The Great North Air Ambulance at the Angle Tarn rescue. Photo: GNAA
A hypothermic walker was airlifted from a Lakeland fell after friends called for help.
The Langdale incident was the second in two days involving walkers suffering from cold conditions, prompting rescuers to warn outdoor enthusiasts that summer has yet to reach the fells.
The 60-year-old from Exeter was at Angle Tarn in Great Langdale when he began to suffer from hypothermia.
Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team said his companions got him into dry clothes and wrapped him in two sleeping bags before calling for help at 12.15pm today.
While team members were walking to the site, the Pride of Cumbria helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance flew to the scene and its crew, including a doctor, treated the man for mild hypothermia before the aircraft flew him down towards the valley to meet the mountain rescue team members who then brought him to safety.
A Langdale Ambleside MRT spokesperson said: “This is the second instance of hypothermia we’ve dealt with this week. Don’t be fooled by the word summer.”
On Thursday, the team was called to Red Tarn to deal with a 17-year-old girl suffering from hypothermia.
Edna Booth
12 May 2013Hypothermia!!!! This is Mid-May! Climate Change +++ (but no Global Warming here). I am a decrepit old biddy now - but I can remember my "mountain" days! One Sunday - Lake District "ramble"! Honister pass to (I think) Bridge Inn at Buttermere! Ankle-deep snow on the fell; ice on a "pass" along the way! Thank God some of the men had taken ice-picks (I'd left mine at home - did not think we'd need them)! Those lads cut hand and foot reaches on the pass! Found myself stuck there between a terrified novice and a lad I'd known in my long-gone past! We looked at each other, and made a mental agreement! I'd lift this poor woman's feet from hold to hold, and he'd do the same with her hands! Also on that walk there were people in their 60s (and even 70s I think). And every single one got safe and sound to meet the coach at the pub! And on the way home the lads sang the Male Voice Choir rendering of "The Climber's Prayer"! If you don't know it, it starts "The first thing we'll pray for, we'll pray for some grub! Grub, grub, to eat in the pub! And if we have one pie then let us have ten! Let us have a bloody bakery - said the climber A-Men.!" Must be twenty verses!
Margaret
13 May 2013A fine tale Edna.
Hill folks were a bit tougher maybe in those days..
Stadler W
15 May 2013Nay cast yer clout til May is out.
CeeCee
20 June 2013Been on top of Snowdon in August, with the tourists in flip flops and shorts - when hit by a snow storm.....
Around 1979 IIRC