At 1052 on Sunday 17/05/26, Cumbria Police requested assistance from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team with a search to locate a male at Aira Force, Ullswater, as they were concerned for his welfare. An initial search was carried out and was unsuccesfull despite the best efforts of Police, Drones, Police SAR, Coastguard helicopter, NCSAR, Search dogs and Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team members on land and the Team boat.

Due to the huge potential search area involved, other Mountain Rescue teams, drones and dogs from the the Lake District (LDSAMRA) region were requested to assist. The search area included large sections of the Ullswater way through Gowbarrow, Pooley Bridge and High Street. Approximatly 70 Mountain Rescue team members from Patterdale, Penrith, Kirby Stephen, Kendal, Wasdale, and Duddon searched the fells.

Thankfully due to the effort of all agencies involved the missing person was safely found just before night fall. Patterdale MRT would like to thank all those involved in allowing a succesfull outcome for the missing person and their family.

On Monday, 11th May, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team joined a large-scale, multi-agency search for a missing 21-year-old in the Nook area, south of Newcastleton. The operation involved a coordinated effort between Patterdale MRT, regional Lake District teams, Southern Scotland Mountain Rescue, and Police.

Sadly, a body was located by search teams the following day, Tuesday, 12th May.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

At 22.45 hrs on New Year’s Eve Cumbria Police contacted the Team to reports of an SOS signal  flashing above Ullswater on Place Fell. The Duty Leader contacted the informant and gathered details establishing that the lights had been seen for around 10 minutes  in total and then gone off and were described as flashing the SOS signal. The lights had not been seen since they had called the police and they were prepared to sit in the location in their vehicle for a short while to see if they appeared again.  On speaking to them around 30 minutes later no lights had been seen and it was decided it was possibly Wild Campers as that location had good phone coverage and if someone was in need of assistance they would be able to contact the relevant people.  The informant had acted on good intentions thinking someone was possibly in trouble.   One Team Member was involved in the incident lasting for just over 30 minutes.

Following a call to Cumbria Police, the team were asked to assist a man on High Street near Racecourse Hill. Unfortunately, despite having made good progress through the day, he found himself disorientated, cold and without any means of light other than his phone as darkness arrived. Thankfully, while the Duty Leader was remotely directing him, two mountain bikers kindly lent him torches. This allowed him to make progress towards Hayeswater, where team members met him and assisted him off the fell. Having been driven back down to Hartsop, another friendly local provided him with a lift over Kirkstone Pass.
The rescue involved four Team members and three helpful locals.

A member of the public reported that his friend, who had camped overnight at Grisedale Tarn, had lost his shoes and phone and could not get off the fell. Six Team members deployed with a warm drink, dry clothes and spare shoes. The camper was walked off the fell with the remains of his camping equipment and taken to the Team's rescue centre, where the pair were provided with warm food and drinks before leaving.

The Team were contacted by police after a lake user reported two canoes pulled up on a rocky section of the lakeshore with a tarpaulin over them. The caller could not get close enough to investigate and was concerned that people might be sheltering beneath it. Enquiries with local outdoor activity centres did not identify the owners, so two Team members deployed to reach the location. Nobody was found, and it was concluded that the boats had been intentionally hidden.