A group of walkers had to be led to safety from a Lake District mountain after getting caught out by nightfall.
The three, who had no torches, were rescued from Great End in the Scafell range on Saturday.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 9.35pm after the trio called for help, saying they were lost on Scafell Pike.
The Wasdale team fielded the initial call but after using the Sarloc smartphone system to pinpoint their position, it was clear the walkers were actually on Great End, and the incident was passed to their colleagues in the Keswick team.
A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “They were uninjured but benighted so a small team of six team members turned out to walk them down.
“They were not experienced walkers and had set off late in the day without appropriate clothing or a torch. They were brought down to Seathwaite to their vehicle.”
The four-hour rescue involved nine volunteers from the Keswick team.
Earlier in the day, Keswick MRT was alerted after an emergency beacon was activated somewhere in the team’s area.
The spokesperson said: “After a delay in figuring out where the casualty might be, due to problematic co-ordinates, a first truck was sent to Thirlspot to investigate and a second to wait at the relay point.
“After nearly an hour we received a call from the police to let us know it was an accidental activation and the person concerned was OK. At this point the team then stood down.”
Paul
26 March 2018What is it with Great End this year ???
Lake District Walker
27 March 2018Emergency Beacons... the only incidents you hear about are accidental activations. Why would anyone carry an emergency beacon in the Lake District? Total waste of money, time and resources. Just get some training and skills, and carry/wear the right kit, and do a walk within your ability/skill level. And don't sit on them when you're in a pub, triggering an emergency response from Mountain Rescue. Just an expensive gadget to show off to your friends in the pub, in lieu of actual mountain skills.
Now as for the people stuck up on the mountains without a torch in the dark.... perhaps they've learnt a lesson. An expensive lesson taking up 4 hours of 9 mountain rescue team members' time. Surely everyone knows it goes dark at the end of every day?
AdamJE
27 March 2018In response to Lake District Walker, I believe Emergency Beacons are routinely carried by Paragliders, triggered in the event of a crash landing. Maybe this was the case? Saturday was a good flying day. Adam
john newrick
28 March 2018There are some bloody idiots around ! Ill equipped novices no map no compass, using a phone should be banned from the human race and the Lake District and anywhere else with hills of 50@ high GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR