2007

Jan 1 Mon 05.13 Ireby, Lancashire - Mountain Rescue

Requested by Police to assist in search of surrounding fells for vulnerable female (36) missing from holiday cottage in Ireby village. Found by Police walking along A65 as CRO team arrived.

Jan 3 Wed 17.59 River Lune, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Kendal MRT requested CRO assistance with search of river banks downstream from Killington New Bridge, Sedbergh, for a canoeist (m, 49) reported missing following a capsize of his open canoe. Earlier searches by Cumbria Fire Brigade, and RAF and air ambulance helicopters, had been unsuccessful. Search called off for night at 2230hrs.

Jan 3 Wed 20.10 Ease Gill Caverns, Cumbria - Cave Rescue

Whilst dealing with incident no. 2 a second call was received. Two cavers (m; f) were reported overdue on trip from County Pot to Lancaster Hole. They turned up safe and well as first CRO personnel arrived at Bull Pot farm.

Jan 4 Thu 07.00 River Lune, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Continuation of search from previous day (Incident number 2). Body found mid morning by CRO team and recovered from river bank by stretcher.

Jan 7 Sun 16.15 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Walker (f, 35) slipped on descent from Ingleborough to Chapel-le-Dale and injured her ankle. She was evacuated a short distance by stretcher to CRO vehicle near Braithwaite Wife Hole and transported down to road ambulance waiting at the Hill Inn.

Jan 26 Fri 23.15 Ease Gill Caverns, Cumbria - Cave Rescue

A solo caver (m, 39) was reported to be nearly 4 hours overdue on a trip from Lancaster Hole to Wretched Rabbit. Investigation by CRO established that his car was still at Bull Pot Farm and that Lancaster Hole was still rigged. He turned up soon after the full team had been called out, having failed to find his way on from Stop Pot.

Feb 11 Sun 20.50 Big Meanie, Lancashire - Cave Rescue

Called to assist a caver (m, 18) who had been stuck on his SRT rope for an hour and a half trying to negotiate the constriction at the top of the 49m entrance pitch following an exchange trip from Death's Head Hole. He was transferred to a CRO rope and hauled to the surface, non the worse for his ordeal.

Feb 23 Fri 23.25 Grayrigg, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Kendal MRT requested our assistance following a train derailment on the main West Coast line near Grayrigg. CRO responded to the Kendal RV, joining a large number of other MRTs waiting to be deployed. The team was eventually stood down and returned to Clapham for 0150 hrs.

Mar 03 Sat 1730 High Pike, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Called by Police to attend a walker (f) with a leg injury. She was reported to be near High Pike, Deepdale, within CRO's operational area. The team responded but was stood down en-route when the Police determined it was actually the High Pike above Scandale, Ambleside. They passed the incident to the Langdale / Ambleside MRT (there is also a High Pike near Caldbeck and another near Tebay and.....). LAMRT eventually found her near Dove Crag.

Mar 17 Sat 16.34 Whernside, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Two 'Three Peaks' walkers (m, 23; f, 20) got into difficulties near the summit of Whernside when bad weather closed in. They eventually phoned 999 and asked the Police for help. Unfortunately we were unable to call them back for further information due to poor mobile reception. A search located them near the Blea Moor aqueduct making their way off the hill, very cold and wet. Transported down to Ribblehead by CRO vehicle and then to their car in Horton. Assisted by two SARDA dogs.

Apr 1 Sun 12.55 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 62) sustained a suspected fracture to her ankle whilst traversing Simon Fell on the path from Ingleborough summit to Park Fell. Other members of her party tried to carry her but were unable to get very far. Pain relief was administered and following a short stretcher carry the casualty was airlifted to hospital by RAF helicopter. The remaining members of the party were then escorted down to the road in Chapel le Dale.

Apr 1 Sun 22.15 Ease Gill Caverns, Cumbria - Cave Rescue

Two cavers were reported to be nearly four hours overdue on a trip from Top Sink to Lancaster Hole. They turned up safe and well at Bull Pot Farm prior to CRO arrival.

Apr 2 Mon 16.20 Waterfalls Walk, Ingleton, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 57) slipped near the top of Thornton Force and fractured her leg. Pain relief was administered and the leg splinted. Following a short uphill stretcher carry the casualty was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance. Her two companions (and their dogs) were then given a lift down to the car park in Ingleton.

Apr 4 Wed 15.50 White Scar Cave, North Yorkshire - Cave Rescue

A girl (13) from California was unable to continue on a guided tour of the show cave when a previous injury to her knee became aggravated and too painful to walk. CRO was called and she was stretchered to the surface.

Apr 7 Sat 15.35 Whernside, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Parapentist (m, 73) sustained suspected spinal injuries high on the western slopes of Whernside. He was evacuated by air ambulance as CRO assembled at the roadside above Kingsdale Head.

