move.

Again a limited callout was made to locate and escort the party off the fell, however, shortly afterwards further information was received saying that one of the walkers was now unconscious.

This escalated the matter significantly and so a full callout was made and assistance requested from Keswick MRT for help with urgent medical care and a likely stretcher carry.

They further asked for support from the visiting RAF MRT teams.

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About 30 minutes later more information was received saying that the party was now on the move, but it was not possible to confirm if the unconscious walker had recovered and was with them.

Both Keswick and Wasdale teams proceeded towards the walking party from differing directions. It was with some relief when the Keswick team met the party at Greenhow Knott, and it was confirmed all were present and well.