A torch is essential when heading for the hills, rescuers said
Rescuers in the Lake District have repeated their pleas to walkers to carry a torch after an overseas visitor got lost in the dark on a fell and had to be brought to safety.
The walker called for help from Nab Scar above Rydal about 5.20pm on Friday.
Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and used the Sarloc smartphone system to pinpoint the walker’s position.
A team member then found her and brought her safely back down off the fell.
A team spokesperson said: “Whatever time of year, always carry a torch. You never know when or why you may be delayed.
“When it goes dark in the hills, it usually goes very dark. There’s little ambient light unless you are lucky to be out when there is a good moon and little cloud. It’s worth carry a set of spare batteries as well. If you’re lucky they’ll be the same size as other devices you might be carrying such as GPS.
“Modern LED torches are very reliable, and batteries last a long time, and it’s well worth considering a headtorch in favour of a hand torch, leaving your hands free.”
The rescue capped a busy day for the team, whose volunteers were involved in three incidents.
The exhausted walker was helped down to Lingcove Beck and then to the road
The first came at 12.40pm when a 63-year-old man, who was with his son in Rest Gill on the western side of Crinkle Crags when he became exhausted and unable to carry on.
Team members found him and helped him down to Lingcove Beck, one of the remotest parts of their area.
A Langdale Ambleside team spokesperson said: “Kendal MRT joined us in the event of a long stretcher carry – avoided by the gentleman’s efforts to walk down.”
The rescue took 7½ hours.
While it was underway, another call for help came from a woman who suffered a possible broken ankle when she fell while walking near Easedale Tarn.
The spokesperson said: “Team members not already committed to the earlier rescue and members of Kendal MRT went to her aid. She was stretchered from the fell and transferred to an ambulance at our base.”
The incident lasted four hours.
