28 Feb 2013 - Watch Out - Thefts from Cars in the Ullswater Area
Police warning - there have been thefts from beauty spot car parks in the Ullswater area over the last couple of days. Please keep items out of sight in the boot. Please transfer items to the boot BEFORE you arrive at the car park or other location where you are parking. It would appear visitors using vehicles are being watched by thieves and their vehicles targeted once they have left the area. Please report any suspicious activity to Cumbria Police on ‘101’.
29 Nov 2012 - Earthquake Rocks Patterdale
An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.1 and a depth of 7 km hit Patterdale at 9:37pm on Wednesday, November 28th. For a full news report,
click here.
13 Nov 2012 - Debt Advice Helpline - 03003333445
Citizens Advice have established a Northern Debt Advice Line for people living in the North East and Cumbria. The advice line is staffed by specialist debt advisers who provide a full debt management and advice service, dealing with all kinds of debt problems . The advice is free, confidential and independent. The advice line is open 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday; calls from landlines or mobiles are charged at standard local call rates and will be included in any free calls/minutes bundle that you may have. A call-back facility is available. For more information,
click here.
10 Nov 2012 - Man Fallen from Swirral Edge
Patterdale Mountain Rescue team were called on Saturday 10th November, to reports of a walker who had slipped and fallen on Swirral Edge, Helvellyn. The casualty, a 60 year old man from Lincolnshire, was walking with his daughter when he fell approximately 100ft sustaining serious head and multiple other injuries.
The team were assisted by the air ambulance and a Seaking from RN Prestwick, but due to the location and low cloud it was not possible for either helicopter to directly evacuate the casualty. The team lowered the casualty down a loose scree slope for several hundred meters until they were below the cloud and the Seaking could fly in to winch the stretcher. Due to the serious nature of the injuries, the casualty and a team doctor were flown direct to RVI Newcastle.
The team were also assisted by two passing members of Penrith Mountain rescue team. Due to the steep and loose terrain this was a particularly difficult rescue made possible by the excellent cooperation between the Team, the Great North Air Ambulance and the Naval helicopter crew.
31 Oct 2012 - Police appeal to rural communities to report suspicious activity
Following several burglary’s in rural locations, police are advising rural communities to be security conscious and report suspicious activity.
The rural areas which have reported burglary’s include Temple Sowerby, Appleby, Pooley Bridge and Stainton. Doors or windows have been forced open with unknown tools to gain entry, during daylight hours when people are out. Small, easy removable items, such as jewellery, laptops and cameras have been targeted.
Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir said: “We are investigating all of these burglaries and our aim is to bring those responsible to justice. However, I want to appeal to members of the public, especially those in rural communities to report anything they see which is out of place or suspicious to the police.
“People who live in rural areas tend to know who is normally around, the cars or vans they drive and have a general knowledge of day to day business. These people are our eyes and ears; they will know when something is unusual, like a car in the area which they haven’t seen before, driving around taking an interest in the properties but never visiting anyone.
“Together we can help each other and prevent a neighbour or yourself from becoming a victim of crime.”
Anyone who has any information about these burglaries or if they see anything suspicious in the area, then they can ring Cumbria Police on 101. If you see a crime taking place, dial 999 immediately.
5 Oct 2012 - Fall Whilst Scambling
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called to assist a 30 year old man from Derby who had fallen approximately 10m while scrambling with his partner on slabs above Greenhow End in Deepdale. The gentleman had sustained a serious head injury and his partner had begun first aid. Due to the remote location and the nature of the gentleman's injuries both the Air Ambulance and an RAF Sea King helicopters were called and rescue team members deployed onto the fell. The casualty was treated at the scene by the Air Ambulance paramedics and team members before being winched by RAF helicopter and flown to the playing fields in Patterdale. Once there he received further treatment from a local BEEP doctor and an Air Ambulance doctor before being transferred to the Air Ambulance and transported to James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough.
