Incident
11 in 2007
Type
Location
Scafell Pike

Cumbria Police paged the team regarding a mobile ‘999’ call from a group of 11 students who lost on Scafell Pike, believed to be in the Piers Gill area. Due their condition (cold and very wet) and the weather conditions forecasted that night (gales and heavy rain preceding the snow) the team were mobilised immediately. 22 team members attended the rescue. Whilst the two advance landrovers with 5 on board headed up the valley, the minibus was held back to muster more hands as this rescue had the makings of developing into something more demanding. The backup vehicle with 9 on board was tasked with bringing up two stretchers, team first aid kit, more warm clothing and casualty bags (similar to a sleeping bags but larger). When the lost walkers were located, high up on the northern descent path of Scafell Pike, approximately100 meters above Lingmel Col, it was established that the group of 11 were in fact two groups. A group of 7 male and female students in the 20’s from Sheffield University Walking Club plus a group of 4 from Baseldon, Essex. Both groups had become lost and decided to stick together and then call out mountain rescue. The 11 were found sheltering behind a large boulder. The Sheffield group were reasonably well equipped but overall there was insufficient survival gear for the full group a night on the Pike. Although very cold and wet, they were fit to walk down unaided so the stretcher parties were turned back. The groups were taken to the Wasdale Head Inn where they were warmed, sorted and collected by their support vehicle. The incident was closed at 9.30 p.m.

Incident started at 16:23 and ended at 21:30 making 5.1 hrs in total. There were 22 Wasdale team members involved. Total rescuer hours: 112

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