St Sunday Crag

Three climbers were rescued from a Lake District crag where less than a month earlier a man was critically injured in an avalanche.

The three, from Surrey and Hampshire, became cragfast after moving off-route while attempting Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag in the Helvellyn range. Mountain rescuers took five hours to find the trio and take them to safety.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 7.20pm yesterday evening, Thursday. Team members mounted a search and the group was found on steep ground close to Pinnacle Ridge.

A spokesperson for the team said: “The party had been climbing and, high on the crag, had got off route and found themselves on difficult snow-covered ground. They decided to abseil off but got into further difficulties and became cragfast.

“The team climbed to their location. Because of the steep terrain they were roped down to safer ground and although tired, cold and wet were able to walk down with assistance to the waiting Land Rover ambulances.”

Just over three weeks ago, four climbers were avalanched on Pinnacle Ridge and were swept 230m (750ft) down the mountainside. A 23-year-old from Cleveland was critically injured and another man was treated in Cumberland Infirmary’s intensive care unit in Carlisle after the incident. One other mountaineer sustained minor injuries and fourth was unhurt.

Pinnacle Ridge is classed as a summer grade-three scramble, requiring ropes, and is a recognised winter route.