5 Apr 2012 - "Inn On The Lake" Hotel Extension Approved
Report from the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald: "Work on creating a “destination hotel” of international renown in the village of Glenridding could begin towards the end of the year after approval was granted by the Lake District National Park Authority — by a single vote.
The scheme, put forward by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Graves for the Inn on the Lake, which nestles on the shores of Ullswater, will result in it almost doubling in size to provide across three storeys 32 additional bedrooms, a function suite and a pool, plus a single-storey orangery."
2 Apr 2012 - Man Falls from Swirral Edge
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called by the Police to assist 46 year old man who had fallen from Swirral Edge whilst descending from the summit of Helvellyn. He had sustained head and rib injuries. The Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance assisted in the rescue by ferrying equipment and personel to the summit of the mountain.
Due to the nature of the terrain and the reported injuries a Sea King from Prestwick attended and the casualty was winched from the scene and flown to Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle.
31 Mar 2012 - Striding Edge Fall
Patterdale Mountain rescue team were called to the assistance of a 44 year old male who had fallen approximately 50m from the summit of Striding Edge on Helvellyn. Although badly injured, the casualty had managed to arrest his fall on steep and broken ground. An RAF rescue helicopter training in the area was able to assist and flew directly to the site before returning to the valley bottom to ferry team members and kit onto the hill. Because of the nature of the ground the helicopter was unable to land and had to winch the team down to the site. Team members then assisted the RAF paramedic in treating the casualty at the scene and packaging him in a vacuum mattress before he was winched from the site. The casualty was then flown from the scene by RAF helicopter to Carlisle hospital while the team escorted members of the public, who had come to the gentleman's assistance, from the site.
6 Mar 2012 - Hillwalker rescued from Hartsop Dodd
Patterdale Mountain rescue team were called to the assistance of a 66 year old man who had injured his leg while walking on Hartsop Dodd. The man, an experienced walker from South Shields, had tripped and had sustained a suspected broken ankle. He was treated at the scene by team members together with a doctor and paramedic from the air ambulance which assisted in the rescue, though due to the high winds, evacuation by the helicopter was not possible.
The casualty was placed in a stretcher and lowered by rope down the side of the valley. Once in the valley bottom, he was transported by team ambulance to the rescue centre for onward ambulance transfer to Hospital in Carlisle.
5 Jan 2012 - First Incidents for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team in 2012
Broken Leg on Hallin Fell
On Weds 4th January at 12.20pm Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called by the Police to a 35yr old male descending Hallin Fell, Ullswater. The man who had slipped on the very wet and muddy grass had suffered a fractured leg. The man, from Shrewsbury, was also very cold and wet. The team attended the scene where an NWAS land ambulance and The Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance had also been dispatched. The man was lowered on a stretcher to the waiting air ambulance and flown to the Cumberland infirmary.
Search on Helvellyn range
At around 10pm the same day, a rescue team member who is also an hotelier in Patterdale, called to say that a guest who was intending to walk on the Dodds on the Helvellyn range had not returned to the Hotel. The man had promised to call the hotel when he was off the fell. No call was received and the man's mobile was unanswered The police were immediately informed and a search was subsequently planned. The weather on the Wednesday evening was extreme with very high winds and driving rain. The obvious routes and escape routes were searched but due to the ferocious weather, the search was limited and team members were kept off of the tops. The team along with 2 search dogs searched until 4 am.At first light teams from Penrith, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Keswick and seven SARDA dogs joined the search. A helicopter from RNAS Gannet also assisted Patterdale in the search.
8 Dec 2011 - New Patterdale Fire Station
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service are celebrating the opening of a brand new fire station in Patterdale with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:30pm on Thursday December 15. The ribbon will be cut by Cumbria County Council’s Chairman, John Woolley and county councillor Gary Strong, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Local Services.
