The four became separated from a larger group on Scafell Pike. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
A Lake District mountain rescue team has described how its members brought four young women to safety in severe weather from England’s highest mountain.
The group, aged under 20, became separated from a larger group of 36 tackling a charity ascent of Scafell Pike.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, which said the rescue was avoidable, cautioned against running charity events on the mountain with inexperienced hillgoers in February.
The team was called out at 2pm on Tuesday as high winds and rain lashed the central fells of the national park.
Team spokesman Richard Warren said: “At the time of the callout the team was unaware of the other 32 walkers, many spread out across the mountain and how the four had come to be on their own.
“The four girls were ill equipped and had never been on a walk like this before and had been up since 3 o’clock that morning for the drive from Liverpool.”
The group’s location was pinpointed using smartphone technology and six team members made their way on to the fell.
Mr Warren said: “Conditions were extremely poor with forecast torrential rain and severe winds and visibility down to 20m. Two were suffering deepening hypothermia when the team arrived to find them huddled behind a boulder. They were warmed up in the bivvy tent and put into dry clothing.
“The descent can only be described as extremely challenging, even for the rescuers, and the four girls needed regular strong encouragement to keep moving.”
The four walkers were finally brought down to the Wasdale Head car park and reunited with their friends at about 8.30pm.
It was one of three rescues the team took part in in 24 hours. A family was reported overdue when walking between Seathwaite and Great Langdale and a couple were found safe but cold and wet after spending the night huddled in an emergency survival bag in upper Eskdale after a huge overnight search which was resumed on Wednesday morning, involving more than 70 volunteers from seven teams.
The team spokesman said: “A successful outcome but the message is clear: all of the rescues were avoidable if the lost walkers in all cases had paid attention to the weather forecast, been better equipped – map and compass plus torches.
“For the four girls, organisers must keep their groups together and know where everyone is. February is not a good time to organise a charity walk with inexperienced walkers.”
Marc Walton
22 February 2017Beggars belief !! Do they realise mountain rescue is a charity ? The so called organisers should hang their heads in shame , the outcome of this could of ended in the deaths of 4 young people . Take note , when organising a charity event , be prepared for all eventualities , make sure people are properly equipped and if inexperienced they should have at least 1 experienced walker between a group of 5 and most importantly know your limits , no charity event is worth risking your life for .
Rob Wood
22 February 2017The organisers should be sent a bill to cover some or all of the expenses for this. If they cant be arsed to look after people they should pay others to do it or fund any rescues!!
Peter Sheen
23 February 2017Have to blame the organisers, should be named and 'shamed' in sofaras they need to learn and upgrade their organistation.
Scafella
23 February 2017Every February half term is the same. Groups and often families with small children embark on trips in the fells with at best the slightest of preparation.
It's still winter. These are real mountains.
Sadly charities are also culpable, setting sponsored'challenges' for folk at inappropriate times and places.
Regular hillgoers, rescue teams and guides have many a tale to tell on such scores.
Mark Burr
23 February 2017Just goes to show how more and more people are becoming detached from the outdoors and the realities of nature. Very sad though a massive we'll done to all the volunteers who bought everyone back safely.
Mike Valentine
23 February 2017Obviously, accidents can (and do) sometimes happen to even the most experienced and best equipped of walkers, but when one hears yet again, of another "avoidable" call out, and thinks about the needless waste of time and resources of MRT volunteers, it is only too obvious that there is a need for some sort of step-change to the way such "avoidable" call outs are handled.
I know that the MRT's themselves would never, regardless of whatever the cause, refuse to attend a call out, and that is to their eternal credit. But they only have so much in the way of resources and volunteer manpower - and it is for those reasons that a change is needed.
Publicity campaigns might help, but they won't do enough - The people most likely to see them and take any notice would probably be those well equipped and responsible walkers who do take heed of weather forecasts, do carry requisite kit for the terrain/conditions, and who always carry (and know how to make proper use of) map and compass!
I don't know what might be done, or how it might be possible to get through to inexperienced individuals who go onto the high fells without such kit or knowledge, but surely, in the case of organised charity events, where potentially large numbers of ill-equipped and/or inexperienced people might be involved, it is time for some regulatory requirement such that event organisers must have suitable numbers of experienced (qualified?) leaders in attendance - and - compulsory insurance policies in place, whereby, in the event of an MRT call out, the MRT(s) involved could legitimately make a claim, and be fully recompensed for their time and resources?
What would happen if an inexperienced/ill equipped walker were to die whilst participating in such an event - Presumably the organisers would/could be held legally responsible - so from that perspective alone, even now, there must be a case for compulsory event insurance?
Sarah
23 February 2017Just want to say a massive thank you to the resue party who helped my friends get down from the mountain I was one of walkers and I was so worried Sat waiting for my friends for hours. Thank you so much your work is really appreciated!
Mick H
23 February 2017There needs to be a lot better awareness among these charities and event organisers about the impacts and potential dangers involved in taking large groups of inexperience hill goers up the UK's highest peaks, at any time of year. They should also have to register with MRT before each peak, so that if things go wrong, if anyone is injured or gets lost, or if there's environmental damage or litter, then the individual group can be held responsible. It's a free for all at the minute and local communities and the fragile mountain environment are paying the price
Malcolm
23 February 2017Perhaps it's time for all.these groups to.be charged a fee of some sort for a licence to take groups onto any other NParks and trails to build a fund for support and maintenance.
Whilst part of our natural and beautiful countrysid, these facilities are not cost free .
Kate C
23 February 2017Yes, there should be some sort of licencing scheme. It's not fair, even for charities, for it to be all take and no give. Some proportion of the funds raised should be given back to the NP's and the MRT's, in recognition of the fact that, although our mountains are free to enjoy, there is a cost involved.
Beth Roberts
23 February 2017I agree with the comments above. It is highly irresponsible and unforgivable for a charity organisation to allow members of an organised event to become detached from the rest of the group. It is also unforgivable of them to allow people to take part without first ensuring they have the proper kit and equipment - and know how to use it!
That said, should it not also be an absolute given that every other single person in that group should also be ashamed that they were not looking out for each other and should also be held equally responsible??? Regardless of whether someone has arranged an event or not, is it not a moral responsibility to keep an eye on each other???
Finally, why on earth would any organisation worth its salt arrange an event of this scale, for people who 'had never been on a walk like this before' in winter months, when it is highly likely that conditions will be very cold, windy and wet/snowy, at best?!?!?!?!?
Is the human race really becoming this dense??????
Anon
23 February 2017I know two of the girls that got trapped on the mountain and the organisers was tk maxx in liverpool they where doing the walk after raising money for charity and fog came down quickly and visability was less than 20m thats how they got seperated. This walk was not organised by a charity organisation but by a shop
Lesley
24 February 2017When I was doing teacher training many years ago the college were taking Lancashire kids to Langdale in March for mountain walking as part of our Geography course. I questioned what equipment they had and wasn't happy as some were in trainers and they were not well equipped. I was told by my tutor that if I didn't go it would go on my training as 'refusing to take responsibility'! Without us students there would have been 2 teachers with 60 kids. There was an accident of a damaged ankle but luckily not too far up the hill and because of us students we managed to get the person down without calling rescue. I still think the college was irresponsible but I think it still happens today!!
DaveF
24 February 2017All organisers should remember they may have to stand in a coroner's court and say that you did everything possible to prevent a death happening.
Buttie
28 February 2017That's the spirit Dave!