Crag Hill. The students were found in a tent near the fell
Two teenagers were rescued from a Lakeland fell during a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition.
The 17-year-old boys from a school in Norfolk were reported to be suffering from hypothermia while on a practice journey near Crag Hill at the head of Coledale.
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.40pm on Monday and 25 members of the volunteer team went to the students’ aid.
An air ambulance and an RAF Sea King helicopter were also sent to the incident but were not needed.
Steve Brailey of Cockermouth MRT said: “They were found in their tent and were helped down to Buttermere.”
Crag Hill, often known by the name Eel Crag after the cliffs at its northern end, stands at 839m (2,753ft) between Grasmoor and Causey Pike.
Neil Armstrong
05 April 2011After 10 years in MR and many others walking all over the UK and Europe I am not surprised by this, the general level of kit I see on the hills particularly D of E is a disgrace. I spent the weekend in Fort William to go up Ben Nevis I was shocked by the standard of kit being warn on the hill. Mountains are dangerous environments and when the going is tough good gear and experience are key.
Jhimmy
06 April 2011It's not the standard of kit that's the problem, it's the appalling standard of fitness many youths have. Many of the older readers will testify that in their youth they would tackle any mountain in poor clothing (compared to today's) and nothing would happen.
This was because they had a better diet, were allowed to play outdoors and the schools usually had better physical sports.
A youth brought up on Pizza, MacDonalds and Coke isn't going to be able to cope when they have to use mountain rations and limited water supply.
The reality is unless there's been an accident or have been caught out in severe weather, most people should have the energy to get down off the mountain by themselves if they are fit. It's not hard to find a road in the Lake District.
Why people insist that mountains are dangerous is beyond me. They are no more dangerous then driving a car, walking down a street or doing DIY in your the comfort of your own home. (see RoSpa stats for figures).
c g jones
06 April 2011As I am an Expedition leader I understand in what has been said but for me I think it is also the problem it doesn't matter what you tell people i.e they need to wear their new walking boots to wear them in and for us time and time again it they have blisers from not wearing the new boots before hand or they bring to much stuff
also i see other leaders who take groups out but are not prepared themselfs they just take it for granted
Dan F
06 April 2011You have to plan the expedition based on the capabilities and equipment available to the group. Each group is different and the guidlines for DofE expeditions are flexible enough to accomodate that.
Even with the best planning and risk assessment, it is still possible for something go wrong.
John
08 April 2011It doesn't say but at that age they may be doing their Gold award so should have had some previous experience of expeditions. It does say it was a practice expedition so they should've been remotely supervised with experienced leaders close by but the impression I get is they were camping well above the height they should've been at, maybe they dawdled and ended up benighted on top of the fell?