In the news

Several calls for Cockermouth Team over the weekend

July 19, 2021

Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was called out on 17th July at 11:40, when reports were received of a female who appeared to be stuck on a ledge above Warnscale Bottom. Vehicles were dispatched to the area to try and pin down the location of the casualty. As the Team was nearing Gatesgarth, a second call came in from the casualty’s daughter with a precise location, on Green Crag.

Fortunately, a Team member was already in the area and went directly to the casualty and provided an initial assessment. Meanwhile the first Team vehicle made its way up to Dubs Hut, where equipment was ferried to the casualty site. A rope system was used to secure the injured lady, her arm injuries were treated on scene before she was raised up the cliff on a stretcher. Once on the main path, the casualty was assessed by the Team doctor and escorted back to the Team vehicles, before being transferred to an NWAS ambulance waiting at Honister Slate Mine.

Whilst completing the initial callout, a group of walkers requested assistance as one of their party had become ill. The Team doctor assessed the casualty and she was then escorted off the fell due to her condition.

Finally, as the Team was making its way home through Gatesgarth, an old lady collapsed by the road due to the heat. The Team stopped and treated the casualty on scene, whilst waiting for an ambulance. The Team wishes all three casualties speedy recoveries.

The three callouts on the17th followed several significant incidents the day before, including;

  • –  Supporting a multi-agency search at Crummock Water.
  • –  Rescuing a lady with heat stroke on the side of Whiteside.
  • –  Assisting Keswick Mountain Rescue with a potential callout during the night. Team Leader Andrew McNeil said: ‘It’s been a busy couple of days, in difficult conditions due to the heat, but the Team responded well. Green Crag is one of our hot spots and we would advise the public to take extra care when walking in that area, a misplaced step can have serious consequences. On behalf of the Team, I’d like to wish all the casualties from this weekend a quick recovery.’
  • As we are now in the summer holidays, and it is likely that the Lakes will be busier than they have been for some time, the Team would encourage visitors to consider using the new shuttle bus service from Cockermouth to Buttermere, which may help to alleviate congestion down the valley , allowing emergency services to operate effectively when required. https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/plan -your-visit/getting-to-the-lake-district/buttermere-shuttlebus-from-cockermouth