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
Great Gable – Sat 8th Aug 2026
Cumbria Police received a call regarding a female who had fallen and injured her ankle, leaving her unable to continue. The group she was with numbered 15 people, but they were unable to assist her down due to the nature of the injury and terrain. The MRT Team Leader investigated and confirmed the location. With low team numbers and the incident site on Great Gable, Wasdale MRT, Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency Rescue 897 (Carlisle) were requested. R897 were first on scene, assessed the casualty, and managed the situation. She was loaded onto the…
Scafell Pike Summit, Scafell Pike – Thu 6th Aug 2026
Cumbria Police received a call from two members of the public who had come across a cold male and his friends near the summit of Scafell Pike. The MRT Team Leader made contact with the group, who had already begun warming him up, providing food and water, and encouraging him to start descending. A small MRT team was deployed to assist. MRT met the group on the upper Tourist Path and continued to walk the casualty off the hill, monitoring his condition and ensuring he remained warm and stable throughout the descent.
Little Narrowcove, Scafell Pike – Thu 6th Aug 2026
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust received a call regarding five 17‑year‑olds, one of whom was reported to have a leg injury, and who had been out all night in the Upper Esk. The call was initially routed to Keswick Mountain Rescue Team they quickly passed it to Wasdale. An iPhone Emergency SOS activation was also received. The MRT Team Leader contacted the SOS centre to establish the group’s location. Given the report of a leg injury, their age, and the fact they were wet, cold, and overdue, a full team callout was initiated. Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team…
Scafell Pike Summit, Scafell Pike – Sat 1st Aug 2026
Cumbria Police received a call regarding a male with a knee injury on the summit of Scafell Pike, who was unable to walk. The MRT Team Leader spoke directly with the casualty and confirmed he could not weight‑bear or descend safely. Due to the location and severity of the injury, Coastguard Rescue 336 (Caernarfon) was requested. R336 attempted to reach the summit but were unable to get on scene, instead uplifting MRT members closer to the summit to speed access. Initial MRT members reached the casualty, assessed and packaged him, and began a stretcher evacuation down the mountain. Once the…
Corridor Route, Scafell Pike – Wed 29th Jul 2026
Cumbria Police received a call via the Emergency SOS service, reporting three people who were wet, cold, and requiring assistance on the Corridor Route near the Bad Step. The MRT Team Leader communicated with the caller through the SOS relay system to gather details and establish their condition. A small MRT team was deployed, due to a long period of no contact the small team had to split up to cover all routes that they could have taken, during this time, the group managed to retrace their steps back to Lingmell Col and began descending the Tourist Path. MRT located…
Middleboot Knotts, Scafell Pike – Tue 28th Jul 2026
As Incident 101 was concluding, Cumbria Police received a call from a couple reporting themselves lost. Their initial 999 location placed them on the path split above Middleboot Knotts. The MRT Assistant Team Leader managed to make contact and, as they were already on the main path, encouraged them to continue. A second call then placed them past the Bad Step, but they reported being unable to continue. A small team was deployed to go and locate them. As MRT approached Gavel Neese, confirmation was received that the couple had managed to continue towards Seathwaite without assistance. With no further…