Lakeland rescuers turn soap stars tonight as they feature in one of Britain’s best known television series.
Coronation Street, on ITV1, has a storyline in which one of its characters, factory boss Liam Connor, falls 60m (200ft) while trying to rescue his dog. Members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team supervised the rescue scenes, shot in November on Fleetwith Pike.
Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike
Honister Slate Mine owner Mark Weir was approached by the TV company and agreed to allow use of the 648m (2,126ft) peak, at the head of Buttermere, which last year became the site of Britain’s first ever via ferrata.
An RAF search and rescue helicopter was also used during filming of the of the episode, which features Rob Collier, who plays Connor, and Samia Smith, his on-screen fiancée Maria Sutherland.
Mr Collier said: “Filming in the Lakes was fantastic. We had a great time although it was very, very cold. The mountain rescue team was brilliant as everything was filmed as realistically as possible.”
A wind machine brought by the production company was not used during filming, which took nine days.
The drama airs at 7.30pm tonight, with another episode of the soap due for broadcast at the same time on Sunday.
- The Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was in real-life action less than 3km (2 miles) from Fleetwith Pike this week when they came to the aid of a couple who became cragfast on High Crag, overlooking Buttermere.
The man and woman, aged 45 and 41 respectively, were making their way down from the 744m (2,441ft) peak when they became lost. As darkness fell, they decided to attract help by flashing torches into the valley bottom.
High Crag, with Haystacks in the foreground and Red Pike in the distance
Twenty-seven members of the Cockermouth team went to the aid of the couple, who were lowered by abseil down a 90m (295ft) rock face.
Michael Park of Cockermouth MRT said the man, from Surrey, and the woman, from Kent, set out on their walk too late in the day. He reminded fellwalkers that, at this time of the year, it is dark by 4pm.
- Langdale and Ambleside rescue team also helped two walkers to safety from Red Screes after they became lost in the dark.
The team was alerted at 10.10pm on New Year’s Eve. The rescue was completed in time for New Year celebrations and the MRT offered the following advice: “If you've still got any money left, and didn't get a headtorch for Christmas, go and buy one tomorrow.”
Robert Trewhitt
04 January 2008No wonder it all goes wrong and sorry to be killjoy. They were last seen at Ashness Bridge heading for Bleaberry Fell and 'a rock to - - - behind. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this not 'a strange' ??way to end up at Fleetwith. [smiley=think] At least they would have had the best view in the Lakes and also one of the best places to have lunch (my opinion) that of Buttermere and Crummock Water from the Pikes summit. Sorry And must be sad to watch it, should be on the fells instead !!