The walkers were able to make their way to the valley with rescuers. Photo: Wasdale MRT

Rescuers were called out after a group of walkers reported themselves approaching hypothermia near the Scafell Pike range.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted shortly after 9.20am on Sunday when police received an emergency call via satellite.

The team feared for the walkers’ safety, believing they might have been on the fells since the previous afternoon during a period when an amber alert for snow had been issued.

The emergency call came via the iPhone emergency satellite service, which operates when no mobile phone signal can be obtained.

A team spokesperson said information was limited. “Helpfully an exact location was obtained, although this was in a remote area in upper Eskdale.

“Further information received via another message indicated that one person was also ill, and another had injured his ankle. They had mis-navigated off Scafell Pike summit, attempting to return to Seathwaite.”

The team leader instigated a full callout and requested an advance party of two make their way as quickly as possible to the location, near the bottom of Little Narrowcove. The Prestwick Coastguard helicopter also flew to the scene.

The spokesperson said: “Further iPhone emergency messages indicated the party was moving down the valley towards the road, although for a time it was unclear whether this was the whole group or just one or two people.

“Thankfully the advance party had not travelled too far when they met up with the party of five walking out. All were safe and able to complete the journey to the road and then to a local hostelry, where they could organise a taxi back to Borrowdale.

“The debrief ascertained that the group had set off from North Yorkshire at midnight, arrived at Seathwaite and then set off on their walk at 4am. They had made the summit of Scafell Pike but then found themselves in Upper Eskdale; cold, wet and concerned for their safety.

“They were not equipped properly for full winter conditions on the high fells, and were also inexperienced. At times they were waist deep in snow. To their credit, they fully acknowledged their misjudgement in this attempt and were humble and thankful for the help, fully aware this could have ended with a much worse outcome.

“Thanks again to the support from Coastguard helicopter Rescue199.”