The man was found by rescuers at the foot of Helvellyn's headwall
Details have been released of the massive search for the missing man who died after being found on Helvellyn.
At the height of the search for the walker, 62 mountain rescue team members were involved in looking for the man, who had been reported missing after failing to check out of his hotel.
It is believed he might have lain on the mountain for four days before being found.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out yesterday by police to search for the man, and the team’s volunteers were joined by two other teams and search dogs.
A Patterdale MRT spokesperson said: “The man, from the South of England, was staying at a hotel in the Windermere area and had indicated that he intended to walk up Helvellyn on Thursday 8 January.
“The last known contact was around lunchtime that day but he was not reported missing until the weekend when he failed to check out of his hotel.
“Based on the information available, and in darkness, strong winds and heavy rain, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team began to coordinate a search of the main areas on the Helvellyn range.
“They called for the assistance of other rescue teams: RAF Leeming, Penrith and the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs. Between approximately 5pm and 11pm, 49 mountain rescuers and five search dogs and handlers were involved.
“Just before midnight the search was postponed with a plan to resume at first light as a severe weather warning was in force and visibility was worsening during the early hours of Monday.”
Today at 7.30am the search resumed, with members of Keswick, RAF Leeming, Penrith and Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Teams and five dogs from the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dog Association joined by three more dogs and handlers from the Search and Rescue Dog Association (England).
A Royal Navy Sea King joined the search operation
A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire joined search efforts and airlifted equipment to the mountain.
The Patterdale team spokesperson said: “At 10.30am, a search dog found a man on the headwall of Helvellyn at the same time as an RAF team spotted the man from above.
“Within minutes the team were on scene. However, sadly the man had sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced dead at Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team base.
“During the second day of searching 62 mountain rescuers were involved for almost eight hours.”
Mike Blakey, Patterdale MRT team leader said: “In these tragic circumstances the thoughts of all those involved in the man’s rescue are with his family and friends. I would like to thank all of our colleagues in the other mountain rescue teams, mountain rescue search dog handlers, the police and the Royal Navy Sea King crew who did everything they could to assist in finding this man quickly.
“Rescues like this always involve an element of risk. During the night and this morning, in the heavy winds, two search dog handlers sustained minor injuries. We wish them a speedy recovery.”
The walker has not been formally identified, but the family of missing man Michael Flanagan has been informed.
Police said the coroner would be informed.
Anne
14 January 2015How come the hotel onky reported him missing when he failed to check out surely he would have been missed by cleaning staff waiters etc hotel staff who normally woukd have interacted with guests etc, or is this a signof the tines where no one gives a dam until tge miss not getting paid or in this instance need him out so they can re asign the room?
Sad people who you thought ought to have noticed sonething was not right failed to do so had the reported him jissing even by the next day after he had gone out he may still have been alive now.
And how cone it was evening before the search teams were called out endangering their lives too, I think mountaineering ought to have by law some form of insurance to oayfor all the aid we have to send out torescue or retrive bodies etc.
Also there ought to be a place they have tolog their outing and start and return times too then if not logged out at the end of the tine this woukd fkag up a maybe failed outing where they may need a rescue team, they shoukd also have to carry a satlite phone which sends out a gps signal to help them belocated in case of falls injury etc even a person not able to use the phone say if unconscious the signal could help him be located and found with less risk and cost to others.
Kirsty pullinger
14 January 2015sadly most of the fells don't have mobile signal so the gps theory would not work. You make the assumption that he told the hotel that he was going up helvellyn on that day, it says he mentioned doing it on Thursday but did not actually confirm with them. Most hotels in the lakes will monitor their guests if they are told. any proper walker would plan his route and give a copy of that route to reception with the time they intend to start and the time they expect to be back in the hotel and the hotel would normally give them a bit of lea way on that time then call MRT if they are not back after about an hour. So don't be so judgemental on the staff, theyay not have known the length of his stay so they may have assumed he had already gone. Reception staff due to rotation may not have seen him go or known where he was going and therefore no message would have been passed to Watch out for his return.
Peter Asher
14 January 2015Instead of ranting about something you clearly know nothing about, spend your time correction your shocking grammer and spelling!
A.Swift
14 January 2015Well said Peter...but shouldn't that be grammar?? ;-)
Jean
15 January 2015Can't believe people are so insensitive and focus on grammer etc when someone has tragically died, you should be ashamed of yourselves, have some respect & compassion for michaels family & friends.
Mike
15 January 2015Very odd person indeed. As if it is someone elses's fault!
Perhaps it wasn't an accident? Perhaps it was. That's for the inquest. One of those things. I just feel sympathy for the family and for the MRT who had to recover the body. Can't be an easy thing to do.
Onlooker
15 January 2015Peter, no offence, I happen to agree but I saw at least 2 mistakes in your reply there, mate. :-)