The Patterdale MRT rescue boat

A mountain rescue team joined a major search for a man who is still missing after falling overboard from a pleasure steamer.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team’s rescue boat joined Coastguard staff searching for the man, who fell into Ullswater this morning. Other team members are searching the shore of the lake.

Police, North West Ambulance Service and the North Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team joined 11 members of the Patterdale MRT in the search for the man.

Liverpool Coastguard was alerted to the incident at 10.15am today, Thursday, when the man went overboard from the Lady of the Lake vessel, which had 53 passengers on board at the time.

Ullswater, scene of the search

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “Passengers had seen him go overboard at Sharrow Bay on Ullswater but quickly lost sight of the casualty. The Ullswater Outward Bound Centre was immediately contacted and two vessels were dispatched from the centre and a further vessel from Howtown. An [RAF] rescue helicopter – R131 – was also scrambled to the scene.

“The missing man is described at 6ft tall and wearing a grey top and dark brown trousers. He was not wearing a lifejacket at the time. Cumbria Police were also informed.

“The Lady of the Lake was held in her position for a while in order to allow police to make investigations with passengers as they came off the vessel.”

A spokesperson for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team said: “Patrick Scotty, the team’s rescue boat, searched the area where the man was last seen. The team was involved until late in the afternoon. At this time, the man is still missing and the search is continuing.”