The mountain rescue stretcher box at Mickledore, with Broad Stand and Scafell in the distance
Vital lifesaving equipment was left strewn across the slopes of England’s highest mountain after a mountain rescue stretcher box was emptied.
A passing Mountain Instructor came across the contents of the rescue box near Mickledore, the col between England’s two highest peaks, Scafell Pike and Scafell.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, which maintains the stretcher box, said someone may have emptied the equipment from the rescue post to use it as a shelter. The box is one of several in the Lake District, which are not kept locked. The stretcher and other rescue gear in them is available to the public and rescue teams in an emergency.
A similar box is located at Sty Head at the junction of routes up Scafell Pike and Great Gable.
A Wasdale MRT spokesperson said equipment from the Mickledore box was spread all over the ridge.
The spokesperson said: “The equipment in the box is located there for use in an emergency by the public and the team.
The stretcher box's contents were found scattered across the mountainside. Photo: Wasdale MRT
“While we recognise that there may be times where someone would need shelter having being benighted, we would really appreciate the equipment being put back in the same condition as it was removed.
“A number of team members went up to the box this evening to repack the box. It is also worth noting that the box is not a rubbish bin.”
The spokesperson said the team would like to educate people who may not know what the box and gear within it are used for, and added the team’s thanks to the mountaineer who found the equipment on Tuesday and picked it all up.
The mountain rescue stretcher boxes originally dated from before the establishment of formal rescue teams, and were placed to enable mountain-goers to help themselves and companions in emergencies.
A small number of the boxes continue to be maintained at sites across the Lake District. The one at Mickledore is close to the accident blackspots of Broad Stand and Lord’s Rake and lies on one route up Scafell Pike.
The Mickledore box was airlifted to the site by the crew of an RAF helicopter.
Alan
26 August 2015Some people have no respect and thought for others.
That equipment may have been needed to help someone in a rescue.
Educate ?, they are too full of themselves.
It would be good if the box was left in the condition as it was, but then if people followed that practice then there would be no need to pick up all the rubbish that is left behind.
Jim Mitchell
26 August 2015Surely it would be committed by more than one, in a group.
From experience, vandalism is mostly committed by one or more in a group to impress the others. A sort of 'Dare'
Rarely by a one off individual, unless that person is totally deranged angry or even drunk,
The location of the equipment is not in a place as a sitting target. This is the work of a group.
Stewart Lomax
26 August 2015Oh dear I can remember the Sty Head box from when I did my ML training back in the mid 70's. Back then we were told that morphine used to be stored in the box but had to be discontinued due to stealing. Probably for improper recreational use.
john cooke
26 August 2015some 20 years ago in a howling blizzard in February I reached the summit of Scafell Pike after a marathon 7 hour struggle from Langdale. Leaving the top at 9 pm it took me a full hour to reach the ridge ( normally 15 minutes). The box probably saved my life as the storm raged all night. I lay out on the stretcher ( within box) and left it in pristine condition . My only real memory of that memorable occasion was my difficulty getting out the next morning. The 'old' box had an external clasp and it took me 15 minutes to release it with desperate leg pressure. Was I in my coffin ??? I despair for the actions of some idiots today. Whoever did waht happened recently should be deeply ashamed. RJC
Katie
27 August 2015You know you've overcooked it when you seriously consider sleeping in a stretcher box!
A long walk out on a dark, wild, wet, cold and misty night, arriving at the car in the small hours. That stubbornness that gets you off the hill. When you've missed the pub and thoughts of a hot shower and a warm bed drive you on.
The fact that they remain unlocked is a life saver in summer and especially winter when the fells can turn hostile to even the best prepared.
TheEdgeOL17
28 August 2015I was going to say that it would be Karma if those responsible became in need of the very facilities that they have vandalised.
However, I wouldnt wish that upon anyone, but it really does anger me that morons like this seem never to suffer the consequences of their own actions.
John Nowell
12 December 2022I was the pilot of that RAF Puma helicopter long ago in 1974 when we flew the box up there. We had RV'd not far from the Wasdale Head pub with a large group, (about 16 chaps & the boss of the school) from the Outward Bound School at Eskdale. I made a total of three flights to the top. The first trip was to carry about 10 chaps up to the site. Then flew back down to the RV point and the box was loaded across the helicopter with the two ends sticking out of each door. Then flew back to the top and put the nose wheel onto the col where the 1st party extracted the box. I then flew back down and collected the rest of the chaps and back to the top. As you know, the box is quite big and it took all the guys to build the base and position the box. I had positioned the helicopter further up towards Scafell Pike on some flatfish ground and had shut down. Once the box was firmly in position, I flew the chaps back to Eskdale School. I published the photographs taken that day in my book, 'A Day Above The Lake District'. ISBN 978-1-904566-14-4. It's on Amazon.
Best,
John J. Nowell BA(Hons) Cfs FRGS LRPS RAF (Retd).