Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team
Incident reports 2026
Number of incidents in 2026: 18
Cold and Lost on Ullswater Fells, 16 March 2026:
Whilst Patterdale Mountain Rescue were preparing to depart to a rescue on Birks fell a second call was received via Cumbria Police requesting assistance for a couple walking above Grisedale Tarn towards the summit at Dollywaggon Pike. The weather in the morning had been clear and dry however it was now freezing cold driven rain and the couple were becoming cold and disorientated in the cloud. After an initial conversation with the Duty Leader there location was established and it was agreed that they would follow the path to the Tarn which was now visible before heading down towards Grisedale. This allowed the casualties to keep warm whilst walking along a single path to ensure they didn’t get lost. Simultaneously two team members were deployed to walk up the valley to ensure they were safe and to assist them back to the Patterdale MR base. Once at the base they were given chance to thaw out before arranging a lift back to their car.
The incident took 2.5 hours for 4 team members.
Ankle Injury Birks Fell, 16 March 2026:
Whilst walking with her family along the fell tops a lady slipped on the wet ground causing her to suffer a suspected fracture to her ankle. Due to the pain and discomfort she was unable to continue and following an initial conversation by the Patterdale Duty Leader the team were called out to assist her off the fell. The weather was in the uncomfortable icy cold rain and wind zone but thankfully after an initial steep climb it wasn’t too long before the team arrived on scene. The ankle was assessed and stabilised before the lady was stretchered down the hill side, over a high wall, across a few streams, into a land rover and to the Patterdale MR base where she was reunited with her family.
The incident took 5 hours for 10 team members.
Drone Search – Assistance to Lochaber Mountain Rescue, 28 February 2026:
As part of ongoing searches being carried out by Lochaber Mountain Rescue a request was made for assistance from the Lake District Drone Team. The drone team is a collection of qualified pilots from individual teams within LDSAMRA who can search as a regional team. As such Patterdale was able to send a drone, pilot and vehicle to assist with the ongoing search. Despite it being winter there was a short weather window on the Saturday which would provide the visibility and low wind speeds to facilitate the flights to take place.
The trip involved 1 pilot for 24 hours.
Wild campers caught out by storm, 26 February 2026:
The weather proved to be a little too wild for two wild campers.
They had ascended the night before and due to the poor weather forecast they had wisley decided to camp slightly off the summit near to a known path giving them a safe option to descend. Despite having survived the wind and rain through the night they awoke to winds that they found too powerfull and they requested assistance from Patterdale Mountain Rescue to help get them off the fell. Thankfully after some advice and reassurance ffrom the Duty Leader they agreed to pack up their equipment and to start walking down. A few hundred meters later as they descended the path, the topography changed providing them with some protection from the gusts. This reduced wind speed and the fact they had warmed up with walking provided them with the confidence and energy to safely walk themselves off the fell.
Incident 4 hours, 1 team member.
Walkers stuck in snow- needed advice, 21 February 2026:
On Sunday evening at approximately 6:30 PM, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was contacted by Cumbria Police regarding two walkers in difficulty.
The pair had become stuck while descending from Helvellyn toward Grisedale Tarn. After encountering snow, the walkers lost confidence in the conditions and were unable to continue their descent.
The Team’s Duty Leader spoke with the walkers via telephone to provide technical advice and reassurance. Following this conversation, the pair felt confident enough to resume their journey. The Duty Leader continued to monitor their progress periodically by phone until they confirmed they had arrived safely back in Glenridding.
The incident was resolved remotely without the need for a full team deployment.
Knee Injury Gowbarrow Fell, 21 February 2026:
On Saturday, 21st February, the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was alerted by Cumbria Police to an incident on the Gowbarrow traverse involving a male walker who had sustained a debilitating knee injury.
The team was deployed immediately, with 12 volunteer members responding to the call. Upon reaching the scene, a Team Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT) conducted an assessment of the casualty. To stabilize the injury and manage the patient’s pain, medical relief was administered and the leg was professionally splinted on the hillside.
Due to the nature of the terrain and the injury, the casualty was placed into a mountain rescue stretcher. Team members then conducted a manual carry-down of the hillside, navigating the technical sections of the traverse to reach a waiting team 4×4 vehicle.
The casualty was transported by the team to the safety of the car park, where he was met by his partner. Following a further assessment, it was determined that the casualty would be transported to the hospital by his partner in their own vehicle for further treatment. The entire operation lasted approximately two and a half hours.
