A rescuer at the Cross Fell summit shelter during the search. Photo: Penrith Mountain Rescue Team
The body of a fellrunner was found on the highest fell in the Pennines after a huge search lasting 24 hours.
Ed Catmur, from the London area, was reported missing after failing to return from a run in the North Pennines on New Year’s Eve.
He had last been seen at 10am on Sunday before setting off on his planned ascent of Cross Fell from Dufton in Cumbria, then heading north to Hartside Cross.
Cumbria Constabulary requested the help of Penrith Mountain Rescue Team at 5.45pm and its volunteers were joined by colleagues from the Kendal and Kirkby Stephen teams in the search for the missing man, into the early hours of New Year’s Day.
At first light, extra volunteers from nine teams across Cumbria and northern England resumed the search for Mr Catmur. Eight search dogs and handlers, the Prestwick Coastguard helicopter, the Great North Air Ambulance, National Police Air Service, plus three drone pilots from the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association joined the operation.
About midday on Monday, a police helicopter crew located a man’s body in the Cross Fell area.
The summit plateau of Cross Fell. Photo: Bob Smith Photography
The operation involved 82 volunteer mountain rescuers from the following teams: Penrith, Kirkby Stephen. Kendal, Patterdale, Wasdale, Cockermouth, Duddon and Furness, Keswick and Langdale Ambleside. Three handlers and animals from the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Association, along with five from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England also took part.
Cumbria police said the runner’s family had been informed of the developments.
Penrith MRT said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Edward.”
Ed Catmur was an accomplished endurance runner and had taken part in the Dragon’s Back Race in Wales, and in January 2015 he won the Spine Challenger race, completing the course between Edale in the Peak District and Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales in a time of 29hrs and 53mins.
Organisers of the Montane Spine Race said: “It is with great sadness we share news of the passing of Edward Catmur.
“Edward was a well known runner and perhaps best known to many of us for his first place in the 2015 Challenger South.
“As a Spine family we have shared many successes, but today we grieve the loss of Edward. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
