Cumbria’s mountain rescue teams have repeated their call for people to stay local while exercising after a volunteer was seriously hurt on a call out.
On Friday, Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, which represents the county’s 12 mountain rescue teams, issued a statement thanking people for staying off the fells.
A member of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team had to be airlifted to hospital by HM Coastguard in the early hours of yesterday.
The team was called out to help a person with chest pains, who was camping above Kirkstone Pass.
While the team was on its way to help the person, a team member fell around 150 metres down steep ground.
He remains in a serious condition.
Penrith and Langdale Ambleside teams were called in to support and the original patient was stretchered from the hill by the teams involved and taken to hospital.
A statement from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team and the association, said: “No one sets out on the fells with the intention of having an accident, and our thoughts are also with the original caller who became ill whilst camping on the fells.
“However, the simple truth is that the more people who are out walking in the Lakeland fells, the higher the chances that our mountain rescue teams will be called out.
“Rescues are much more challenging during the coronavirus pandemic; our team members need to operate in PPE, and many of our volunteers also have full time jobs as key workers in the NHS and other essential services.
“We are very grateful to the very many people who have chosen to stay local for exercise during this time, and would encourage everyone to follow the government guidance currently in place.”
Mike Blakey, operational lead for the 12 rescue teams of the Lake District and a Patterdale team member, said: “I cannot stress enough the message to stay at home during lockdown.
“This rescue, and the subsequent life changing injuries incurred by our team member, were avoidable.
“Rescue team members are volunteers who train extensively to rescue others in the most atrocious weathers and in inhospitable places.
“However, the risks are always there and the impact of an incident like this is far reaching across the rescue and emergency services family.
“On behalf of the casualty’s family I would like to formally thank everyone involved in the rescue of our team member, including the medics and helicopter crew, and the amazing support he has received so far since being admitted to hospital.
“Of course our priority is now to support him and his family.”