Patterdale MRT would like to extend a particular note of thanks to the fell runners who stopped their own exercise to stay with the casualty and his wife until the rescue team arrived. This act of kindness and support provided vital reassurance during the initial stages of the incident.
The Team wishes the casualty a swift and full recovery.
Déjà vu incident Glenridding Dodd, 17 February 2026:
On Tuesday 17/02/2026 at 15:15hrs the team were called out after report of a walker who had fallen and potentially broken their ankle. The call out felt like deja vu as the team had dealt with an almost identical incident in the same spot only 2 days previous. The location which is the descend on the north side of Glenridding Dodd is not a hot spot for call outs. The team responded quickly and due to the previous experience already had a plan ready for rescue and evacuation. The casualty was treated for her dislocated ankle and given pain relief. She was then taken on a stretcher down The Rake into Glenridding The casualty was then taken to hospital by her husband. The rescue lasted 3 hrs and involved 13 team members.
Broken ankle Glenridding Dodd, 15 February 2026:
On 15/02/2026 around 11:30 hrs, the team were called out regards a female walker who had gone over her ankle and was unable to continue her walk. The walker had been out with her family walking and when descending Glenridding Dodd had gone over on her ankle and was in severe pain. A couple of passersby had attempted to help her off the mountain but the pain was too severe to continue. The team located the casualty quickly on the north side of Glenridding Dodd and she was treated for the severe pain and her ankle was stabilised. The casualty was then evacuated on a stretcher via The Rake down into Glenridding. The casualty was then transferred to the base and handed over to a land ambulance for transport to Hospital. The rescue lasted 4 hrs and involved 16 team members.
Campers Grisedale Tarn, 15 February 2026:
Report of campers in collapsed tent in bad snowy weather wanting to get off the fell. Call came in via iPhone emergency call. Apple control centre contacted and established campers parked at Swirls carpark . LAMRT contacted and job transferred.
Female with knee injury, 7 February 2026:
On Saturday 7th February at 15:45hrs Cumbria Police contacted the Team to reports of a Female who had been walking and had sustained an injury to her knee and unable to carry on. The Duty Leader contacted the casualty and her companions and established they had taken the steamer to Howtown and were walking around the Lake back to Glenridding. The female was in pain and could only walk a few metres before being unable to weight bear on her leg. A full call out was initiated and team members travelled across the Lake on Patrick Pete their Rescue Rib to the casualty site, once on scene the casualty was treated by our Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT) her leg was splinted and pain relief given.
The casualty was placed onto the stretcher and carried down to the lake shore and loaded onto the Rib where she was conveyed to Glenridding pier and allowed to travel to Hospital for further treatment with her colleagues.
9 Team Members were involved in the rescue which lasted 3 hours in total.
Keswick assist Brown Cove Crags, 30 January 2026:
On Friday 30/01/25 at 1700hrs Patterdale MRT assisted Keswick MRT on an incident on the west side of Helvellyn. A walker had slipped and fallen in the snow a 100 meters down a gully on Brown Cove Crags. Five Patterdale Members had just returned to the base from a snowy walk on Helvellyn, when the call out came in. It was quickly established that the incident was in the Keswick area and the incident was transferred to their control. Due to KMRT initially being low on responding team members and seriousness of the incident, KMRT requested assistance. The 5 Patterdale members then travelled to the Thirlmere valley to assist. The rescue lasted 5 hrs.
Missing 13 year old, 28 January 2026:
At approximately 6:00am on 28 January, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was requested by Silver Command to assist in a search that had been ongoing since shortly after midnight in the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team area.
Patterdale MRT prepared two vehicles and five team members to join the search effort. As the team was travelling to base to begin deployment, news was received that the missing child had been found safe and well. The team was subsequently stood down.
This coordinated search involved 81 Mountain Rescue volunteers from eight teams across the county.
Patterdale MRT would like to thank all volunteers involved for their swift response in the early hours of the morning and are pleased with the positive outcome.
Camper stranded in storm, 11 January 2026:
On 11-11-2026 Cumbria Police contacted Patterdale Mountain Rescue requesting assistance for a camper that was stranded on Nethermost pike 890m above sea level in a winter storm. Unfortunatly the location had no phone signal causing a lack of communication and a difficulty pinpointing the casualties location. Once his location was established two team members were deployed to locate him in his collapsed tent to assist him off. Due to the extreme wind and snow conditions the progress was difficult. The casualty was accessed confirming that the casualty was dangerously cold and walking off was going to be a long process. Additional team members were called out from both Patterdale and Penrith MRT to assist what was looking like a long stretcher evacuation. The Coastguard helicopter was due to attend despite the high wind but thankfully as the casualty descended and fuelled he managed to make progress walking allowing the Coastguard to be stood down. Extreme winter conditions can change rapidly and this call out relied on a lot of volunteers to ensure both the casualty and the Mountain Rescue members could safely navigate on and off the fell. Incident lasted 10 hours with 28 team members – thank to all involved.