Cumbrian firm Border Construction have been working in partnership with Mansell Construction for Balfour Beatty Fire & Rescue to build the new station which has been built on the site of the existing station. The station now has enhanced training facilities, accommodating the changing needs and modern practices of the service.
Cumbria County Councillor Gary Strong, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Local Services, said: “It is great to see the first of five new stations being completed. It will be fantastic for the fire & rescue service staff and most importantly the people of Patterdale.”
Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison said: “The great thing about this new station is that as well as being an improvement for our firefighters, in terms of welfare and training facilities, it remains located within the heart of the community we serve.”
16 Nov 2011 - New theory about Patterdale Blob
It is now thought that Patterdale blob could be the indigestible jelly of frog spawn regurgitated by predators that have consumed frogs. It is known that the spawn begins to form inside the frogs in autumn although the eggs themselves don’t develop until later in the winter. In the past, it seems that similar blobs have been seen later in the year with black egg dots.
11Nov 2011 - Ullswater Nursery is Outstanding
Ullswater Nursery was inspected recently by Ofsted and attained ‘OUTSTANDING’ in every single area of the inspection. Click here to read the full Ofsted report.
28 Oct 2011 - Patterdale Blob discovered on Fells
All this week the Eurozone was in crisis, but national newspapers, TV and radio rightly focussed on the discovery of Patterdale blob, otherwise known as alien goo. It was all started by Tom and Gillian at Patterdale Post Office, and the story took off when Rob, our local blogger, took up the story. To learn more about the mystery of the Patterdale blob, click here.
27 Oct 2011 - A busy afternoon for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team
Cycle crash on Kirkstone pass (Friday 21/10/2011 15:27)
A team member on his way home came across a cyclist who had crashed at speed on his decent from Kirkstone Pass. The team member requested support from other team members in the form of emergency equipment and oxygen as the casualty had a serious head injury. They stabilised the casualty and awaited the arrival of the land ambulance.
Rescue (Friday 21/10/2011 17:50 )
Cumbria Police requested Patterdale MRT to assist a woman experiencing a possible anaphylactic reaction. The woman from Oxfordshire was treated by team members and assisted from the fell to a land Ambulance for onward transfer to Hospital.
Road Traffic Collision (Friday 21/10/2011 18:04)
Whilst the previous incident was running members were prevented from getting to the rescue centre by a road traffic accident, at Falling rocks Glenridding. The road was totally blocked and First Aid was administered to a woman from Manchester until the land ambulance arrived to transfer her to Hospital.
3 Oct 2011 - Glenridding/Patterdale Public Toilets Reprieved
Eden District Council confirmed at its meeting on September 29th that the public toilets in Glenridding and Patterdale will remain open. Closure had been threatened earlier this year, but the toilets have been reprieved following a vigorous campaign by local residents, businesses and our parish and district councillors.
12 Aug 2011 - Rescue Team use Blackberry to Locate Missing Woman
At approximately 1545 on Friday 12th August, Patterdale MRT were called by Cumbria Police to search for a woman who had become lost in the mist between Howtown and Patterdale. She was located by team members, safe and well, at the head of Boredale. She was escorted off the fell and back to the rescue team centre. The rescue team asked the missing person to send a photograph of where she was via email from her Blackberry. This helped to identify the area where the woman was and narrow the area in which the team needed to search.
19 Jul 2011 - New Sewer Plans Unveiled for Glenridding
The £940,000 project to connect up to 35 homes to the mains sewer system is expected to start this autumn and be completed in Spring 2012, ahead of the tourist season.
"We want to build a new public sewer to give homes and businesses who currently deal with their own waste the option of letting us take it away and do it for them," explained project co-ordinator Mark Clinton. "Our new pipe will connect houses in Greenside Road to the sewer system in central Glenridding so that their waste is taken for full treatment before it is returned clean to the local watercourse. It will be great news for the environment and hopefully ease the strain on householders as well."
