Rescuers with the fallen walker in the gully. Photo: Keswick MRT
Two teams spent more than six hours rescuing a woman who fell from Sharp Edge on Blencathra.
A walker came across the injured woman early on Saturday.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 8.40am. A team spokesperson said she had fallen about 20m down the ‘usual gully’, which has been the site of numerous incidents, including fatal falls.
“Although suffering multiple injuries she had somehow managed to stop herself falling much further,” the spokesperson said. “She was also fortunate to have received excellent first aid by a passing Royal Marine while awaiting MRT support.”
The Keswick team requested the help of Penrith MRT and a Coastguard helicopter with winching capabilities because of the complex nature of the rescue.
Sharp Edge. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
The spokesperson said: “In wet conditions Sharp Edge is notoriously slippy so a safety line was established to get team members across the Edge.
“A twin-rope system was then set up to enable the treated and packaged casualty to be lowered down the gully to a doctor from the Penrith team. Low cloud meant a stretcher carry was necessary to a point where Coastguard 912 [from Humberside] could land and airlift the casualty to hospital.”
The incident lasted just over 6¼ hours and involved 18 volunteers from the Keswick team and 10 from Penrith MRT.
Glenn
18 February 2024Shame she didn't have the intelligence to notice how slippery it was before she got that far. She could then turn round to use a different route. There are plenty of alternatives on there but people are too blinkered to see anything other than their original adventurous route.
Latt
18 February 2024Here's a link to a clip from the same day just after the Rescue teams had finished. It starts at the place where the slip would have happened. I'm surprised that the Rescue teams aren't called out more as there seems to be a lot of people going there during these conditions.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qGDY89QqOzs
Latt
18 February 2024Here's a clip of Sharp Edge from nearly exactly a year ago as this accident.
IF YOU LISTEN YOU CAN HEAR A GIRL CRYING!
Sharp Edge is a HORRIBLE place in these conditions!
Don't look at Youtube clips of dangerous places on a sunny day! Read Mountain Rescue Call Out reports instead!
Here's the clip-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGY6AgtzO4&pp=ygUoc2hhcnAgZWRnZSBibGVuY2F0aHJhIEZlYnJ1YXJ5IDE2dGggMjAyMw%3D%3D
Latt
18 February 2024Here's another clip to show how HORRIBLE Sharp Edge can be in cloud and mist.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aM8j8W4SNnE&pp=ygUkc2hhcnAgZWRnZSBibGVuY2F0aHJhIGp1bHkgMTR0aCAyMDIz
The clips put on here don't show exactly how horrible it is in these conditions because you can't feel how slippy it is & you can't feel the wind & cold from a clip. The Mountain Rescue Teams would probably really appreciate it if some people read their 'Call Out' reports more before attempting some routes on misty, cloudy, damp days!
Dave
18 February 2024@Glenn
Often in life people make errors of judgement. Sometimes they get away with it. Sometimes they don’t.,thankfully not everyone is as judgmental as you and will go to help. I can only hope you don’t have anything to do with the rescue services otherwise some people will be doomed.
Maybe the lady is extremely experienced and far more capable than you or I and got unlucky ( I believe Alan Hinkes once got caught in avalanche in the lakes and I’m sure you wouldn’t accuse him of lack of intelligence) . Maybe she was way out of her depth but im sure the lady whilst recovering from her injuries is realising she has been lucky and hopefully won’t read your unnecessary unhelpful keyboard warrior comments.
Marc
01 March 2024@Glenn
I used to be just like you mate looking smugly down my nose at people who needed help from MR. I just naturally assumed that anyone who had an accident on a hill must have in some way been responsible for their own misfortune through being ill prepared inexperienced etc…
Then one day it happened to me in this exact location having done the route several times before, and I ended up being rescued.
So take my advice pal and wind your neck in, because it’s really embarrassing to need MRT assistance after making comments like the ones you’ve made on here. Fortunately, the guys who risk their lives to rescue others aren’t judgmental about it if you ever do need them.
Latt
02 March 2024@Marc
I agree.
Anyone can have a slip or fall whether on a ridge or at home. It's best to never belittle anyone or anything because we should know that it could be us next time!