Wasdale Mountain Rescue responds to two calls simultaneously

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT) responded to two serious call-outs needing a full response simultaneously.

The first call-out started at 12.50pm on the Wasdale Screes route.

The walker had fallen and injured her ankle. Another couple called Cumbria Police who then passed the call to WRMT. The team leader mobilised the boat.

A spokesperson from WMRT said: "The advance foot party arrived on scene, assessed, provided pain relief and applied a splint to make her more comfortable. A short transfer was made to the boat, and then the walker was ferried to the other side of the lake in a well-rehearsed manoeuvre."

The team at Wast Water (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue)

Once the woman was safely across Wastwater more team members transferred her to the land ambulance, and then she went on to the hospital. In total, 20 MRT members were involved in this incident. 

Just over an hour and a half after the first incident began, at 2.32pm, WMRT received another call from Cumbria Police after a walker sustained a leg injury and was not able to continue on Piers Gill. 

WMRT requested assistance from Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) for helicopter support because of resources already committed and the potential for serious injury. 

The coastguard had to lend a helicopter for the rescue at Piers Gill (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue)

GNAAS accepted the request but the helicopter was unable to land due to the ground being too steep.

This meant that WMRT then had to call a coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon with winching capability. WMRT also received extra support from Duddon and Furness MRT. 

READ MORE: Wasdale and Duddon and Furness mountain rescue teams called to walker

A WRMT spokesman continued: "When team members arrived on scene, the walker was assessed, given pain relief and the injured leg splinted. On arrival, the Coastguard helicopter team was able to winch into the aircraft and transfer to hospital. The team then escorted the walker’s partner back to the valley floor." 

This call out not only involved the full Wasdale MRT team but three other agencies. It went on for five hours with the walker lifted away from the scene at 7.50pm.