The Patterdale rescue boat

Training for water rescues paid dividends over the weekend for one of the Lake District’s mountain rescue teams.

Members of the volunteer Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team had undergone specialist swiftwater-rescue training earlier this year, as had many other teams in the area, and their skills were called into action as the worst floods since records began hit the area.

The Patterdale team had to move its equipment to higher ground as its own headquarters were threatened by rising floodwater. It is one of the few teams with its own fast rescue boat, which came into its own as thousands of properties were inundated across Cumbria and hundreds of residents and visitors had to be rescued.

The team was put on alert early on Thursday morning as the expected heavy downpours and strong winds swept the area.

Patterdale team leader Martin Cotterell said: “There had been heavy rainfall in the early hours of Thursday and, with winds rising to gale force as well, significant flooding was expected.

“I contacted a couple of team members and we got two of our Land Rovers, the rescue boat and a lot of specialist swiftwater rescue gear out of our base in Patterdale and up on to higher ground. The lake road along Ullswater was already flooded in several places.”

The team helped distribute sandbags throughout the area and the team was called into action as darkness fell to rescue first a family trapped in a vehicle at Watermillock and then two people who were stranded in their home at Pooley Bridge, one of whom needed medical treatment.

Mr Cotterell said: “That second rescue was typical, in that we joined forces with the other emergency services and were helped by a local farmer who carried the people to safety in his tractor.

“There has been so much goodwill and generosity in helping wherever help is needed and we would certainly like to thank local residents for all their practical support.”

The team continued its efforts even though the rainfall eased overnight, with the River Eamont being swollen by water flowing off the fells. Patterdale MRT joined colleagues from the Penrith team, RNLI crews and fire and rescue staff in evacuating properties and checking them at Eamont Bridge and Pooley Bridge.

The final incidents of one of the team’s busiest periods for many years were on Friday night and Saturday, rescuing stranded motorists in the Patterdale valley and on the Ullswater road at Watermillock.

The team’s training officer Dave Watkinson said: “As well as mountain skills and first aid, one of our priorities in recent years has been swiftwater rescue.

“Those skills have been invaluable in the past few days as our members can confidently work in flowing water and know how to keep themselves -and anyone that they rescue – safe in the water.”

Martin Cotterell said he is under no illusions about the scale of the problems across Cumbria: “We are just one of 11 mountain rescue teams across the county and, like our colleagues on the lifeboats, we are all volunteers who have been proud to be able to play a part in search and rescue over the past few days.

“We know only too well that Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington have seen far worse flooding than anything in our area but we hope that all those affected in Eamont Bridge and throughout the Ullswater valley will be able to get back to normal as soon as possible.”

The team’s flood work may not yet be over. Heavy rain, gales and snow are forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday.