The search covered Crosby Ravensworth Fell, with Hardendale Quarry on its northern edge
A Lakeland team has thanked residents and fellow mountain rescuers for their help during a major protracted search for a missing woman in the Crosby Ravensworth area.
A woman’s body was found near Hardendale Quarry today after the three-day operation to try to find Yvonne Mullen.
Penrith Mountain Rescue Team took the lead in the search for the 78-year-old woman, with colleagues from afar afield as Yorkshire and north-east England taking part.
A Penrith MRT spokesperson said: “Sadly a body was located around 11am this morning, and the search was concluded, although formal identification is yet to happen.
“Her dog was also located at the same time, and although having spent two nights in the open, was safe and well.
“We were called initially on Thursday at 7pm, as she had not returned from walking her dog. Due to the area needing to be searched we were joined by Kirkby Stephen MRT, Patterdale MRT, four search dogs, and the police helicopter, along with a great number of local residents, with the search continuing until around 2am.
“The search resumed on Friday morning with teams from all across the Lakes, and further afield, assisting us: Kirkby Stephen, Kendal, Patterdale, Keswick, Cockermouth, Wasdale, Coniston, Duddon and Furness, Teesdale, Swaledale, RAF Leeming, and seven search dogs, with all teams deployed from 9am through to 8pm.
“We were also supported by an RAF Sea King helicopter for around four hours. At its height there were around 50 mountain rescue team personnel involved in the search.”
The search resumed on Saturday shortly after 9am, with teams from Penrith, Kirkby Stephen, Teesdale, Swaledale, RAF Leeming and the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation deployed in the area.
Yvonne Mullen and her dog
The Penrith MRT spokesperson said: “During all of this time, the local residents assisted us in searching the buildings in the villages, and the farms, as they know them very well.
“Due to the lack of mobile telephone signal we were given a cordless phone connected to a resident’s landline, and access to wi-fi in the same manner. The village hall became a focal point for the teams, as hot drinks and food were supplied by the residents to all those involved in the search, and a great number of residents also supported us by searching their own land, and letting us know what areas had been cleared.
“It became clear that the local people were keen to continue that support today, and asked us to give them an area to work on searching themselves, which they did every bit as well as a practised rescue team.
“The leadership and members of the Penrith team wanted to thank everyone that supported, and assisted us over the last three days, and our thoughts are with Yvonne’s husband, and family, at this time.”
