Annual Report 2016
62nd Annual Report Founded in 1953 A registered charity No. 506956 The Team responsible for rescuing people and animals from the Lorton, Loweswater, Buttermere and Ennerdale areas Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team PO Box 73 Cockermouth Cumbria CA13 3AE Secretary: Gwyn Lewis 01900 827771 gwyn@cockermouth mrt.org.uk
TeamOfficials
TeamMembers
President: Maureen Richardson Vice-Presidents: Dr. Edward Holloway Mike Thompson Chairman: Steve Brailey Team Leader: Mike Park MBE Secretary: Gwyn Lewis Assistant Secretary: Simon Woodbury Treasurer: Jeff Haslam Medical Officers: Dr Tom Gallagher Dr Jo Grove Dr Mark Steel Dr Peter Winterbottom Assistant Team Leaders: Chris Cookson Andrew McNeil Martin Pickavance Radio Officer: Richard Greenwood Collecting Box Co-ordinator: Derek Tunstall MBE Auditor: Gibbons & Co. Honorary Members: Maurice Anderson Chris Abbot Rod Moore MBE Gwyn Lewis Paul Twyford Derek Tunstall MBE George Williams
Scott Ashworth (Teacher) Dave Blanden (Building Surveyor) Steve Brailey (Local Government Officer) John Brooks (Outdoor Instructor) John Bulman (Health & Safety Advisor) Russell Butler (Teacher) Laura Connolly (Physiotherapist) Neale Connolly (Outdoor Instructor) Chris Cookson (IT Developer) Ian Cousins (Software Developer) Jim Coyle BEM (Estate Manager, retired) Pete Dawson (Head Teacher, retired) John Dempster MBE (Head Teacher, retired) Tom Gallagher (General Practitioner) Phil Gerrard (Project Team Manager) Simon Goodman (Teacher) Andrew Graham (Chartered Surveyor) Richard Greenwood (Chartered Engineer) Jo Grove (General Practitioner) Mike Hadwin (Manager, retired) Jeff Haslam (ICT Advisor) Simon Hunter (Env. Technical Manager) Steve Jones (Dental Surgeon) Hugh Jordan (Travel Agent) Richard King (Assistant Head Teacher) Bob Liddell (Head Teacher, retired) Nick Lumb (Outdoor Instructor) Andrew McNeil (Building Surveyor) Carolyn Otley (Community Development Worker) Mike Park MBE (Land Surveyor) Martin Pickavance (Teacher) Mark Steel (General Practitioner) Chris Steele (Head Teacher) Ed Strong (Teacher) Tom Strong (Heating Engineer) Steve Whitehurst (Orthodontist) Peter Winterbottom (General Practitioner) Simon Woodbury (Technical Manager)
www.cockermouthmrt.org.uk Printed by: H&H Reeds, Penrith Design and production donated by Denise Bell and Andy Smith www.smithplusbell.com info@smithplusbell.com Photography © CMRT unless otherwise stated 2l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Chairman’s Report: Steve Brailey
They said it was a one in a 100 year event; some said it wouldn’t ever happen again; but it did. In December 2015 the floods returned to Cockermouth and this time to many more areas of Cumbria, and the north of England. Cockermouth Team with its 20-plus members fully trained in swift water rescue were some of the first to respond, firstly in Keswick, then Cockermouth, both north and south of the river; then, as flooding was developing in other areas, Team members travelled to Carlisle, Lancashire and York. There were many differences to the floods in 2009, but for us the main one was the level of equipment that we had. So instead of sharing a handful of dry suits, everyone was fully and properly equipped. All this equipment was purchased from generous donations, with many local and other supporters holding fund-raising events, and these efforts continue. In 2015 the local Mayor, Andy Graham, nominated us as his charity for the year, raising over £1,200. Our most distant donation came from San Jose, USA, from two walkers that the Team had rescued after becoming lost on the Coast to Coast walk. Thanks to this continuing
support in 2015 we were also able to replace one of our Land Rovers and purchase a new ‘Sprinter’ vehicle, and then renew all our waterproofs. Thank you to everyone who made this possible. There are literally hundreds of supporters I would love to mention individually. In June we held an Open Evening at our HQ, not to fundraise, but to thank local employers for their contribution to the successful operation of the Team, by releasing employees from work when the emergency call comes. We have 40 fullyequipped and trained Team members, but all this would be for nothing if no-one was available to attend working day rescues. One of the most interesting and surprising visits we had in 2015 was from Sam Rayner, the High Sheriff of Cumbria, who came to a mountain biking training event at Whinlatter to gain an appreciation of how the Team operated. The event turned out to be surprising on two counts, firstly the >>>
The new red and white S92 Sikorsky helicopter.