Engineers hope to build most of the 700mm pipe in fields, but there may be some disruption in Browfield Close and Greenside Road where it crosses the roadway.
30 Jun 2011 - Glenridding and Patterdale Public Toilets
Eden District Councillor Sydney Simpson told the Patterdale Parish Council meeting on June 30th that the threat to close the Public Toilets was receding.This has now been confirmed by reassurance from Gordon Nicholson, the Eden District Council Leader, who says " We understand how much our communities value the provision of public toilets in rural areas and how important they are for the local tourism driven economy... at the 29 September Council meeting, I am very hopeful that we will be able to formally announce the retention of the toilets in rural areas".
18 Jun 2011 - New Patterdale Triathlon Club Launched
The Patterdale Triathlon Club is a new local group open to all. All keen cyclists, runners and swimmers in and around Patterdale, Cumbria. The club is for fun, training and competing at an amateur level. Click here to go to the club's website.
14 Apr 2011 - Patterdale Parish Council Election Result
Seven candidates stood for the seven seats on the Patterdale Parish Council , and the seven have now been declared elected unopposed. Our "magnificent seven" are Eddie Allen, Gillian Beggs, Martin Butcher, Judith Cooke, Michelle Edgar, Karla Holleis and Steve Sykes. For full details of Uncontested Election Results for Parish Elections in the Eden District,
click here.
12 Mar 2011 - Glenridding Sailing Centre New Cabin Grand Opening
Supporters and friends of the Glenridding Sailing Centre gathered on Saturday, March 12th for the grand opening of the new cabin on the Spit.
30 Dec 2010 - Man falls from Swirral Edge
At 1400 on Thursday 30th December Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called to rescue a man who had fallen approximately 150 metres from Swirral Edge, Helvellyn.
His companions descended and performed basic life support at the scene until assistance arrived. The man, aged 43, from St Helens was then airlifted by a Seaking helicopter from RAF Boulmer and transferred to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, where he sadly died. The Air Ambulance attempted to get to the site of the accident but was forced to turn around due to poor weather conditions.
Fourteen PMRT members and two members of Penrith Mountain Rescue Team were involved in the evacuation of the man's family and friends back to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team Base.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team has attended 82 rescues in 2010, making this the busiest year in the Team's history. Sadly, this is the second fatality that the team has attended on Helvellyn this week.
As a general reminder to all who venture onto the fells in Winter, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team would like to remind everyone that that they should be well equipped, with ice axe, crampons, map, compass and torch and have the skill level and navigational experience for their intended route.
27 Dec 2010 - Walker falls from Helvellyn
At 15:30 on Monday 27th December Patterdale Mountain Rescue team were called by Cumbria Police to rescue a walker who had fallen from the summit plateau of Helvellyn. The 39 year old man from Preston had been walking with friends when he fell through a cornice in very poor visibility, near to the summit of the mountain.
The Team searched for the missing person in the dark and called the support of Search & Rescue Dogs to assist with the search. The Team located a large avalanche on the side of Swirral Edge and ascended to the area where the avalanche appeared to have started. Not far from this point the missing person was located with serious head injuries and hypothermia.
The Team treated the man at the scene before he was evacuated by RAF Seaking helicopter. The Team's doctor traveled in the helicopter to assist with the emergency care throughout the journey to Newcastle Hospital where the man received specialist trauma treatment but, sadly, the man died overnight of his injuries.
Twenty members of Patterdale MRT and two Search and Rescue Dog Handlers were involved in this rescue.
16 Oct 2010 - Pooley Bridge Pier Reopens
The rebuilt Pooley Bridge Pier reopened on Saturday, 16th October following a 6 week closure for reconstruction. The pier needed repair following flood damage last November and the decision was taken to replace the damaged structure with a new pier. During the closure Ullswater Steamers have been calling at Glenridding and Howtown only. A full service for this time of year between Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge is now back in operation.
