- Incident
- 58 in 2009
- Type
- Callout — Overdue
- Location
- Burnmoor, Eskdale
- Other Agencies
- Cockermouth MRT, Duddon & Furness MRT, Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs, RAF Valley
- Tagged
- Benighted
Call came in from the police regarding a missing 80yr old lady walker along with her daughter in her late 50s and three dogs. They had set off from Hollins Campsite at 7:30 hrs that morning to climb Scafell or Scafell Pike and had not returned. 19 Wasdale team members along with 7 SARDA search dogs searched the fells all night . A helicopter from RAF Valley used infra red search techniques but the missing ladies could not be located. At 6.00 am further Wasdale members were brought in along with 11 Cockermouth MRT and similar numbers from Duddon and Furness MRT. 2 fresh SARDA search dogs were called in. At around 8:30 hrs a call came in from the police to advise that the ladies had returned to their tent at 6:00 hrs safe and well after spending the night in the what was believed to be the Whilans Beck area. They had ascended Scafell via Burnmoor and Hard Rigg and returned the same route but got benighted on their return. They had sufficient survival gear and slept on the the fell. The night was very still and warm with heavy thunderstorms in the early hours. The incident was stood down and the base closed at around 9:30 hrs
Incident started at 23:07 and ended at 09:30 making 10.4 hrs in total. There were 25 Wasdale team members involved and the incident occured at NY 18240 02167 (altitude 155 m). Total rescuer hours: 260
