Rescuers with the Green Gable casualty. Photo: Keswick MRT

Members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were called out 44 minutes into the New Year when a pair of walkers requested help on a trip to Great Gable.

The team said two well equipped and experienced women, who had considered the weather forecast, decided to celebrate the start of the new year on top of the 899m (2,949ft) peak.

A spokesperson said: “When they reached Green Gable conditions were impressively unpleasant with strong winds blowing persistent rain, sleet, hail and snow so they wisely turned back.

“Unfortunately on the descent one of them slipped and fell breaking her ankle so they called 999 and asked for mountain rescue.

“Keswick team responded quickly – those that were able! – but as luck would have it members of RAF Valley and RAF Lossiemouth have been staying in Keswick base for a few days and were able to boost our numbers considerably.

“The teams approached from Honister then the steep mine track up towards Dubs Hut. Due to the location and potential difficulty in extracting the casualty the Coastguard were also tasked.”

The Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter attempted to approach the site from Wasdale and Ennerdale, but was forced to turn back because of the conditions.

The spokesperson said: “The casualty and her friend plus two dogs were found exactly on their PhoneFind location.

“The injury was assessed, pain relief administered and the leg splinted and bandaged before the casualty was loaded onto a stretcher for the carry back to Honister.

“We owe a huge debt of thanks to the RAF mountain rescue team members who came out and helped with the callout. What a memorable start to the new year.”

The incident lasted just over 4¾ hours and involved 14 Keswick MRT members and 11 from RAF Valley.

Search dog Isla found the couple. Photo: Keswick MRT

Later on New Year’s Day, the Keswick team was in action again when a couple got into difficulties on the fells.

The spokesperson said: “A couple made an early start from Seathwaite to climb Scafell Pike with their dog.

“They made the top in good time and descended but got a bit confused and somehow ended up in Wasdale. They corrected their mistake by climbing back out but again got a bit lost not far from Styhead Pass.

“One of the party suffered a panic attack on the steep ground so, despite being well equipped with clothing and headtorches, they thought it best to get help by calling 999 and asking for mountain rescue. By wandering around they found a mobile signal to call in and give an approximate location.”

The team was alerted shortly after 5.30pm.

The spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the team could not contact them again to get a PhoneFind fix on their location. A small team went out with a team search dog to try to locate the missing couple.

“The team searched the area on the Borrowdale side of Styhead Tarn with no luck so proceeded to the stretcher box on Styhead Pass from where a plan was being formulated to split up and search different paths.

“Suddenly search dog Isla bolted off away and down a steep gully away from the main paths. We gave chase only to find Isla barking as she had successfully located the couple – an excellent and impressive find. It is doubtful if we alone without Isla would have found the couple as they were hidden in a steep-sided gully away from the paths.

“The couple were then walked back to Seathwaite.”

The incident lasted almost four hours and involved nine Keswick MRT volunteers.