11Oct 2010 - Glenridding and Patterdale Public Toilets under Threat
Eden District Council is proposing to stop funding the Council-run public toilets in Glenridding and Patterdale as part of a package of proposed reductions in services to help meet an overall £1.1M savings target. The public toilets under threat are those on the road to the Steamer Pier in Glenridding, and those behind the White Lion car park in Patterdale. These proposals will be considered by the Council at it's meeting on November 25th, and a final decision is due to be taken at the Council meeting on February 10th. The Council say that "Affected groups and organisations have been contacted individually to inform them of the proposals."
13 Sep 2010 - Search for Missing Walker near Hart Crag
At midnight on Sunday the 12th September, Patterdale MRT were called by Langdale MRT and Cumbria Police to assist with a search for a 36 year old man who had become lost whilst attempting to return to his car at Kirkstone Pass. He had left home in Whitehaven at 0730 and had been out walking all day.
Surprisingly, the missing person had spoken to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team whilst they were dealing with a rescue earlier in the evening. He had asked the Team what time it would go dark and if he was heading in the right direction. He was advised to descend to the valley but chose to carry on his route to Hart Crag, later becoming disorientated in the dark and mist. The man did not have a torch and, when darkness fell, he was unable to continue. The weather deteriorated throughout the evening with heavy rain, and poor visibility. He was located by a search dog at 0315 and escorted off the mountain safely.
Eleven members of Patterdale MRT, four search dogs, Langdale MRT and Penrith MRT were involved in this search throughout the night.
31 Aug 2010 - Ullswater Steamers temporary timetable till mid October 2010
Ullswater Steamers are running a temporary timetable from 31st August until mid October while essential repair work is carried out on the Pooley Bridge Pier. During this period boats will operate between Glenridding and Howtown only.
22 Mar 2010 - Search for Coast to Coast walker
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out by the Police at 22.33 to search for a missing person who was walking the Coast to Coast route from Patterdale to Shap. The man from Belfast was walking with his sister, but they had split up earlier in the morning and the woman had returned to Patterdale. The woman became concerned later that evening as the man had not turned up at their booked accommodation in Shap. Following the Police call, the Team search managers met and formed a search strategy. However as the team was beginning to assemble, information was received from the Police that the man had eventually turned up, safe and well, at a different accommodation venue.
18 Mar 2010 - Three persons crag fast on Pinnacle Ridge
At 19.20hrs. the Police tasked Patterdale MRT to assist three persons from Hampshire and Surrey who had become crag fast on St Sunday crag, Patterdale. 18 members of the Team searched for the missing people who were finally located on steep ground close to their intended route of Pinnacle Ridge. The party had been climbing and, high on the crag, had got off route and found themselves on difficult snow covered ground. They decided to abseil off but got into further difficulties and became cragfast. The Team climbed into their location. Because of the steep terrain they were roped down to safer ground and although tired, cold and wet were able to walk down with assistance to the waiting Landrover Ambulances. The team stood down after a 5hrs operation
16 Mar 2010 - 73 year old man lost on High Street
At approximately 8pm on 16th March, a 73 year old man from the Liverpool area rang the Police and reported himself lost in the vicinity of High Street. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, assisted by the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Lakes), instigated a search and located him at approximately 11:45pm near Rest Dodd. The man was cold but unhurt and escorted off the mountain by team members. Fifteen team members and two search dogs were involved.
13 Mar 2010 - 200 meter fall into Brown Cove, Helvellyn
On Saturday 13th March 2010 at 12.20 Patterdale Mountain rescue Team were alerted to assist a female climber from Hayfield, Derbyshire who had slipped and fallen 200 meters while climbing in Brown Cove, Helvellyn. The faller had been seen by a search Dog handler who along with a number of SARDA Lakes colleagues were on a training weekend in the area. As a result of the information received by the dog handler, who was quickly on scene, and the length of the fall, a Sea King Helicopter was requested. Rescue Team members were quickly on scene and also a team doctor. The casualty was quickly stabilized and she was eventually winched into the Helicopter and taken to Carlisle Infirmary for further examination and treatment. 14 Team members from Patterdale MRT and 10 dog handlers from the Lake District were involved in this incident.
