Bassenthwaite Lake, scene of Saturday's rescue

A mountain rescue team took to the water in its newly acquired boat to rescue two men stranded on a lake.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out to help the pair whose oar had broken while on Bassenthwaite Lake on Saturday.

Police contacted the team about 1.40pm to say two men were in difficulty on the water. A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “It turned out that they had broken an oar, and were unable to get back to shore.

“The team launched its new boat at Peel Wyke, and was able to recover the stricken mariners and their boat safely.”

The 1½-hour rescue involved 14 team members.

The Keswick team passed on its old boat last month to the Porthmadog-based Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team after acquiring an upgraded model.

While the rescue was in progress, a member of the public walking on Barrow reported hearing a whistle which she took to be a distress signal, in the Swinside area overlooking the north-west shore of Derwent Water.

Two Keswick team members drove to the area and discovered a shoot was taking place. The team spokesperson said: “After making enquiries, it seemed likely that the whistles were associated with the beaters for the shoot.

“As no other report had been received, the team was stood down.”

On Friday, the Keswick team had its first callout of the year when a 51-year-old man from Northampton injured his ankle on boulders while walking beside the River Derwent near Portinscale.

Ambulance service staff and the Great North Air Ambulance crew also attended the incident and treated the man before rescue team members helped carry the injured walker to a waiting ambulance.

He was then taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for further treatment.