Apr 7 Sat 21.20 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Two 'Three Peaks' walkers (m, 31; f, 23) got into difficulties on the summit of Ingleborough when darkness fell, despite having map, compass and torches. They phoned 999 and asked the Police for help. Unfortunately we were unable to call them back for further information due to poor mobile reception. They were located on the summit and escorted off the hill to Chapel le Dale and then given a lift back to their campsite in Horton. Assisted by two SARDA dogs.

Apr 8 Sun 18.15 Gordale, North Yorkshire - Animal Rescue

A young lamb entered a small culvert running for some distance under the road opposite Gordale House and became trapped. CRO was called and a team member deployed into the culvert. The lamb was found about 20m in and successfully brought out to daylight looking a bit bedraggled.

Apr 9 Mon 15.12 Stainforth, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 57) slipped on the path below Cat Steps (Stainforth Scar) and sustained a suspected broken ankle. Following treatment the casualty was carried a short distance to a CRO vehicle for transport down to a road ambulance waiting in the village.

Apr 15 Sun 13.30 Gordale Scar, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (m, 20) slipped on rocks at the start of the gorge, sustaining a suspected broken ankle. He was evacuated by stretcher to a road ambulance waiting at the campsite.

May 8 Tue 20.38 Waterfalls Walk, Ingleton, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A woman (27) was watching her dog swim in the River Doe when it was swept over a cascade into the start of Baxenghyll Gorge. She jumped in and swam after it, just managing to grab the dog and clamber out onto a small ledge immediately upstream of the 3m and 5m waterfalls. Team members abseiled down to her and the dog which by then had sought refuge in the back of a cave beneath some overhanging rocks. Both were assisted up the steep side of the gorge and escorted to safety.

May 18 Fri 17.00 Mealbank Quarry, North Yorkshire - Animal Rescue

A lamb was successfully rescued from a small ledge near the top of Mealbank Quarry, Ingleton. It had been trapped for several days before being spotted by members of the public and reported to the farmer. Two team members abseiled down and the lamb hauled to safety in our custom made 'animal bag'.

May 20 Sun 22.15 Malham, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Police requested a search of the surrounding fells and crags after a depressed person (m, 44) went missing in the Malham area. He was found unhurt in the village by the Police soon after the initial search teams had been deployed. Assisted by two SARDA dogs.

Jun 01 Fri 20.08 Whernside, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

A 16 year old boy sustained an ankle injury whilst taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. He was stretchered down from Cable Rake Moss to the Kingsdale road and transferred to a waiting ambulance.

Jun 03 Sun 10.35 Whernside, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

Gamekeepers found a man (48) on the hillside near Hazel Bottom Gill, above Dent Head. He had apparently been there for several days and had attempted to harm himself. CRO assisted in the short carry to an air ambulance.

Jun 09 Sat 13.15 Nappa Cross, Malham, North Yorkshire - Animal Rescue

A group of cyclists reported a Highland cow trapped 3m down a 2m diameter partially filled mine shaft on the moors near to Nappa Cross. The heifer was eventually lifted out using wide strops and a farmer's tractor, non the worse for its ordeal.

Jun 09 Sat 14.25 Langcliffe, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Whilst dealing with incident no. 25 a second call was received. A walker (f, 51) from the USA had slipped on some stone steps on the footpath from Victoria Cave to Clay Pits Plantation above Langcliffe. She sustained a fracture dislocation of her ankle and was attended by a local doctor prior to CRO arrival. After treatment the casualty was assisted a short distance to a team vehicle for transport down to a waiting road ambulance.

Jun 20 Wed 16.05 Waterfalls Walk, Ingleton, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 60) slipped on the rocky footpath near Snow Falls and sustained a suspected broken ankle. With assistance from her husband she managed to hobble down to Storrs Common where they were met by CRO members and ambulance personnel responding to the call out. After examination the casualty was given a lift up to the road and a waiting ambulance.

Jun 29 Fri 15.20 Gordale Scar, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 44) slipped on rocks below the lower waterfall and sustained a suspected broken ankle and strained knee. Following treatment the casualty was stretchered to a road ambulance waiting at the campsite.

Jun 30 Sat 15.40 Thistle Cave, North Yorkshire - Cave Rescue

A novice caver (m, 31) was negotiating a crawl when his knee became jammed in a narrow fissure. Despite the efforts of other cavers he remained firmly stuck. CRO was called and team members were fortunately able to free him fairly quickly before escorting him to the surface.

Jul 10 Tue 08.17 Giggleswick, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Requested by Police to search surrounding fells, crags, and quarries for a woman, missing from home and believed to be at risk. She was found unhurt by Police prior to CRO arrival.

Aug 1 Wed 10.00 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 27) collapsed on Little Ingleborough and was unable to continue. The team stretchered her down to an air ambulance for a quick evacuation to the CRO base in Clapham and further treatment.

Aug 9 Thu 16.50 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

The team was called to assist a walker (f, 50) who had slipped on the path above Crina Bottom and sustained a suspected fractured leg. Following treatment the casualty was stretchered a short distance to an air ambulance for transport to hospital.

