Team members stretcher the man from Stonycroft Gill. Photo: Keswick MRT

Rescuers were called out to an incident close to where their Land Rover rolled down a hillside recently, injuring team members and writing off the vehicle.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said, after a deliberation, it was decided to ‘exorcise the demons’ of the previous incident and drive along the track where it happened.

The team was alerted about 11.55am on Sunday when a 22-year-old man injured his ankle while gill scrambling in Stonycroft Gill in Newlands, leaving him unable to continue.

A team spokesperson said: “A team Land Rover with five members set off from base along with our Mercedes Sprinter, meeting up with a further team member at the foot of the gill.

“There was some discussion about whether the Land Rover should be driven up the track as this was the site of our other Land Rover rolling just three weeks ago.

“In an effort to ‘exorcise’ a few demons, the Land Rover proceeded up the track past the accident site and up to within a few metres of the casualty. The young man was assessed and splinted and then stretchered down to the road where he was taken by the group’s minibus to be checked at hospital.

“You’ll be pleased to hear that the Land Rover had an uneventful drive up and down the track and returned to base unscathed.”

The rescue lasted almost 1¼ hours and involved 17 team members.

The injured man is stretchered from the fell after the scrambling incident. Photo: Keswick MRT

Keswick MRT members were also called out the previous day when a man scrambling on Great End injured his knee when a boulder was dislodged in Cust’s Gully.

The team was called out about 4.10pm.

The spokesperson said: “At this point the group had mobile reception and a call for help was made.

“Keswick MRT were alerted by the police but subsequent contact was difficult as they had unknowingly descended into a mobile blind spot. They had also indicated to the police that they may attempt a self-rescue using equipment in the stretcher box at Sty Head.

“Their exact location was therefore unknown. With this in mind a couple of team members went up Styhead Gill to the stretcher box while the rest of the team made their way up Grains Gill. The casualty’s group were found in Ruddy Gill having made some progress in helping their friend down the path.

“After an examination the casualty was stretchered to Seathwaite and taken by the friends to hospital for further checks.”

The incident lasted almost 3¾ hours and involved 16 Keswick MRT volunteers.