The walker called for help from the summit of Whernside. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Rescuers said a walker who got into difficulties on Yorkshire’s highest fell was inadequately equipped.
The Cave Rescue Organisation was alerted to the incident on the 736m (2,415ft) summit of Whernside at 4.40pm on Friday.
The 24-year-old man called for help, saying he was unable to find his way off the summit and couldn’t breathe because of his asthma.
A team spokesperson said: “A small group of CRO members set off on foot and a controller telephoned the ‘casualty’, several times. The only responses tailed off incoherently, so an enquiry was made for an air ambulance.”
Despite the weather being clear on Whernside, available air ambulances were unable to take off because of fog at their bases. North Yorkshire Police requested the help of a Coastguard helicopter. A second group of CRO members set off for Ribblehead to rendezvous with the aircraft, while the first party of rescuers continued up the hill.
The spokesperson said: “At this point, the party ascending saw someone coming down towards them and soon established that it was the person who had called for help. With no word on a helicopter, the Ribblehead party stood down and the hill party escorted the ‘misper’ back to a team vehicle.
“As his condition seemed to be deteriorating, they deemed it unwise to dump their patient at his car to drive home and asked for an [ambulance service] paramedic to re-assess him. The paramedic in the rapid response vehicle called in a road ambulance and the team stood down.
“Team members were of the view that he had totally inadequate clothing and footwear which contributed to his being so cold that he said his feet, legs and face were ‘frozen’. Hence, he could hardly speak.”
The incident was the team’s second of the year.
Noggin the Nog
17 January 2021Local lad out for his daily exercise?
Mark
18 January 2021Fingers crossed the young lad will now buy some equipment and get himself navigation lessons. Difficult way to learn but we all started somewhere.
Ivor Grouse
18 January 2021Usual comment from Noggin the Nob.
Noggin the Nob
19 January 2021Not a comment, rather a pertinent question related to the article reported here: “National park bosses have again pleaded with the public to respect government guidelines and not travel to the Yorkshire Dales…”
Gaston-the-Good
19 January 20214:40pm at the top of Whernside in the middle of January during full winter conditions, asthma sufferer, inadequately equipped.
He's managed to do just about everything wrong that he could.
As an asthma sufferer he should have known better and more to the point aren't people with asthma supposed to be shielding at the moment. I bet he'll be banging the door down for a vaccine even though he's doing little to help protect himself.
Wheezer
19 January 2021No, most people with asthma carry on their lives as normally as anyone else can at the moment. Only extreme sufferers are disabled by it. Any sensible one would have an appropriate inhaler with them though.
Colin
19 January 2021Rubbish, as an asthma sufferer I received a letter off the government asking (telling) me to shield. I got one in April and again about a month ago.
I have no other ailments just 'normal' asthma that doesn't really stop me from doing much but it's apparently deemed bad enough for them to keep me in the house.
Wheezer
20 January 2021Well I have (admittedly very mild) asthma and have not been asked to shield. I guess there's a judgement call somewhere as to what risk is posed.
clive
21 January 2021No mention of shielding for my asthma-suffering wife - but hers isn't disabling. I think they just don't like you Colin :-)
(interestingly the only problem she's had recently was in a cold and slightly foggy wood - that set it off and needed an inhaler for the first time in quite a while)
Ridgegripper
29 January 2021.....or playing Devil’s Advocate....was the asthma just used as a suitable excuse to cover up all the other failings of common sense ?