27 Feb 2010 - Five lost walkers on summit of Helvellyn
On Saturday 27th February at 18.00 Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were asked by Cumbria Police to go to the assistance of 5 persons who were cold and lost and were unable to descend from the summit of Helvellyn in the dark. The party had walked along Striding Edge and reached the summit plateau from where they called 999 and asked to be rescued. Ten members of the team responded and were deployed onto the fell. A Sea King Helicopter from RAF Valley that had just completed an earlier rescue in the Western Fells, also attended, but due to the low cloud was unable after repeated attempts to reach the scene. This Helicopter then flew to Walney Island and shut down to await a clearing in the weather. The team ascended to the summit of Helvellyn and found the 5 persons. After ascertaining that they were not suffering any medical problems they walked them down to the Thirlmere from where they were transported along with all the team members to the Rescue base in Patterdale. The helicopter returned to RAF Valley. The team was finally stood down after a long, cold and very windy night in deep snow at 24.00.
12 Jan 2010 - Skiing on the Fells
We have had heavy snow fall on the fells around the Dale in the last 3 weeks - good weather for skiers - click here to see some dramatic pictures.
10 Jan 2010 - Snow in the Dale
Heavy snow has fallen in the Dale over the last 3 weeks, with a long spell of below freezing temperatures - good weather for photographers -
click here to see the pictures.
19 Nov 2009 - Record Floods in the Dale
There was record flooding in the Dale on November 19th and 20th -
click here to see pictures
16 Sep 2009 - New Plastic Recycling Unit in Glenridding
Please spread the word that a Plastic Recycling Unit is now based at Glenridding on the usual recycling site and recycles plastic bags and bottles etc.,
but not cartons! For further information about recycling click here
24 Jul 2009 - Prince William visits Patterdale
Prince William visited the Ullswater area to meet up with three charities supported by The Princes' Charities Forum. After arriving by helicopter, he climbed Hellvellyn with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, guided by members of the local Mountain Rescue Teams. Later he took a trip in the PMRT rescue boat from which he boarded the steamer to meet with families who are looked after by WellChild, the national charity for children with serious illnesses. Click on the arrow to watch a 4min video of the day.
Prince William visits the dale
5 Jul 2009 - Patterdale Parish Council
A warm welcome is extended to Steve Sykes who was recently co-opted onto the Parish Council. This means that the Council now has the full complement of 7 Parish Councillors. For further information about the Patterdale Parish Council,
click here.
14 Apr 2009 - Ankle injury on Striding Edge
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called by Cumbria Police at 17:30 on 14th April to assist a 53 year old lady from Suffolk who had slipped approximately 6 metres on Swirral Edge, Helvellyn. She had sustained an injury to her ankle and was unable to make her own way of the fell. The lady was treated at the scene and given pain relief before sixteen members of the Team assisted in her evacuation to Red Tarn and on to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Base where the casualty was transferred to a NW Ambulance.
26 Mar 2009 - Two students crag-fast on Helvellyn Headwall
On 26th March police requested the team to locate two inexperienced walkers who had phoned to say that they were on the west side of Helvellyn and were unable to move. They had lost the path in snow, traversed and were now stuck on steep snowy ground. After speaking with them the team deployed members to the base of Helvellyn Headwall and to Swirral Edge in an attempt to locate their position. Team members could hear them shouting however they couldn’t be seen. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the serious craggy location and fading light the decision was made to request a RAF Sea King Helicopter from Anglesey to help locate the two casualties. After a brief search the students were found and winched onto the summit of Helvellyn to awaiting Team members. They were assessed and found to be suffering from mild hypothermia. The whole party was then airlifted to Patterdale and taken to the Rescue Centre for re-warming before being allowed to return to their accommodation. The students, aged twenty and twenty-one and from Oxford were lightly equipped. Walkers are reminded that a map compass, spare food and waterproofs and boots are essential at this time of the year.
