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
Birker Fell – Thu 9th Jan 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police to assist with helping a stranded motorist off Birker Fell and back to safe ground after a road traffic accident. A limited callout was made to take a team 4×4 vehicle to the scene and assist, however a team member in the valley was able to get to the location quickly and provide assistance to walk off.
Scafell Pike – Mon 6th Jan 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police from a relative of a lone walker. He had not been in contact for over 24 hours, having known to have been on Scafell Pike on Sunday morning. He had subsequently sent a video from an unknown location at 2pm. Once the video was reviewed, it was possible that it was taken from the Rosset Gill area and as such our neighbours at Langdale Ambleside MRT were asked for their opinion. However, shortly afterwards there was another call from the informant saying that the walker was safe and well and on his way…
Upper Eskdale – Sun 5th Jan 2025
An alert was received this morning from Cumbria Police about a party of five walkers who were reporting themselves close to hypothermia. The information came via an iPhone emergency satellite message so further information was initially quite limited. Helpfully an exact location was obtained, although this was in a remote area in Upper Eskdale. Further information received via another message indicated that one person was also ill, and another had injured his ankle. They had misnavigated off Scafell Pike summit, attempting to return to Seathwaite. The Team Leader swiftly made a full callout and asked an advance party of two…
Whitehaven – Thu 2nd Jan 2025
A short ambulance assist was required for a man who had fallen and sustained a broken leg whilst visiting a cemetery in Whitehaven. The North West Ambulance Service team was on scene but needed some help for the transfer to the ambulance. A limited callout was made and some local team members attended direct with others ready at base if further team equipment or people were needed. However, the extra help at base was not needed and the transfer to the ambulance was completed quickly under the direction of NWAS. We wish the man a speedy recovery.
Wastwater Screes – Sat 28th Dec 2024
The 168th 999 alert for the year makes 2024 a new record for the team. Cumbria Police requested help from the team for a party of 7 walkers, one of whom had pulled a muscle whilst walking on the Screes near the lakeshore. A full callout was made, and both a boat team and a party on foot were directed to the scene. The foot party arrived first and assessed the injured walker, and another in the party who had also injured their leg. All in the walking party were cold and wet. Fortunately the injuries were not severe which…
Brown Tongue, Scafell Pike – Thu 26th Dec 2024
A call was received yesterday about a lone walker who was struggling to make progress with a painful knee injury. A passing walker had stopped to help and made the call. A few minutes later further information was reported with the walker feeling unwell. A team member was already on the fell and made his way quickly down to the walker. After an assessment, and with the walker feeling better at this point, he was able to descend slowly without additional support. Most of the team members remained at base until it was confirmed that the hill party had made…