The injured walker is stretchered from Hay Stacks. Photo: Keswick MRT
Two Lake District rescue teams combined to aid an injured walker on a fell.
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was called out about 10.30am on Friday after the 30-year-old man broke his ankle on Hay Stacks while taking part in a 24-peaks event.
A team spokesperson said: “The team were initially low on numbers for this particular callout and the team leader called in Keswick MRT who responded to back us up.
“While on route to the incident, the first Cockermouth team vehicle came across a female cyclist who had fallen from her bike whilst descending into Buttermere village, suffering head and shoulder injuries.
The scene of the cycle crash near Buttermere. Photo: Cockermouth MRT
“The team stopped and treated the lady at the scene and due to the potentially serious nature of her injuries, requested an air ambulance. Meanwhile Keswick MRT continued to the first incident, treated the casualty at the scene on Hay Stacks, and began a stretcher evacuation back towards Honister Slate Mine.
“The Great North Air Ambulance arrived on scene in Buttermere and flew the injured cyclist to hospital in Carlisle.
“Cockermouth MRT then joined Keswick on Hay Stacks and assisted with the evacuation of that casualty back to Honister Slate Mine where he was transferred into the waiting road ambulance and taken to West Cumberland Hospital for further treatment.”
A Keswick MRT spokesperson said the walker broke his ankle between Innominate Tarn and Black Beck Tarn.
“Fortunately there was a doctor on scene, and the weather was clear,” the spokesperson said. “Although the team were low on numbers, the casualty was soon splinted and packaged, and the team started off back to the vehicles.
Vehicles from both teams at the scene near Honister. Photo: Cockermouth MRT
“As soon as Cockermouth team had finished with the incident at Buttermere, they came up to help, and the casualty was soon transferred at Honister Mine.”
Cockermouth team leader Andrew McNeil thanked Keswick MRT for their help. “It’s always reassuring to know we can call on neighbouring teams, to help us out in situations where we are short on numbers – no doubt we’ll be returning the favour before too long.”
The incidents involved 14 Cockermouth and nine Keswick team volunteers for 3½ hours.