Aug 11 Sat 11.50 Whernside, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Some passing walkers phoned for assistance when a fell runner (f, ) stumbled and fell on the rocky path near the summit of Whernside, injuring her face. The team responded, assisted by members of RAF Leeming MRT, but were unable to locate the casualty despite an extensive search involving an air ambulance. Eventually a report was received that the injured runner had been seen getting into a car at Ribblehead, presumably having recovered sufficiently to make her own way off the hill.

Aug 18 Sat 22.55 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A group of four 'Three Peaks' walkers (m, 43, 26, 17, 16) were reported overdue to the Police and after initial enquiries a small search was carried out by the team. They were located in the early hours of Sunday morning on the summit plateau, having apparently relied on electronic mapping (PDA) which had failed in the wet weather. The four were escorted down to a CRO vehicle above the Hill Inn.

Aug 31 Fri 19.25 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 25) doing the 'Three Peaks' was reported to be needing rescue assistance having injured her knee. The casualty and two companions were waiting at the old shooting hut on The Allotment, having retraced their steps following a navigational error. She was walked and then ferried by quad bike to a CRO vehicle and an eventual lift down to Horton in Ribblesdale.

Sep 09 Sun 15.15 Kingsdale Master Cave, North Yorkshire - Cave Rescue

A caver (m, 23) was reported to be 1.5hrs overdue on a free dive into the Rowten Sumps from KMC. CRO investigation determined that he had in fact dived into the 30m first sump of the Mud River Series by mistake. Despite having no diving equipment, and being unable to turn round, he had managed to get through to the far side and await rescue. First CRO team negotiated the dry bypass (Linking Crawl) to sump 1 and brought him to safety before rescue divers arrived at the sump. Assisted by UWFRA and the CDG.

Sep 15 Sat 14.00 Kirkby Fell, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A competitor (m, 45) in a national orienteering event above Malham was reported to have broken his leg. Just as the team was about to commit to the fell word was received that he had been escorted down to the road, having 'only' sustained a deep laceration to his knee. CRO transported him back to his car so he could make his own way to hospital for treatment.

Sep 15 Sat 15.55 Long Churn Cave, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

Whilst refuelling the vehicles after incident no. 37 a second call was received from the police. A member of a group (m, 15) had stumbled and fallen 4m onto rocks whilst walking past the entrance to Long Churn Caves, having exited an adjacent cave after a trip underground. He had landed on his side and sustained injuries to his leg, arm and shoulder. After treatment CRO stretchered him down to a waiting road ambulance.

Sep 19 Wed 10.45 Dentdale, Cumbria - Mountain Rescue

A group of walkers came across a man lying on the bank of the swollen River Dee, below the old youth hostel. He was suffering from severe hypothermia after apparently spending the night out in heavy rain. The NW Ambulance Service requested MR assistance but on arrival CRO found that he had already been transported to the attending road ambulance by quad bike.

Sep 21 Fri 18.27 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A party of 'Three Peaks' walkers (m, 44, 32, 19) were unable to find their way off the summit plateau in low cloud and used a mobile phone to call for assistance. They didn't have a detailed map, compass or lights. Unfortunately phone communication with them was difficult due to poor reception at the summit shelter. A small team went up and escorted them down to CRO vehicles for transport off the hill.

Sep 28 Fri 14.45 Ingleborough, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (f, 56) injured her ankle just below Swine Tail on the Horton footpath. CRO responded and got as far as the Allotment when confirmation was received that the air ambulance was able to handle the incident without MRT assistance. The team turned back and returned to Clapham.

Sep 29 Sat 12.42 County Pot, Cumbria - Cave Rescue

Three cavers were descending County Pot when one (m, 31) lost control abseiling down the first pitch and fell about 4m. He sustained a broken leg and bruising to his back. After treatment by CRO he was brought to the surface and evacuated by air ambulance.

Nov 03 Sat 15.53 Diccan Pot, North Yorkshire - Cave Rescue

A misunderstanding led to a caver (f, 20) being reported as hung up in water on the first pitch; CRO responded and found that the situation had been resolved. However there was some confusion as to the wellbeing of the party who were still underground. CRO members descended both Diccan and Alum Pots and located the party near the bottom of Diccan Pot, all safe and well. Assisted out via their planned route of Alum Pot and the Dolly Tubs.

Nov 15 Thu 23.07 Notts 2, Lancashire - Cave Rescue

Two cavers were attempting Inlet 14, a previously unexplored low airspace constricted crawl in water and mud. One had turned back after 20m but the other (m, 27) had continued and was eventually reported overdue. The first CRO team found him approx. 30m in, making his way slowly out having become stuck in mud and unable to turn round or exit. He had then forced his way on to an aven at about 100m and waited before having a second go at getting out. Accompanied to the surface, cold but otherwise OK.

Nov 23 Fri 12.42 Waterfalls Walk, Ingleton, North Yorkshire - Mountain Rescue

A walker (m) near Snow Falls felt unwell and called for assistance but was able to walk out to Beezley Farm prior to CRO arrival.