One of the stranded vehicles. Photo: Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team
Rescuers were called out in the early hours to rescue seven people from a Lancashire fell in sub-zero temperatures after their off-road vehicles got bogged down.
Two children, aged four and two, were among the party led to safety from Easington Fell by members of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.
The team was called at 3.30am by police when three 4×4 vehicles got stuck in a bog on the hill in the Forest of Bowland.
Two vehicles initially got stuck and a third, which had come to help them, also got stranded in the peat bog.
Team leader Kevin Camplin said: “Initially we were given the wrong location, about a mile from the actual place they were.
“I used the mountain rescue Sarloc and pinpointed them exactly, then we sent the rescue team to recover them.”
The scene of the rescue. Photo: Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team
Sarloc, developed by former Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation member Russ Hore, sends a hyperlink to the stranded person’s smartphone which, when followed, allows specialised software to get a fix on the phone.
Mr Camplin said: “We found on scene that we couldn’t get our mountain rescue Land Rovers near to the casualty site due the poor conditions underfoot – peat bog and saturated – so we walked them the short distance, about 500m, back to our vehicles and then drove them off Grindleton Fell near Clitheroe to the village of Grindleton where we then handed them over to the police so they could then go home.
“We found the casualties cold and very fed up.”
A dog that was with the vehicle occupants was also rescued.
Miss Angela
03 April 2015What were they doing out at that time of night with young children in 4 x 4s. Sorry but that is irresponsible and not to mention the damage done to the landscape. All credit to the rescuers but have no sympathy for the party one bit. Sorry but off roading in the small hours sounds iffy to me
Bob
03 April 2015We believe they set off in the afternoon, but it was the middle of the night before they realised they needed help from the rescuers.
Bob Smith, editor.
Happy Shepherd
03 April 2015Head testing comes to mind. Hope the expense of recovery would make them think twice before doing something like this again.
Simon
03 April 2015Perhaps the land owner will refuse access to any recovery vehicles?
madcarew
04 April 2015What is the difference between an off road enthusiast and a Hedgehog?
With a Hedgehog the ****** are on the outside.
At least they are all safe and well. Well done Bowland MRT
Nick W
04 April 2015I've just looked at the OS Map for Easington Fell and I can't see any Byways shown.
If my maps are out of date I apologise, but if, not what were they doing their?
OutdoorsAndy
07 April 2015Good point Nick, but the penelty for illegal offroading is a joke, a £40 fine if your unlucky!
Its high time it was changed to a more seriouse penelty, at least points on the licence. So for some the risk of £40 is OK for a day out churning up the local environment.
You can get fined thousands in Iceland for example for such a crime.
Madcarew- LOL, top notch :D