Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team has been assisting people in the western fells of the Lake District for over 50 years. We cover England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and respond to over one hundred calls for help each year. The team consists of approximately forty ‘professional volunteers’ who give their time to help those in need, whatever the weather, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information please read our about page. We rely on generous donations from the public to fund the team. Once a year, we recruit a new intake of probationary members.
Recent Rescues
Green Hole, Upper Eskdale – Sat 12th Sep 2020
The team were called by police about a group of 8 walkers who reported themselves lost. They had lost signal on their phones and were unable to navigate. They said they were experienced, uninjured, but were wet and cold and had insufficient food or water. What3Words put them in Green Hole, Upper Eskdale. They said they would attempt to get back to their vehicle in Langdale. Then the call to the police cut out and the team leader was unable to contact them, so no further information was available. Numerous “phonefinds” and texts did not reach them, so with such…
Lingmell Gill Path, Scafell Pike – Thu 10th Sep 2020
The team leader was contacted by the police about a male that had injured his ankle when descending the main tourist path off Scafell Pike. The location was confirmed using phone find and the casualty was re assured whilst the team was mobilized. Two team members were tasked to go direct to the casualty site to stabilise the man and deal with any medical requirements. It was established that the man could not walk on his ankle so a stretcher team was sent and the casualty was then carried down where he made his own way to hospital with his…
Broad Crag – Sat 5th Sep 2020
The team were alerted by the police to a party of 4 males aged between 27 and 29 who stated they had taken the “easy route” up Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, but, having failed to reach the top were now lost in poor visibility (less than 10m). They were cold and wet through despite their waterproof clothing. The initial 999 call to the police gave us a fairly accurate location, which was quickly confirmed by Phonefind as being on the path across Broad Crag. The team leader was able to contact the party by mobile phone and learned they…
Ill Crag – Mon 31st Aug 2020
The team were called about a male walker who was unwell on the summit ridge between Scafell Pike and Great End. A coastguard helicopter was en route but was stood down as North West Air Ambulance attended. Members of the public, a family member and the air crew did their utmost to help the gentleman but sadly to no avail and he passed away. The Air Ambulance was then called away to another incident. Wasdale and Duddon & Furness team members made their way up the fell to bring the gentleman back down to Wasdale. A second coastguard helicopter was…
Scafell Crag, Scafell – Sat 29th Aug 2020
We received a call from the police about various walkers hearing shouts for help and flashing a torch light from the Scafell Central buttress/ deep ghyll area. Based on the seriousness of the location, very cold weather and darkness the team leader immediately asked for coastguard helicopter assistance, Duddon MRT back up as well as mobilising our own team members. 10 Wasdale and Duddon team members were air lifted to Scafell summit plateau to quickly set up a rope system to gain access to the casualty location. All other team members made their way up the mountain as quickly as…
Black Sail Pass – Sat 29th Aug 2020
A family were walking down from Black Sail pass when one of the males tripped and twisted their ankle. As the team leader was gathering information from the police a message was received that the party had self rescued and made their own way back to the Wasdale Head Inn pub. The staff at the pub very kindly helped the injured person as well as keeping the team informed of what was happening, a big thank you to them. On this occasion we didn’t have to deploy.