North West Ambulance Service contacted Patterdale Mountain Rescue requesting assistance with a report of a walker who had fallen and broken their ankle. The walker was on the undulating fell paths around the Aira Force waterfalls making it impossible for the ambulance service to access them.

Luckily, the Team were already at base and were immediately diverted to assist. The casualty was located after an initial search through the numerous paths. The Team medics assessed the casualty and provided treatment before packaging them in a stretcher. Once in the stretcher it was a short uphill path to the nearby land rover allowing onward transportation.

The rescue lasted 2.5 hours and involved 11 Mountain Rescue volunteers.

At just before 18:00 hrs on Monday, 6th July, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (PMRT) was alerted by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to an incident near Norman Crag, north of Aira Force. The casualty had sustained injuries after a fall and reported that they could not move.

The PMRT Duty Leader was able to speak directly with the casualty to assess the situation. Because of the injuries described on the call, a helicopter transport was promptly requested to ensure the individual could be moved as comfortably and quickly as possible. Thirteen highly trained volunteer team members deployed to the scene.

Upon locating the casualty, two team Remote Rescue Medical Technicians (RRMTs) and a team doctor provided immediate assessment and care. After being given pain relief, the casualty was safely packaged into a protective vacuum mattress and stretcher. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter from Caernarfon arrived to assist with the evacuation.

Team members carried the stretcher to a suitable landing site, and the casualty was flown to Preston Hospital for further assessment and treatment. The operation lasted 3 hours. We are grateful to the Coastguard team from Caernarfon – Rescue 336 for the assistance and hope the casualty makes a speedy recovery.

On Saturday 4th July at 14:50hrs the Team received another request for assistance from Cumbria Police just as they were setting off to deal with job 51. The Duty Leader established what the incident was and as Patterdale were already committed a request to Penrith Mountain Rescue was placed for them to deal with the rescue.

Penrith Team responded and treated the male for an Ankle injury , stretchered him off the hill which again was on Gowbarrow and he was transferred to hospital for further treatment. Our Thanks to Penrith MRT for their assistance and dealing with the rescue

On Saturday 4th July the Team received their second rescue of the day when a male had been walking on Gowbarrow near Hind Crag when he slipped and was unable to carry on. A full call out was initiated and the Team made their way to Aira Force to ascend to the casualty site.

The male was treated at scene by Team RRMT’s, packaged in a stretcher and carried off the hill with a leg injury. Once back at the car park he was handed over to North West Ambulance for onward journey to hospital for further treatment.

On 21/06/2026 at 14:00hrs, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by Cumbria Police with a report of a male having fallen 6ft in the beck at Aira Force. The male was able to get himself out of the water but due to a back injury still needed the Team’s assistance.

10 Team members were deployed to the fell, a Team doctor and Remote Rescue Medical Technicians were quickly on the scene, they assessed and began to treat the casualty. The casualty was stretchered from scene by the Team and then transferred into the Ambulance for onward travel to hospital. The incident involved 10 Team members and lasted 1.5 hours.

PMRT would like to thank NWAS and the National Trust for their assistance, and would like to wish the casualty a speedy recovery.

On 19/06/2026 at 13:00hrs, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by North West Ambulance Service with a report of a male having fallen 12m at the summit of Gowbarrow Fell. 9 Team members were deployed to the fell. Due to the initial reports of the injuries, the Great North Air Ambulance and a Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter were both requested.

The Team doctor reached the casualty first and with assistance from Team Remote Rescue Medical Technicians, assessed and began to treat the casualty. The casualty was winched from scene by Coastguard and then transferred into the Air Ambulance for onward travel to a major trauma unit. The incident involved 10 Team members and lasted 5 hours.

PMRT would like to thank GNAAS and Coastguard for their greatly appreciated assistance, and would like to extend their best wishes to the casualty and his family.

On Wednesday 17th June at 14:30 hrs the Team were tasked by Cumbria Police to a male who had been walking and had received injuries and needed assistance. The Duty Leader made contact with the informant and established that the male had fallen around 10-20m onto rocks sustaining a large laceration to his head and face with possible injuries to his ribs and elbow.

The Team were called out and due to the nature of the incident and injuries a request for assistance from a Coastguard Helicopter was made. Team members made their way on foot up Boredale Hause to the scene arriving alongside Rescue 897 who had flown from their base at Carlisle Airport. The male was examined and slowly walked to the aircraft with some help where he was then flown to Carlisle for further treatment at Hospital.