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
Scafell Pike – Sat 21st Jun 2025
A call was taken from Cumbria Police yesterday evening when a camper at the Brackenclose campsite was concerned when she noticed flashing lights on Scafell Pike. The Team Leader made some enquiries, but shortly afterwards the informant confirmed that the lights now seemed to be descending. With the additional knowledge that Scafell Pike would have a lot of 3 peakers on the fell with good mobile reception in this location, it was very unlikely that another call would not be placed if anyone was in need of help. The log was closed, a false alarm with good intent.
Esk Hause – Sat 21st Jun 2025
A call was taken yesterday evening from Cumbria Police. A passing walker had encountered a group of 8 walkers who were lost after summiting Scafell Pike. One had a leg injury and was walking slowly. The passing walker was heading for Seathwaite but the large group was trying to get back to Hardknott Pass, where their cars were parked. With mobile communications poor, and the weather deteriorating, the plan was for the whole party to continue to Seathwaite, without any MR team intervention. As such, after a period of monitoring via Phone Finds, the call-out was transferred after a handover…
Scafell Pike – Sat 21st Jun 2025
A very early start for the team when Cumbria Police alerted the Team Leader about a walker who was reported to have collapsed, breathing, but unconscious. PhoneFind confirmed the location as very high up on Scafell Pike, close to the summit plateau. Due to the location and urgent nature of the alert, helicopter assistance was requested via a Coastguard helicopter in addition to a full team callout. Rescue 936 from Caernarfon duly responded. The Coastguard paramedic was first on scene and provided the medical assessment and treatment. However, assistance from the team was still required to stretcher the walker from…
Hollowstones, Scafell Pike – Wed 18th Jun 2025
The team was called on Wednesday afternoon by Cumbria Police. A walker had fallen and painfully injured his knee, making it impossible to continue further. He has also lost consciousness briefly but had since recovered. A full callout was made and the team made their way to the location. Helimed 58 also responded but was unable to land close enough so was forced to abort. A medical assessment was made, before transferring the walker carefully into the team stretcher. The long but routine carry was then completed without incident down to Brackenclose, where the walker was transferred into their own…
Mickledore, Scafell Pike – Sun 15th Jun 2025
The team was called by Cumbria Police on Sunday about a party of four walkers who were lost in mist, having summited Scafell Pike about 20 minutes earlier. With difficult mobile phone communications, attempts to make a ‘talk off’ were unsuccessful. Another police call shortly afterwards stated that one of the walkers was very cold and could not move and was sheltering in the MRT stretcher box. With the worst-case scenario being a long and difficult stretcher carry, extra help was requested from Duddon and Furness MRT as the team was slightly low on numbers. Once on scene, it was…
Brown Tongue, Scafell Pike – Sat 14th Jun 2025
The Team Leader was called by North West Ambulance Service about a walker who had fallen and suffered a painful injury to their ankle, rendering him unable to bear any weight. The team was called out and made their way to the location, just above the stream crossing on Brown Tongue. After a medical assessment and some pain relief, the ankle was splinted, and the walker was transferred to the team stretcher. After a routine descent, the walker was handed over to a waiting ambulance at Brackenclose for further assessment and treatment at the hospital. We wish the casualty a…