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
Wast Water – Tue 26th Aug 2025
A call was received from NWAS requesting assistance for a car stuck off the roadside near Wast Water. As further investigation, the team was not deployed as this is not within the scope of the team. A local recovery company ultimately attended and assisted the family.
Wast Water – Mon 25th Aug 2025
Last Bank Holiday Monday, we received a call from Cumbria Police about people potentially lost in the water at Wast Water requiring assistance. They had received multiple calls reporting similar things about paddle boarders in distress. Further information suggested that one person was unaccounted for. Multiple emergency services were activated immediately, including ourselves. WMRT team members close by responded and were on scene shortly after a police officer arrived. Initially it appeared that all people were accounted for, but two had not returned to their family and information was anecdotal, so their safety was not assumed. As more team members…
Green Hole, Upper Eskdale – Sun 24th Aug 2025
The team was called by Cumbria Police about a walker with a broken toe, struggling to walk out from Green Hole. She was accompanied by another person and they were advised by the iPhone SOS service to stay in their location. The Team Leader deployed members with warm clothing, shelter and stretcher equipment to account for the worst case scenario. The walkers were located, assessed and treated, and then able to walk slowly out through Moasdale to the road. Our kind neighbours at Langdale Ambleside MRT then transported them back to Langdale where they were based.
Hollowstones, Scafell Pike – Sat 23rd Aug 2025
Cumbria Police contacted the team regarding a walker struggling with his descent on Scafell Pike. However, others in his group were able to provide food, water, and encouragement and it was declared that support from the team was no longer required.
Eskdale – Thu 21st Aug 2025
With incident No.109 in progress, a further call was received, this time from North West Ambulance Service via the iPhone satellite emergency centre. Two walkers were lost in Upper Eskdale. The Team Leader investigated and traced their last known location. The initial search yielded no result, but they were found safe and well at a nearby hostelry having managed to descend safely on their own. With a good outcome confirmed the team stood down and returned to base.
Corridor Route, Scafell Pike – Thu 21st Aug 2025
Cumbria Police contacted the team regarding a lone walker who was lost and concerned for her safety on steep ground close to the Corridor Route. The team was deployed to locate and assist. The walker was found in the location expected, checked over and then safely escorted down to Wasdale Head.