Central Fells – Tue 4th Aug 2020

Incident

39 in 2020

Type

Full Callout — Overdue

Location

Central Fells

Weather

Storms

Other Agencies

Duddon & Furness MRT, Keswick MRT, Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs, Langdale Ambleside MRT

Tagged

Mountain Biker

Langdale & Ambleside MRT Team Leader informed Wasdale MRT Team Leader that a party of six mountain bikers had been reported overdue. The intended route was to travel from Windermere to Wasdale Head via road and Fell. The informant, a family member, had been waiting at the Wasdale Head Inn for their arrival and when it became dark; Cumbria Police were called, and an overdue report was made.

Supported by Langdale & Ambleside, Keswick and Duddon & Furness MRTs, investigations were made including analysis of mobile phone use, understanding what their intentions were and what type of decisions would most likely have been made based on how their day might have developed.
With very little information to confirm a route and a location to possibly search, and that the overdue party had not called 999 themselves, Team members were sent out in vehicles to search the roads and Pubs between Langdale and Wasdale.

Early this morning after a quick discussion on possible search routes, groups of Team members were put out to check these routes. However, after a very cold, uncomfortable and scary night, the missing bikers arrived at Wasdale Head safe and sound.

Thank you very much to all the Team members from the other MRTs who were involved, and another thank you to RAF Leeming who offered their services if required.

Before you decide to undertake any activity such as this, please take the opportunity to gain valuable information from the AdventureSmart website and make sure you have properly planned and make the right decisions in order to have a successful and safe day out.