8 Mar 2009 - Walkers guided to safety by mobile phone
On Sunday 8th March at 13.06 Patterdale Mountain rescue Team were called by Cumbria Police to the assistance of two walkers from Ormskirk who had become stuck on the snowfield on the final ascent from Striding Edge to the summit of Helvellyn. One of the two had made his way to safer ground leaving his colleague nervous and frightened on a 45 degree snow slope. Two fell walkers who were fully equipped for the snow and ice conditions were passing, they spoke to the rescue team by mobile phone and guided both the stuck walkers onto the summit of Helvellyn and showed them the safe way off. Mobile phone contact was maintained by the rescue team with the rescued persons as they made there way off to Glenridding.
17 Feb 2009 - Solihull man falls 400ft from Helvellyn
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called by the police at 15.45 to assist a man who had fallen 400ft while descending from Helvellyn, one of the Lake District’s highest fells. The 52 year old man from Solihull and his partner were descending from the summit down Swirral Edge when he slipped from the steep snow covered upper section. Ten members of the rescue team were airlifted to Red Tarn by the Air Ambulance in failing light and low cloud. Accompanied by a Doctor from the air ambulance, the team ascended a steep snow covered gully to reach the casualty who was treated for head, chest, spine and pelvic injuries before being secured into a stretcher ready for evacuation. He was lowered down the snow slopes above Red Tarn to the valley bottom where he was winched into a Sea King helicopter for transfer to Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle. Team members then walked off the hill to the rescue centre in Patterdale. A total of fifteen team members were involved in the rescue.
8 Feb 2009 - A busy weekend for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team
The first call on Saturday was to a climber who had fallen while on his way up to the summit of Helvellyn. The 28 year old man from Lancashire was walking with his partner and two dogs when he fell from Swirral Edge into Brown Cove, resulting in a serious fracture dislocation to his right ankle. Eleven members of the team were airlifted to a site below the casualty by the Pride of Cumbria air ambulance that happened to be in the area. On reaching the scene, the casualty was given pain relief, had the ankle dislocation reduced and splinted. He was then placed in a stretcher and lowered down the side of Brown Cove to the valley bottom. With the assistance of three Penrith MRT members who had joined the rescue, he was then stretchered down the valley to the team ambulance and transported by County Ambulance to the Cumberland Infirmary.
While the team were assembling for this first incident they were called by the Police to a report that a climber had fallen in Deepdale. Four members of the rescue team were diverted from the first incident to attend this second one and were again flown close to the incident by the air ambulance. On reaching the scene it was discovered that a 47 year old man from Redcar had fallen 400ft down a gulley near Scrubby Crag. The man had sustained injuries to his right arm, shoulder and hip. He was treated by air ambulance and rescue team personnel, placed in a stretcher and transported to the landed air ambulance. He was then flown for further treatment at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
On Sunday, the team were called to assist a climber who had fallen 400ft near Helvellyn. The 55 year old climber had just finished climbing a gully in Nethermost Cove when he slipped and fell. Following the fall, the climber was able to ascend to a safe position near the top of the gulley but was unable to continue due to his injuries. The injured climber was airlifted by an RAF helicopter from Boulmer and taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.
31 Jan 2009 - Dog found after 12 days on the fells
On the 19th January, John Gay was running on the fells with his two dogs Dot and Dash. There was a lot of snow about and cornices had formed on the ridges. Unfortunately, the dogs fell through a cornice above Brown Cove. Dot somehow was able to get back but there was no sign of Dash. Eventually, John had no choice but to return home. After a sleepless night, John returned the next morning, and on subsequent days with more help, to search for Dash but with no success. Twelve days later, when John and Jean were just beginning to come to terms with the loss of Dash, they got a phone call from Ambleside Police asking them to come and collect their dog! It seems that a walker on Helvellyn had come across the dog and realised that there was something wrong. He took the dog down the mountain and into Ambleside.
