The incident happened near Grisedale Tarn. Photo: Andy Waddington CC-BY-SA-2.0
A walker suffered serious injuries after sliding a long distance on a Lake District fell.
Members of the public heard shouts for help from the hillside near Grisedale Tarn on Monday.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out at 1.20pm.
A team spokesperson said: “Two members of the public managed to locate the casualty after hearing his cries for help. One was from Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and managed to give an accurate location for the stricken gentleman and some vital information.
“It soon became apparent that the chap had taken a long slide and had suspected serious injuries with this in mind the Helimed 58 [the Great North Air Ambulance] was called along with the Coastguard Helicopter from Prestwick.”
Patterdale MRT members helped the doctor and paramedic from the air ambulance in treating the injured walker, who suffered a suspected broken pelvis and shoulder.
The Coastguard helicopter then winched the injured man aboard and flew him to the Royal Preston Hospital.
The team spokesperson said: “Patterdale Mountain Rescue would like to thank our colleagues from Penrith Mountain Rescue Team for their assistance on this rescue along with her Majesty’s Coastguard and the air ambulance.”
The 4½-hour rescue involved 23 mountain rescue volunteers.
Simon
01 March 2018Why do people shout for help. That’s what whistles are for
Mike V
01 March 2018Whilst an emergency whistle should definitely be considered an essential item of kit for all fell walkers, let alone solo walkers, we don't know whether the casualty had one, or indeed, with a suspected broken pelvis and shoulder, whether after the fall, he could physically access it if he did.
I sincerely hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery.
I happened to be descending from Dollywaggon Pike when the Great North Air Ambulance helicopter landed near Grisedale Tarn. I then saw the unfolding rescue, (from a distance), as I made my way down the valley towards Patterdale.
The actions of all concerned has reinforced my belief that we have some of, if not the, best mountain rescue organisations available in the world.
Even with two helicopters at the scene, MRT members continued to carry the heavy sled type stretcher and much more equipment up to the casualty - (in case of helicopter malfunction or inability to winch).
All that equipment had to be manually carried for at least a couple of miles from where the Land-Rovers had to be left in the valley. - Goodness only knows what it must have been like to have to carry not only your own kit, but rescue equipment or half a sled stretcher on your back up those very icy paths and across steep, bullet hard snow! - Had the helicopter not been able to winch and evacuate the casualty, they would have had to carry him down that same distance!
These men and women - all volunteers, giving their time and expertise freely, have my utmost regard. (As, obviously, do the helicopter crew and paramedics of both the GNAA and Coastguard helicopters that regularly attend such incidents).
Margaret
21 March 2018Mountain Rescue emerged from and has its roots in the activity of Mountaineering; as we and the media continually raise the Mountain Rescue profile it will eventually become separated from its beginnings.