Incident reports

Page 23 of 66 · newest first

January 2026

24 incidents

Crib Goch, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

fatal fall Snowdonia Serious incident

A 36-year-old runner fell to his death from Crib Goch ridge on Snowdon while attempting to reach his dog. He suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. An inquest recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Outcome: casualty died at scene

Exmouth

Bomb disposal/Evacuation support Dartmoor

The team supported a major multi-agency operation following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in Exmouth. Volunteers assisted with the evacuation of residents from properties within an expanding exclusion zone over two days.

Outcome: Incident managed by multiple agencies; no casualties reported.

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

injured walker Southern Uplands

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was called out on 13 January to assist a walker with a lower leg injury on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. The team worked with Scottish Ambulance Service to extract the casualty, with all personnel off the hill by 18:57.

Outcome: casualty extracted with assistance from Scottish Ambulance Service

Saddle Tor

Fall/Injury Dartmoor

A member of the public sustained a suspected lower leg fracture after slipping and falling on Saddle Tor. Multiple agencies provided care, including shelter, pain relief, and immobilization before the casualty was safely transported to a waiting ambulance.

Outcome: Transported from scene

panic attack and ill-equipped group on winter scramble Lake District

Two teenagers guided five people and a dog safely off Striding Edge after one member of the group suffered a panic attack during winter conditions. The group were inadequately equipped for the technical winter terrain, but were assisted by the experienced young climbers and two other bystanders. Patterdale Mountain Rescue subsequently praised the teenagers for their actions and invited them to their base.

Outcome: group guided safely off mountain by bystanders

Ben Lomond

injured walker Highlands

A hillwalker sustained a knee injury while descending Ben Lomond on 11 January 2026 in icy conditions. Lomond Mountain Rescue Team attended and evacuated the casualty by stretcher from the frozen slopes to the main car park. Pain relief was administered and the casualty was transferred safely despite difficult weather conditions.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher to main car park

medical emergency Lake District Serious incident

A man in his 70s suffered a medical episode and collapsed on Helvellyn above Red Tarn near Swirral Edge on Saturday afternoon. Despite immediate first aid from bystanders and medical professionals, along with assistance from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, Helimed 08, and the Coastguard helicopter, he was pronounced dead. His body was recovered by mountain rescue and helicopter crews.

Outcome: fatality

Nethermost Pike

stranded camper, winter conditions Lake District

A camper stranded on Nethermost Pike during a winter storm was rescued by Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team on 11 January 2026. The casualty was found in a collapsed tent suffering from hypothermia risk due to extreme wind and snow conditions. The 10-hour operation involved 28 team members from Patterdale and Penrith MRT, with Coastguard helicopter support standing down as the casualty was safely brought off the fell.

Outcome: casualty evacuated safely by foot with MRT assistance

Warton

Fall/Injury Pennines

The team attended an incident where a female was found on a muddy track after sustaining a fall and suspected leg injury. Following assessment at the scene, she was splinted for a deformed ankle and then safely stretchered to the road head for handover to paramedics.

Outcome: Transported to medical professionals

Ingleborough

Stretcher Carry/Hypothermia Yorkshire Dales

The team was called out to assist with a stretcher carry from the summit of Ingleborough down to Chapel le Dale due to two walkers experiencing difficulties in atrocious weather. Despite initial requests for air support being unsuccessful due to severe conditions, both casualties were safely evacuated by ground crew and handed over to the ambulance service.

Outcome: Both casualties safely evacuated

Spine Race (above Hawes)

Hypothermia/Rescue Yorkshire Dales

The rescue was requested for a runner who was found to be hypothermic while undertaking the Spine Race on the Spine Race route. Although the safety team managed to access the casualty with a vehicle, the mountain rescue team responded to support the effort near Hawes.

Outcome: Casualty safely managed by other services

Haytor Rocks

Injury/Fall Dartmoor

Mountain rescue teams responded to a callout on the upper slopes of Haytor Rocks after a female walker sustained a suspected lower leg fracture following a fall. Despite challenging conditions including darkness, gale-force winds, and heavy rain, the casualty was assessed, splinted, and safely transported back to the car park.

Outcome: Transported from scene

Striding Edge

stranded group in winter conditions Lake District Serious incident

Five people and a dog became stranded on Striding Edge in winter conditions on 10 January 2026. Two teenage boys, among four helpers who intervened before professional rescue teams arrived, were later commended by Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team for their impressive mountain skills and quick thinking during the rescue.

Outcome: five people and a dog rescued

Pen y Fan, Powys

two serious incidents (details not specified) Brecon Beacons Serious incident

Two serious incidents occurred on Pen y Fan in Powys on 10 January 2026 during wintry conditions, requiring response from emergency services and volunteer mountain rescue teams. While most members of the public showed patience and kindness, one individual was criticised for displaying abusive behaviour towards a mountain rescue volunteer who was working to keep emergency access routes clear.

Outcome: casualties treated; injuries sustained by at least two people

missing person, injured/unwell casualty Lake District

Penrith Mountain Rescue Team responded to two incidents in early January 2026. First, they assisted in a multi-agency search for a missing person in the Howgill Fells near Sedbergh on 9–10 January, involving 16 team members and a search dog overnight. Second, on 11 January they were called to assist with a casualty on Dollywagon Pike, but the casualty was able to walk off the fell unaided, avoiding a stretcher evacuation in adverse weather.

Outcome: missing person search stood down; casualty walked off fell unaided

Howgills

Missing Person Search Pennines

The team assisted the Lake District Search & Mountain Rescue Association with an ongoing search for a high-risk missing person over the 9th and 10th of January 2026. Although mountain rescuers and search dogs were provided by Bowland Pennine MRT, the individual remained outstanding after the nominated search area was completed.

Outcome: Unsuccessful (Person still missing)

Exeter

Missing Person Search Dartmoor

Search and rescue teams were deployed during Storm Gorretti to locate a high-risk missing person in Exeter. The operation was stood down once the individual was found outside of the designated search area.

Outcome: Person located

Llangynidr, Powys

Vehicle stranding/Evacuation Brecon Beacons

Mountain rescue teams responded to several vehicles stranded on a mountain road near Llangynidr due to severe winter conditions brought by Storm Goretti. The team established a rendezvous point and evacuated the occupants to a local village for warmth and recovery.

Outcome: Occupants safely evacuated to a local village.

An Teallach

Snow entrapment/Rescue Highlands

Two teenagers required a rescue after becoming trapped in waist-high snow conditions on An Teallach. The operation lasted nine hours and was successfully completed by the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team.

Outcome: Rescued safely

Whitaside

Vehicle recovery/assistance Yorkshire Dales

A rescue callout was made to a stranded vehicle in the Whitaside area on 7 January 2026. The team responding from a previous job were able to attend and safely escort the occupants of this second vehicle to a team transport vehicle heading to Reeth.

Outcome: All occupants safely transported