Rescue team members in action on Derwent Water. Photo: Keswick MRT

Mountain rescuers in Keswick had a busy period earlier this week, with four calls for help in 18 hours.

They included an alert from the Isle of Man police, an early morning call from distressed campers and visitors to an island whose boats had blown away.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was first contacted on Sunday about 6.15pm by Manx officers to aid a group of walkers in difficulty near the Hardknott Pass. A team spokesperson said the incident was passed to the Duddon and Furness team, which covers the area.

Hillgoers in the western part of the Lake District will often find their mobile phone has roamed on to the Isle of Man network due to the relative proximity of the island to the Lakeland fells.

At 1.30am on Monday, two 25-year-olds camping on Cat Bells called for help after their tent collapsed in strong winds. The spokesperson said: “As they were uninjured they were coached over the phone to pack up the tent and descend on the same route as they walked up.”

Shortly after 9.30 that morning, the rescue team was contacted by Derwentwater Marina who had fielded a call from eight people marooned on St Herbert’s Island on the lake whose inflatable boats had blown away during the night. The group members were uninjured.

The spokesperson said: “A Keswick MRT member who works at the marina asked for team support to assist.

“Two boats were deployed to recover the stranded party and they were delivered to the lake shore close to their vehicles. Some time was then spent searching and recovering the missing boats.

“As things were drawing to a conclusion reports were received of two people stranded on Derwent Isle. Their status was checked and no assistance was required, and last but not least a pedalo abandoned on the shore, presumably due to the challenging conditions, was towed back to the marina.”