A Kirkby Stephen team member fits snow chains to one of its Land Rovers on the way to rescue stranded motorists on the Tan Hill road. Image: Kirkby Stephen MRT
Mountain rescuers in Cumbria were called out 30 times over the weekend as Storm Arwen lashed the area.
The busy period kicked off with a call to help a person with a broken leg on the summit of Great Gable, and continued over the next 48 hours with strengthening winds caused numerous incidents.
Richard Warren, chair of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, the umbrella body for 12 teams, said most of the rescues were wind- and snow-related and followed requests from police, fire and rescue and ambulance crews.
“However this number does include a number of mountain-related injuries along with searches for lost and missing walkers. This was extremely concerning due to the severe weather conditions with sub-zero temperatures and significant windchill.”
The Kirkby Stephen team posted a video of conditions en route to Tan Hill, north of the Yorkshire Dales, on Saturday during which they rescued three occupants of a vehicle and their three dogs, and also came across four more people stranded in blizzard conditions.
Mr Warren said: “The 30 rescues bring the total number of mountain rescue incidents so far for November to 71 compared to 2019 pre-covid levels of 48 incidents.
“The Beast from the East in February and March 2018 saw the teams undertaking similar rescues, with over 40 deployments over a seven-day period. 2021 continues to be an extremely busy year for Cumbria’s 12 mountain rescue teams having to deal with 615 callouts.
“This does not include the additional and anticipated 40 to 50 rescues for December.
“The region’s teams wish to thank those who kindly support them with donations, essential in maintaining the free service to those in need of our help.”
A video shot by Kirkby Stephen MRT showing blizzard conditions on a callout
Ian512
30 November 2021The use of volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams in 'exceptional circumstances' might slowly lead to it becoming the norm to call on a Rescue Team when non-mountain assistance is required.
After all it must be a great financial saving for the authorities.
An incident a few years back saw the police call on a team to assist a motorist who has become stuck in 6” of snow. Apparently one of the team took his own Land Rover out to get the motorist moving; is this appropriate?
Unintended consequences also have to be considered - how long before a Politician decides that Mountain Rescue should come under the control of Fire and Rescue?