Rescuers tend to the injured mountain biker. Photo: Keswick MRT
A Lake District team was called out three times on Sunday to aid people who came to grief in icy conditions.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s first alert was to a 37-year-old mountain biker who crashed on sheet ice on Whinlatter Forest’s south red route.
The team was called out about 11am after the cyclist slid on slate bedrock on the track.
A team spokesperson said: “A resulting nasty ankle dislocation was treated at the scene before the casualty was stretchered to the team Land Rover and driven to a waiting ambulance.
“Coincidentally it was exactly this type of ankle injury that was covered in our medical refresher training a couple of days ago.”
Nine volunteers from the Keswick team were involved in the 1½-hour rescue.
The injured walker is stretchered from Hause Gate. Photo: Keswick MRT
Later in the day, the team received another call for help after a 65-year-old walker injured her ankle when she slipped while descending the path from Hause Gate on Cat Bells towards Manesty.
The spokesperson said: “Team members were dispatched and on arrival splinted the ankle and stretchered her down to the road. Her friends then drove her to hospital for further checks.”
The two-hour rescue involved 23 Keswick MRT members.
The final ankle injury of the day happened when a woman walking down the track from Coledale Hause towards Force Crag Mine slipped, resulting a her breaking a bone in her ankle.
Her companions in the group of university students called 999 then stayed with her to keep her warm. The team spokesperson said: “A local fellrunning lady also stopped to offer assistance.
Rescuers prepare to stretcher the walker across the beck. Photo: Keswick MRT
“The team, not long back from callout number two of the day, drove up to the mine above Braithwaite and made their way to the casualty.
“The track was icy, as were the stepping stones across the beck. The injured ankle was immobilised before the casualty was stretchered back to one of the vehicles. Strangely there was an urgent requirement for a team change on the stretcher carry just before the beck crossing but fortunately there were a few probationary team members present to help out.
“The girl was driven down to Braithwaite to rendezvous with the ambulance.”
The rescue operation took almost 2¼ hours and involved 15 team members.
