Rescuers stretcher the walker from the Allerdale Ramble route. Photo: Keswick MRT
Two walkers were rescued from Lake District fells after getting into difficulties in the extremely hot weather.
A 69-year-old man succumbed to the heat while walking on the Allerdale Ramble route above Seatoller on Tuesday.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s help was requested by ambulance staff shortly before 4pm and members sent two vehicles to Seatoller, while three local members also joined the operation.
A team spokesperson said: “After a short search to find the right location behind High Doat, the gentleman was helped on to the stretcher, and carried down to the ambulance at Seatoller.
“He was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary for a check-up, and possible further treatment.”
Around the same time, a 23-year-old woman became ill, suffering from heatstroke near Angle Tarn above Great Langdale.
Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was called out and the Great North Air Ambulance was also scrambled.
The air ambulance at the site near Angle Tarn. Photo: GNAAS
The Pride of Cumbria helicopter flew to the site from its base near Penrith after a call for help from the woman, who was walking with her boyfriend. She was suffering from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration.
An air ambulance spokesperson said: “The GNAAS doctor and paramedic crew treated the woman before she was flown to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven within 10 minutes where she arrived in a stable condition.”
Langdale Ambleside MRT offered the following advice for walkers taking to the fells during hot weather: “Drinking and hydration: not something you need to worry about in the Lakes, surely? Well yes it is.
“You need to drink plenty, especially on warm or hot days. Dehydration, even by a small amount, causes brain impairment, and may be a factor in slips and trips in the afternoon, the biggest cause of callouts for us.
“In more extreme cases it is life threatening. It can be linked with hyperthermia and uncontrollable rise in body temperature. The best drinking water is tap water taken with you.
“Easily two litres or more might be required. If you run out, then it should be safe to top up from moving, well aerated water. Check there’s not too much by way of livestock about, and if it has rained recently, then be extra careful; faecal matter can be washed off the surrounding grass and transported in the water. The higher you go, the lesser the risk. Cryptosporidium is probably the main concern.”
