A runner who was saved by Keswick Mountain Rescue after being found ‘lifeless’ on a fellside has raised nearly £10,000 for the team.
Tommy Price, 27, was found showing no signs of life by the team last year on Hall’s Fell, Blencathra and was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle.
It was touch and go for Tommy, who suffered a cardiac arrest. On arrival at the hospital, his core body temperature was 18.8 degrees Celcius – one of the lowest temperatures ever recorded.
Two weeks in intensive care later, the runner made a full recovery and started making plans to run the London Marathon in October 2022 with a goal of raising £10,000 for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team after he praised them for saving his life.
Tommy said: “It was one of the best marathons I’ve run, it was great coming around the corner near Buckingham Palace to that finish line. I’ve managed to raise £8,300 so far for doing the marathon, and the fundraiser ends officially in April, so I’m really hoping we can raise the last remaining funds to get to £10,000.”
Despite his experience, Tommy still runs on the fells to this day and has twice since completed the same run where he fell seriously ill in the past year.
He said: “I just live everyday as it comes because you could die at any point and I don’t feel scared of death anymore. But if it wasn’t for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, I would be dead right now.”
Tommy still has nerve damage which causes a tingling sensation in his hands and feet, but he added he now has full functionality back in his hands and is much better than he was a year ago.
He added: “I can’t thank the Keswick Mountain Rescue team enough but if they don’t get donations they won’t be able to keep doing what they do, even if you roll an ankle out on the fells they come out and help you, so a massive thank you to everyone who’s donated so far.”
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team have since warned runners that although it is normal for fell runners to travel light, it is hoped Tommy’s story will remind people that spare clothing and a survival bag do not weigh much – but could mean the difference between life and death.
You can donate to Tommy’s fundraiser here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tommy-price