Car stuck in snow, 11 January 2026:
In the early hours of Sunday morning Patterdale MR were contacted requesting assistance with a vehicle that was stuck in snow on a steep section of Kirkstone pass. Following discussions with Cumbria Police it was agreed that the best action would be for the police to attend in a 4×4 with support from Mountain Rescue if required. Incident lasted 40 minutes for 1 team member.
Collapsed Male Climber near Swirral Edge, 10 January 2026:
On Saturday afternoon, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was tasked by Cumbria Police to attend an emergency incident on Helvellyn. Initial information indicated that the situation was within the Keswick operational area, and team members began making their way onto the fell.
As the response progressed, updated information clarified that the incident was located above Red Tarn, near Swirral Edge—within the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team’s area of responsibility. Patterdale MRT was immediately alerted, along with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 from Prestwick and Helimed 08 from Blackpool.
The incident involved the witnessed collapse of a climber. A member of the public and an off‑duty medical professional quickly initiated first aid and raised the alarm. A Patterdale MRT doctor, along with a retired team member who is also a retired doctor, were nearby and rapidly reached the scene to provide additional medical assistance. The crew from Helimed 08 also arrived to support the ongoing efforts.
Despite every possible intervention from members of the public, medical professionals, and rescue teams, the climber could not be revived. With great care and dignity, the Patterdale MRT team and Coastguard helicopter crew assisted in recovering the man’s body to Patterdale Base.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team extends sincere thanks to everyone on the fell who offered help, and to the crews of Helimed 08, Coastguard Rescue 199 for their support and Keswick mountain rescue team for their fast response to this incident.
Our deepest thoughts and condolences are with the man’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Howgill Search, 10 January 2026:
Patterdale drone deployed as part of a second day regional search. A person had been reported missing on 09/01/26 with evidence suggesting they were likley to be in the Howgill area. Patterdale provided drone support as part of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue – Drone group. Five drones were deployed to photograph and scan steep inhospitable terrain that are difficult to search on foot and by dogs. The search involved 2 team members for a duration of 12 hours.
Kirkstone Pass snow rescue, 6 January 2026:
On Tuesday 06/01/26 at 1400hrs whilst the team were dealing with an incident at Aira Force, they were notified by Police regards an RTC on Kirkstone Pass. A car had lost control and crashed in the snow as they descended down Kirkstone Pass towards Patterdale. A second vehicle behind then crashed into the first crashed vehicle. One of the occupants complained of chest pains, which triggered an immediate response by the team. Two landrovers responded and located the scene near the top of Kirkstone Pass. The fresh snow had caused very slippy conditions on the steep slope. The occupants of both vehicles were taken down the pass in the team Landrovers. In the meantime NWAS had dispatched a fast repose vehicle and a land ambulance. The casualty with chest pains was treated at the mountain rescue base by NWAS paramedics and then cleared to be dropped off at their hotel in Glenridding. The rescue involved 6 team members and lasted 2 hours.
Hip Injury Aira Force, 6 January 2026:
The team received their first call out for 2026 and were mobilised on Tuesday 06/01/2026 regards an incident at Aira Force. A female in her seventies had fallen on slippy ground and injured her hip and was unable to walk. The team located the casualty near the top of the falls. Due to recent rain which has fallen on frozen ground the path had got very slippy. The casualty was treated at scene and she was given pain relief and transferred to a vacuum mattress and stretcher. She was then evacuated to a team landrover and taken to the mountain rescue base. From there she was then taken to hospital via a land ambulance. The rescue involved 14 team members and lasted 3 hours.
Mountain Rescue Team in the heart of the Lake District National Park
2026 is our 62nd year
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Patterdale Mountain Rescue
Ogilvie House
Patterdale, Penrith
Cumbria CA11 0PJ
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Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association Limited is the administrative organisation and the charity behind the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team. It is a company limited by guarantee without share capital with registration number 3255894 with its registered address at Ogilvie House, Patterdale, Penrith, CA11 0PJ. It is a registered charity, number 1063329.