Skiddaw, scene of the alleged hoax callout
Police in Cumbria have confirmed they are investigating the circumstances of phone calls made during the November floods which led to mountain rescue teams mounting a search operation on Skiddaw.
The curious case took place on 26 November last year as the county suffered the worst floods ever recorded. The 12 volunteer Lake District mountain rescue teams were deployed widely, helping police, fire and rescue and ambulance crews save lives and rescue stricken residents and visitors. Two days earlier, police had pleaded with walkers to stay off the fells because the teams were so stretched.
As grough guest contributor Dave Hewitt reported on the Caledonian Mercury, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s account of the callout said: “We received a report from someone who said she had met a party of walkers who had come off Skiddaw, reporting a man with a broken leg near the summit at 2pm.We made investigations but it turned out to be a false alarm.”
Andy Simpson, writing in the Mountain Rescue magazine, reported on “a spurious call from a journalist who said she’d heard a report of someone injured on Skiddaw.
“The Keswick team were suspicious from the start but that didn’t stop them deploying thirty people to the hill before the woman admitted she was just testing the system to see if mountain rescue could still respond to the mountains despite their commitment to the floods.”
The incident happened a week after PC Bill Barker lost his life when the Northside Bridge in Workington collapsed and he was swept away.
A spokesperson for the police confirmed a woman had been arrested. A statement said: “A 27-year-old woman from South Shields was arrested on 26 November on suspicion of wasting police time after Cumbria Constabulary received several calls alleging that people were stranded on the fells.
“Enquiries by police and mountain rescue teams suggested that the calls were deliberately false. She has been placed on police bail until 18 March 2010 pending further police enquiries.”
No-one has yet been charged over the alleged incidents.
rhodesy
12 March 2010I hope she gets a very large fine, and that it goes to the MRT's.
ian jones
12 March 2010Throw the book at the alleged nobhead.
carter
12 March 2010MAKES ME SICK !!!
these people who waste MRT's valuable time and resources
Daz (AMRT)
13 March 2010We do it for the sake of getting people off the hill safely and in one piece, not for the fun of it. We are volunteers who give up their own time and respond accordingly, and will be tasked however the police dictate. The last thing we need is an idiot testing us to see if we can still repond, whilst comitted elsewhere? Of course we will that's what we're about. No don't throw the book at her, that will only cost the tax payer money and we all pay too much anyway. She can take my place on the stretcher the next time we gat a 2 mile walk out at night and it's lashing down with rain, blowing a gale and she can't see bugger all while my family is at home snug in bed, see how she feels then?
Alan
04 May 2010Daz, please rest assured that for every one total pillock like her, there are many thousands who have nothing but admiration for the
fantastic work that you do. I have never needed you or know anyone who has, but I know that if I ever do I will be in safe hands because of the professionalism and dedication of the rescue teams, and it is humbling to think that you do it all on an entirely voluntary basis. Thank you so much for everything you do.
I am also inspired by some of my friends who went to great efforts to get one of their group down from near the summit of Ben Nevis with a sprained ankle instead of calling a rescue team. The teams would have been there for them if needed, but my friends understood the sacrifice that a callout would have involved for the team members, so wanted to avoid it unless really necessary. I think that a certain journalist has a lot to learn from them.