The group was found on the western flanks of the Helvellyn range. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
More than 40 rescuers from two teams were involved in the search for a group of walkers who got into difficulties on the Helvellyn range.
Ambulance staff initially requested the help of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team on Saturday afternoon when the group reported one of its members had fainted.
A team spokesperson said: “The exact location was unknown and the informant described it as near the top of Birk Side near Helvellyn. The team could not get back in touch with the party who was with the casualty as their mobile had run out.”
Because of the lack of an exact location for the group of three, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was contacted and both teams turned out to search for the walkers.
A Keswick team spokesperson said they were alerted shortly after 1.05pm. “A party of three inexperienced walkers were intending to ascend Helvellyn on the usual path from Wythburn, Thirlmere,” the spokesperson said.
“However, soon after leaving the car park they lost the main track but continued upwards for several hours into the mist.
“They eventually called 999 after one of their party was said to have fainted. Patterdale MRT were tasked but had difficulty contacting the party due to intermittent mobile phone signal. As their location was not known Patterdale initiated a search and Keswick MRT were asked to support.”
When the Keswick team arrived at Wythburn, below the western slopes of Nethermost Pike, they met a fourth member of the walking party who had returned down the hill, and happened to be on the phone with the group.
The spokesperson said: “During the call their latitude and longitude reference using the Google Maps app was confirmed as halfway up the deep and trackless Birkside Gill.
“With this information the group were quickly located.”
The Patterdale team then stood down from the callout.
The Keswick team said: “All were uninjured and were able to be walked down to the road just as it was getting dark and the just before the start of some heavy rain.”
The incident involved 27 Patterdale MRT members and 21 from the Keswick team, and lasted more than three hours.
Nondumvetus
15 November 2020It may not help that mountain rescue teams keep call mountains, hills. Trivialising the fells leads the inexperienced to venture on to the tops without giving them the respect they need.
Howard
15 November 2020Good idea, lets all put some of the blame on the MR team!
Fretters
15 November 2020Yes that’s the one thing I consistently think when I see/read anything from MRT, is how they are always trivialising the hills/mountains/fells. Perhaps they should be more proactive and start issuing advise on how to stay safe, how to kit up, how to check weather forecasts and timings for darkness.
Maybe Nondumvetus, you could visit the different MRT groups and tell them how to do their job better. I’m sure they would welcome you with open arms.
Muppet
anotherfell
15 November 2020I think it's a good job someone in the group fainted, because in those conditions had they managed to get to the top one of them might have been blown over the edge.
Experienced or not, anyone with common sense would have got onto the open fellside above the church and quickly realised Saturday was not a day for the high fells.
#Nondumvetus
You really are a plonker aren't you
Adrian
16 November 2020Fretters: I scanned your comment with my sarcasm app, but sadly it broke...
MRTs do a great job!
Ged
16 November 2020....'Muppet'?..'plonker'?...The more I read this forum the more depressed I get with the steadily deteriorating tone.
The attitudes frequently expressed seem completely at odds with the lovely people I meet in the hills and mountains.
If it's not possible to register disapproval or disagreement without resorting to ridicule, then, sadly, some form of moderation by Grough is necessary before people stop reading/posting here.
Redmen
16 November 2020Clue's in the name really, MOUNTAIN Rescue Team and if you are stupid enough to believe that the gradients around that area are simply hills then think again. Consider fitness, distance, time available and conditions before setting off.