Incident reports

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September 2022

7 incidents

North Devon

Missing Person Search South West

Mountain rescue teams were tasked with assisting police in a multi-day search operation for a high-risk missing person in North Devon. The search concluded successfully on the second day when the individual was located within the search area and subsequently evacuated by medical services.

Outcome: Person found alive

Aira Force, Lake District

waterfall fall Lake District Serious incident

A man fell 66 feet at Aira Force waterfall near Ullswater on Saturday afternoon, sustaining injuries to his head, shoulder and back. He was rescued using ropes and evacuated to hospital by ambulance. The incident occurred while the mountain rescue team was already attending another casualty at Red Tarn.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by ambulance to hospital

Ben Vane

lost walkers Scotland Serious incident

Two young walkers became lost on Ben Vane and called for mountain rescue at 7:30pm with their phone battery nearly depleted. The rescue team used a PhoneFind text message to locate their grid reference and brought them safely back by 12:30am. The team has since issued guidance on phone battery management and navigation precautions for hill walkers.

Outcome: located and escorted safely back

Birchen Clough, Saddleworth

head injury from fall Peak District

A woman sustained a head injury after falling while descending Birchen Clough near Saddleworth. Seventeen members of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team carried out a complex rescue involving rope systems and stretcher extraction from a narrow path. The casualty was airlifted by North West Air Ambulance helicopter.

Outcome: evacuated by helicopter

Ben Cruachan, Argyll and Bute

injured hiker Highlands Serious incident

A hiker fell near the summit of Ben Cruachan in Argyll and Bute on the evening of 12 September, sustaining multiple fractures. Oban Mountain Rescue team located the casualty and prepared them for evacuation, and they were winched aboard a Coastguard helicopter as daylight faded.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by helicopter winch

Helvellyn, Grisedale

injured walker Lake District

A walker fell and sustained a head injury while descending Helvellyn via the Hole in the Wall path on Monday evening. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team attended and provided initial treatment; the casualty was carried to a stretcher and subsequently taken to hospital by his partner.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher and taken to hospital

August 2022

9 incidents
mountain biker crash Brecon Beacons Serious incident

A male mountain biker suffered suspected serious injuries in a crash at Bike Park Wales near Merthyr Tydfil. Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team attended and worked with park staff, team medics, and Welsh Ambulance Services to treat and evacuate the casualty by stretcher.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher to ambulance

Helvellyn

false alarm - conservation workers Lake District

Patterdale Mountain Rescue responded to a report of two people and a dog high on the Helvellyn headwall on 18 August. The concerned walker who alerted the team did not realise they were John Muir Trust conservation workers planting rare arctic-alpine plants in the area. The situation was resolved without incident once the team members' purpose was clarified.

Outcome: no action required, workers were engaged in authorised conservation work

Ben Nevis

Animal rescue/Exhaustion Highlands

A mountain rescue team was called to Ben Nevis after an exhausted dog refused to continue walking. The dogs were eventually secured to a stretcher and safely transported back down the mountain where it could rest.

Outcome: Safe return to lower ground

waterfall jump with suspected fractures and spinal injury Brecon Beacons Serious incident

A man suffered suspected broken legs and spinal injuries after jumping from Sgwd Gladys waterfall near Pontneddfechan in the Brecon Beacons on 13 August 2022. The incident required assistance from two mountain rescue teams and was attended by helicopter crews from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service. The casualty was immobilised in a vacuum mattress and winched to a rescue helicopter before being transported to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for treatment.

Outcome: casualty immobilised and winched to rescue helicopter, transported to University Hospital of Wales Cardiff

Ben Nevis

animal rescue Highlands

Lochaber Mountain Rescue was called to Ben Nevis to assist a Turkish Akbash dog with sore paws that had refused to continue descending. A stretcher party met the dog's owners halfway down the mountain and carried the animal to safety in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Outcome: dog safely brought down the mountain by stretcher

Sgwd Gwladus, Brecon Beacons

waterfall jump injury Brecon Beacons Serious incident

A male suffered suspected broken legs and a possible spinal injury after jumping from a waterfall at Sgwd Gwladus in the Brecon Beacons. He was airlifted to hospital by Coastguard rescue helicopter with assistance from Central and Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Teams.

Outcome: airlifted to hospital by Coastguard rescue helicopter

Rest Dodd

injured walker Lake District

A walker sustained an ankle injury while descending Rest Dodd between Ullswater and Haweswater. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team responded with ten rescuers, provided medical care including a splint, and evacuated the casualty by stretcher to their vehicle at Hayeswater outflow.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher

group stranded in poor visibility Highlands

A 10-year-old girl and her mother and aunt were descending Beinn Achaladair in August 2022 when thick mist suddenly descended with zero visibility. After waiting an hour for conditions to improve, the mother made the decision to call 999 for assistance. A coastguard helicopter successfully evacuated the three climbers after an initial attempt was aborted due to high winds.

Outcome: all three evacuated by rescue helicopter

July 2022

6 incidents

Striding Edge

fall with serious injury Lake District Serious incident

A walker fell approximately 10 metres down a rocky chute while negotiating the bad step on Striding Edge on Monday and sustained serious injuries. She was treated at the scene by air ambulance medics and airlifted by coastguard helicopter to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. The rescue involved 13 Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team members and took four hours.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to hospital by coastguard helicopter

Donard Wood, Mourne Mountains

injured mountain biker Northern Ireland Serious incident

A mountain biker sustained a serious leg injury in Donard Wood on 31 July 2022. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team and NI Air Ambulance attended, treated the casualty and transported him by stretcher to a team vehicle, then by helicopter to hospital.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by air ambulance to hospital

Ochil Hills, Stirlingshire

mountain biker fall Highlands Serious incident

A mountain biker fell over his handlebars whilst riding in the Ochil Hills in Stirlingshire and sustained multiple injuries including to his collar bones and ribs. He was airlifted by rescue helicopter to hospital. His companions provided a precise location and kept him warm until emergency services arrived.

Outcome: airlifted to hospital by rescue helicopter

dog with heat exhaustion Northern Ireland Serious incident

A golden retriever suffering from suspected heat exhaustion was rescued from the Glen River area of the Mourne Mountains after being walked on an exceptionally hot day. The dog was treated and evacuated by stretcher over three hours by a team of twelve Mourne Mountain Rescue volunteers, then transported to a local veterinary clinic.

Outcome: dog carried off mountain by stretcher and taken to vets

Ben Nevis

injured walker Highlands

A hillwalker was injured after a fall on Ben Nevis and received assistance from mountaineers at the scene who helped manage her pain until rescue arrived.

Outcome: casualty assisted by mountaineers and evacuated

June 2022

2 incidents

Innerleithen

Mountain biking accident Southern Uplands

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended to multiple incidents involving mountain bikers over three days in Innerleithen. The team provided initial first aid and assisted casualties to waiting ambulances following separate crashes.

Outcome: Casualties transported to hospital

Tollymore Forest Park

missing children Northern Ireland

Two children who became separated during an orienteering exercise at Tollymore Forest Park were reported missing on the evening of 14 June. They were located safe and well approximately two miles from their last known location just before midnight, with assistance from the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, search dogs, and police air support.

Outcome: both children located safe and well