Sca Fell (file image). Photo: Bob Smith Photography

Three volunteer mountain rescue teams were involved in a Lakeland rescue that lasted more than 12 hours.

Rescuers were alerted on Tuesday night when a member of the public heard cries for help on Sca Fell.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said: “Cumbria Police received a call from a member of the public who could hear shouting on the fells.

“No exact location, just a voice somewhere in the dark,” the team spokesperson said. “Our team leader spoke with the informant, who gave a good description putting the sound south of his position, in the Lord’s Rake area.”

The team spokesperson said a reply was received on the mountainside indicating a person had fallen, suffering head, back, leg and arm injuries.

The Wasdale team was called out about 8.50pm. The spokesperson said: “Given the terrain and the rope rescue that would be needed, Duddon and Furness MRT were also called out, along with Coastguard helicopter R897 [based at Carlisle].

“R897 initially hoped to carry out the rescue themselves, but low cloud made that impossible. They did manage to get eyes on the casualty and pass the location to teams on the ground.”

The helicopter crew lifted 11 mountain rescuers onto the fell, as close to the site as the weather allowed, along with 400m of rope, a crag set, vacuum mattress, casualty bag, stretcher and accessories, first aid kit and personal kit.

The team then worked to pinpoint the casualty’s exact position so a rope rescue system could be built, a job that took considerable time, hampered further as extreme weather moved in.

Rescuers worked in heavy, wind-blown rain. The spokesperson said, at 2.40am, with both Wasdale and Duddon members tiring and the casualty still to be brought down, the team leader called in Cockermouth MRT for extra hands. They arrived just as the team was preparing to begin the descent.

“The casualty was safely handed into the care of the ambulance service. Back at base, the team dried out kit and tucked into a well earned bacon and sausage sandwich, with a few extra members turning out to reset the vehicles so those who’d just spent 13 hours on the hill could finally get some sleep.

“Stay safe out there, and always let someone know your plans.”

The Wasdale MRT spokesperson added: “Massive thanks to Duddon and Furness MRT, Cockermouth MRT, and Coastguard R897 for turning out in such extreme and difficult conditions.”

The incident ended about 9.40am on Wednesday, almost 13 hours after the first callout and involved 19 Wasdale team members plus fellow volunteers from the two other Lake District teams.