The Edale team was kept busy as winds and rain swept the Peak District

The Edale team was kept busy as winds and rain swept the Peak District

Poor weather conditions led to a busy weekend for a Peak District mountain, with six callouts and more work to help fellrunners struggling in the cold and wet.

Edale Mountain Rescue Team was first alerted about 5.30pm on Saturday when a girl slipped and fell while on a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition.

The team had been training with a crew from one of the Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 helicopter that will take over duties on Wednesday when they were diverted from their homeward trip to deal with the injured teen from Southport.

Team members made their way to Rowlee Farm, off the Snake Road, where the walker was assessed and carried a short distance to an ambulance which took her for further treatment.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Edale team was alerted to a missing vulnerable man from the Gleadless area of Sheffield. Am Edale MRT spokesperson said: “The team leader and police search advisor liaised regarding likely search areas, while mountain rescue were organising resources and looking at specific areas, the police gained further information. It was decided that mountain rescue assistance would not be required at this time, police enquiries continued.

Throughout Sunday, the team provided cover for the annual Edale Skyline race. The spokesperson said: “In the early afternoon, team members present were alerted to a runner above Archer Gate who was suffering from hypothermia due to constant poor weather. Local team members were called to assist. He was treated and evacuated to the village where he was handed over to East Midlands Ambulance Service.”

As the rescue was concluding, the team was alerted to a family of walkers in trouble on the Howden Moors, one of whom had become separated from the others. The spokesperson said: “After being unsuccessful in locating them themselves assistance was requested. In discussion with the team leader the group were tasked to retrace their steps as further plans were made. Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team was requested to assist.”

At this point, Edale MRT received another call for help from a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award team exhausted and hypothermic in the deteriorating conditions.

The team leader continued talking to the family who called for help and learnt that the separated party member was at a trig pillar. “Woodhead members were tasked to Back Tor trig. The whole group were located there and escorted back to their vehicles,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the silver expedition D of E group from Ipswich was found by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance near the top of Blackden Brook. The helicopter flew the group to Hayridge Farm where they were met by the Edale MRT deputy team leader and an ambulance crew. They were all then brought back to the team’s base to be rewarmed and reunited with their leaders.

The Edale MRT spokesperson said: “At this point things began to get more interesting.

“We were made aware of our fifth incident of the day. We were contacted regarding a collapsed male near to the top of Grindsbrook Clough. One of our ex-team doctors had located the gentleman who was found to be hypothermic.

“Team members from [the [Archer Gate] incident were tasked immediately to the site, assistance was also requested from Buxton Mountain Rescue Team. In discussion with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatch desk it was decided to send the helimed to locate this casualty. The casualty was carried to the helicopter and flown to Wythenshawe Hospital.”

In the meantime, team members also treated four further casualties from the Edale Skyline race.

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