Rescuers with the Coastguard helicopter at the scene. Photo: Keswick MRT
A man has died after falling from a Lake District ridge.
Rescuers said he was traversing Sharp Edge on Blencathra on Friday when he fell down a gully on the north side of the ridge, suffering fatal injuries.
His friend was able to make his way to his companion from the bottom of the gully and called 999. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.15pm.
The Great North Air Ambulance Service’s helicopter was scrambled and was first on the scene, landing some distance away on Bannerdale Crags. The air ambulance doctor and paramedic then climbed the gully to the fallen walker.
A Keswick team spokesperson said: “Keswick MRT meanwhile had sent team members to the base of the gully and also along the ridge in order to set up a lowering line.
“The Coastguard helicopter R199 [from Prestwick] arrived on scene and attempted a pass over the gully to assess for winching but the gusty and showery conditions were not suitable.
The team set up a rope system to lower one of the rescuers into the gully. Photo: Keswick MRT
“One team member was then lowered from the ridge down the gully to the casualty site to ‘pick off’ the paramedic, the casualty’s friend and finally the stretcher with the casualty.
“The Coastguard were then able to transfer the friend and then the casualty to Crow Park in Keswick.
“Our deepest thoughts and sympathy go out to the family and friends of the casualty.”
The incident happened at what the rescue team calls the ‘usual gully’, where an awkward step down, above a rocky drop, can present difficulties for walkers tackling the grade-one scramble. Wet conditions make the traverse trickier as some of the rock has become polished.
The 5¼-hour rescue involved 17 volunteers from Keswick MRT.
Chris Goode. Cockermouth.
05 October 2021—When our adventurous spirits kick in —we all recognise the risks even on bright sunny days and still we go... and still we conquer .
All thoughts and sympathies to this man’s devastated family .
Mike Sweeting
05 October 2021We were out yesterday too. Numerous heavy rain showers and a hail storm. Just look at the pics. The Edge was drenched. Something to just plain turn back from unless a climber rather than walker. The difficulties would be up a couple of grades, with footwear a further factor.
Carol Oliver
05 October 2021And here was me thinking absolutely EVERYONE knew you DON'T do Sharp Edge in either the wet or a gusty wind/gale!
maxine
10 October 2021awful news ,My heart out to family and friends. My fav Mountain.
David Ashforth
10 October 2021This video captures Mountain Rescue attempting the rescue while on the ridge. https://youtu.be/GqDiNPOq41I
David Ashforth
10 October 2021This video captures Mountain Rescue attempting the rescue while on the ridge. "https://youtu.be/GqDiNPOq41I"
David Ashforth
10 October 2021This video captures Mountain Rescue attempting this rescue while on the ridge. I am prevented from posting the YouTube link so search for "SHARP EDGE in a DANGEROUS STORM a SERIOUS MESSAGE Blencathra LAKE DISTRICT WILD CAMPING UK Tent Test"
Pete
11 October 2021Classy.
Latrigg
12 October 2021IMPORTANT LOCAL INFORMATION IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A SHARP EDGE ACCIDENT!
About late September to early December is the worst time to cross Sharp Edge if you don't know it well. There's usually no ice to scare people but the damp rock doesn't dry out very quickly at this time of year. Even on a dry day it can still have damp patches and these patches are north facing and that's what you have to step on to cross the ridge! The places that are the earliest to cross on a sunny day become the most slippy on a damp autumn day! ! Believe me we're local and done it 2000+ times. Look at these clips for examples of different times of the year & different conditions.
Priceless if you want to really see it and try to feel it without sound effects, rock music, editing, posing, etc.
https://youtu.be/KxIxdthIlgI (starting at the Bad Step in September)
https://youtu.be/ui2Lu5HT3uY (going down in a whiteout and snow in January)
https://youtu.be/A240h-V2IJg (October morning in an inversion)
https://youtu.be/B7n5g-qrXIQ (BEAST FOM THE EAST, March 1st 2018)
https://youtu.be/r_1W8d86MRY (a typical 'accident waiting to happen'' damp October day)
Channel address with 1000+ Sharp Edge clips from all year around. Just put day of year in and more than 1 will usually come up!
https://youtube.com/user/LonscalePike