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.

On Saturday 30/05/26 at around 11:00 am the Team were called out to a walker who had fallen over and hurt her wrist. The lone walker from the USA had tripped over a branch and awkwardly fallen hurting her wrist badly. A passerby had assisted the walker and phoned the emergency services.

The location was on a footpath at the rear of Gowbarrow Fell. A local Team member arrived at the scene fairly swiftly and examined the injury which had been stabilised in a makeshift sling. The casualty was able to walk off with assistance of Team members and she was transferred to the Patterdale Base. From there she made her way to hospital for further treatment.

On Thursday, 14th May, 14 volunteers from the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team responded to a call from Cumbria Police regarding a walker with a lower leg injury. The casualty was treated on-site by the team’s Remote Rescue Medical Technicians, who provided pain relief and splinted the limb.

The team then executed a stretcher carry to a rescue vehicle at the bottom of the Hause. The walker was transported via Land Rover to the Patterdale Base and handed over to a waiting ambulance for hospital treatment.

On Friday 17 April 2026 at 1518 Patterdale Mountain Rescue recieved a request to assist a gentlemen who had sustained a suspected broken ankle whilst walking the Coast to Coast path between Grisdale tarn and Patterdale. Grisedale is notorious black hole for all forms of modern communication.

Thankfully the gentleman’s friend managed to make their way down the valley to pass the request for help to a passing walker who in turn got a lift from a local farmer who assisted getting the message down to the valley bottom where the call to 999 could finally be raised. The Team deployed and drove as far as possible up the valley.

The gentleman was assessed and treated by the Team medics before being transported to the Team base to meet with the ambulance. for onward treatment. A great example that rescues are a team effort requiring friends, walkers, farmers, mountain rescue and the ambulance service. Thank you to all involved.

On Monday 6th April at 09:55hrs the Team were contacted by Cumbria Police to assist a female who had been walking with her brother and had aggravated an old injury and was unable to carry on with her walk. Contact was made with the casualty and established they were descending from Dollywaggon Pike towards Grisedale Tarn.

The team were called out by the Duty Leader and made their way to Patterdale Base. As it was Easter Monday and our annual fundraiser the Duck Race was taking place in the afternoon a request was made to Penrith MRT to assist with the rescue so that some of Patterdale’s members could stay behind to make sure the ducks were ready and on the start line for their big race.

Patterdale members ascended on foot from the Grisedale valley bottom up to Grisedale Tarn and then up the path towards Dollywaggon where they found the casualty had managed to shuffle down to meet them. She was treated at the scene for a knee injury and given suitable pain relief, her leg was splinted and then she was stretchered off the hill.

Penrith team members arrived at the Tarn and assisted with the evacuation down to the Land Rovers , from here they were driven down to their vehicle to enable them to attend hospital for further treatment. The rescue managed to conclude in time for the rest of the Team to attend the duck race and cheer on the winning ducks in the glorious sunshine amidst a large crowd of onlookers.

This is the second rescue of the weekend we have asked for Penrith MRT assistance for which we are very grateful to receive.