John and Jean send thanks for all those helpful calls and searches to find Dash. He was very skinny when found but otherwise in good health.
31 Jan 2009 - Young man airlifted from Gowbarrow Fell
On Saturday 31st of January at 16.49 Patterdale Mountain rescue Team were called to a 18 year old male from North Lincolnshire who had been taken ill with severe abdominal pains on Gowbarrow Fell, Ullswater. The casualty was in a group of 11 at a planned overnight camp. Due to the difficult evacuation route and on medical advice a helicopter was called to evacuate the casualty. An RAF Sea King based at Leconfield that had just dealt with another incident in the Helvellyn area and was refuelling in Blackpool was tasked. Nine members of the rescue team were quickly on scene and prepared the casualty for evacuation. The helicopter attended and airlifted the casualty to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle Infirmary for examination and treatment.
25 Jan 2009 - Man fell from Striding Edge, Helvellyn
Patterdale mountain rescue team were on a winter training exercise, when they were called by police to assist a man that had fallen 50m from Striding Edge, Helvellyn. The man from Birkenhead was walking with a friend when he slipped and fell in the icy conditions down towards Red Tarn. Following the fall, the casualty and his companion were assisted by a passing walker who lowered them down to safer ground. On reaching the site, the casualty was treated for a dislocated shoulder. He was airlifted from the fell by a Sea-King Helicopter from RAF Leconfield that was on a routine training flight. The casualty was then flown to Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle for further treatment. Patterdale team were assisted by four members of Buxton mountain rescue team who were also training in the area.
20 Jan 2009 - Six lost in snowy and icy conditions after navigation error
On Tuesday 20th January the police called Patterdale Mountain Rescue to search for a group six of ambulance personnel who were attempting to walk the Kentmere Horseshoe. The group reported to their Yorkshire Ambulance Control that that they had become severely disorientated in worsening conditions and believed they were on the High Street ridge. Thinking they were above Kentmere and seeking shelter, they descended from the ridge. As they were unable to get a mobile phone signal from any of their 6 mobiles, they continued to the valley bottom before discovering they had wrongly descended into Patterdale. From information that they had gone to ground somewhere on the plateau, members of Patterdale Penrith, Kendal and Langdale Ambleside teams began searching the area. Search dogs from the Scottish Borders and a helicopter from RAF Valley were also on route when the group were located safe and well. As the team were returning to base they were asked to join a major rescue operation on Skiddaw with the Keswick and Cockermouth Teams.
8 Jan 2009 - Slip on icy path
On Thursday 8th January Patterdale Mountain Rescue were called by the police to assist a fell walker from Bolton . The man was with his family in Glaramara Park above Patterdale when he slipped on a frozen path. On reaching the casualty site, the team assessed the man’s injuries as a fractured lower leg. The leg was splinted and the man was placed in a stretcher. He was then stretchered from the fell down to the road and transported by the team Landrover Ambulance to the Rescue Centre at Patterdale, from where he taken by ambulance to Carlisle Infirmary.
5 Jan 2009 - Injured woman rescued by boat
On Monday 5th January 2009 Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called by the police to assist a woman from Rutland who had fallen and injured her ankle. The woman was walking with her family and friends on the lake shore path between Howtown and Glenridding. The woman had reached a section near Scalehow Wood when she slipped on ice and sustained a suspected fracture to her ankle. The team reached the casualty site via the lake using the team’s rescue boat. On reaching the casualty, the team splinted the woman’s ankle and transferred her by stretcher down to the lakeshore and the boat. The woman and her family were then taken by boat to Glenridding and then on to the rescue base in Patterdale to meet an Ambulance.