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>>> practice was interrupted by a real rescue involving an injured mountain biker and secondly for the surprise of Team members as the High Sheriff changed into his official regalia on return to our base in Cockermouth! Thanks to Sam (pictured above with the Team) for explaining his role as High Sheriff and unusual uniform to the Team, and for his genuine interest and support for voluntary organisations in Cumbria. In 2015 a number of Team members either retired from the Team or became nonoperational Honorary Members. Rod Moore, with 30 years’ service; Alan Irving, with 26 years; Gwyn Lewis, with 21 years; Paul Twyford, with 22 years; and Chris Abbot, with 20 years. On behalf of the hundreds of casualties that have directly benefitted from their service I say a massive thank you to them all. Losing a total of 119 years of operational mountain rescue experience from the Team is challenging, but, thanks to a successful Facebook-based recruitment campaign, we were able to welcome six new fully-operational Team members after a year of training. Some other Team members also achieved remarkable levels of service. In November, John Bulman, with 50 years, and this February, Steve Jones, with 40 years of continuous service to Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. An incredible achievement, and one we look forward to celebrating sometime in 2016. It’s the consistency and stability from this level of service over many years, and the input from new and 4l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
younger Team members that keeps Cockermouth Team such a vibrant and interesting organisation to be involved in. For many of us in mountain rescue teams, and those who have been rescued, the sight of a yellow or grey Sea King helicopter, pictured below, became a familiar and reassuring sight over many years. 2015 saw their last flights in the Lakes, and for Cockermouth this was to rescue an elderly woman in December in the midst of highspeed flood waters in the north of the town. I thank the members of Royal Navy Prestwick (SW Scotland), RAF Leconfield (Yorkshire), RAF Boulmer (Northumberland) and RAF Valley (Anglesey) for their contribution to sea and land rescue since the 1960s. The new red and white S92 Sikorsky helicopters are now becoming a more familiar sight and we look forward to working with them further and using the new technologies available. I also want to highlight the support of other organisations in 2015, so, on behalf of the Team, I thank the Cumbria Police, the Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Maryport Inshore lifeboat, and the other Lake District mountain rescue teams. This will be the last report I write for the Team as Chairman. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard, be they Team members or supporters, to make this Team what it is, and to make me so very, very proud to be a member. Thank you!
Team Leader’s Report: Mike Park
by ANDREW McNEIL, for Mike 2015 was the second busiest on record, with 76 call-outs, exactly the same as last year and, as always, they have varied enormously. Call-out 38 in July, initially reported a mother and daughter cragfast somewhere near Green Crag in Buttermere. A subsequent report stated that someone had fallen. Tragically the 24-year-old daughter died from her injuries. Our thoughts remain with Victoria’s family and friends who have kept in close contact with the Team, and have raised money through various sponsored events, including an expedition to Everest Base Camp. Call-outs like this stay with us throughout our time in the Team and beyond. Call-out 53 also had a sad outcome. A paraglider was reported missing on a flight from Burnbank Fell at Lamplugh. He was wearing a tracker device which helped enormously in locating his position. A night search of the steep east side of Fleetwith Pike, amongst the crags and with the help of the new Sikorsky S92 rescue helicopter, eventually resulted in his body being found and airlifted from the scene. This was the first call-out that the S92 attended with the Team. It certainly looks a most capable aircraft and it is technologically light-years ahead of its predecessor. Of course we will all miss the RAF and the venerable fleet of Sea Kings. They have been there for us and our casualties on so many occasions. We wish the crews and all those associated with keeping these aircraft in the air for so long, all the very best for the future. The feeling of relief on hearing the unmistakable noise of an approaching Sea >>> King will never be forgotten. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 5
>>> It is always rewarding when we can assist our own community and we often take sheep off crags for local farmers after they have ventured just a bit too far in search of that elusive greener grass. However on Callout 8 it was a case of combining sheep rescue with swiftwater rescue. Six ewes had somehow ended up stuck in a beck in a steep sided ravine near Croasdale, on a horrendous stormy night. After a look at the task with the farmer, we decided they’d make it through until morning, when we went back and winched them to safety, one by one – but not before the last one took Ian for an underwater swimming lesson. Behind the scenes this year, the vehicle Quartermasters have been busy. The old Mobile 3 has been replaced with another shiny new Land Rover Defender, (the last one we will have the chance to buy as they are not being made any more), and we have acquired a fourth vehicle, a four-wheel drive Mercedes Sprinter. This will give us additional capability to the Land Rovers. It has been fitted out flexibly to allow us to use it as a nine-seat troop carrier, a forward command vehicle and a stretcher-carrying ambulance. Our existing two Land Rovers have had safety upgrades with the fitting of roll cages and rear-facing driving cameras. Our Facebook campaign to attract younger members has paid off and this year we welcome six new members who have successfully completed their probationary year. Hugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub have, at worst, successfully lowered the Team’s age profile and are actually proving quite useful as well. It is sad to lose members but, this year Rod Moore and Alan Irving, with 56 years of service between them, have stood down. Rod could out-climb all of us in his big boots and quite often I thought Alan was the only one on the fell who knew exactly where we were. Paul Twyford, Gwyn Lewis and Chris Abbot have all stepped down from active service, and have become honorary members. Chris has been the mainstay of the Team’s fundraising and PR efforts for many years and his tireless commitment would be a challenge to replace. Gwyn has been a 6l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
‘Thanks, as always, go to families and friends of all the Team members, who endure the same disruption as we do during call-outs, but perhaps not receiving the same rewards. Their continued support and tolerance is very much appreciated.’ longstanding Team Secretary and currently continues in this role while Paul, for 22 years, has just been Paul. The Team again was involved in the rescue effort during this year’s flooding, not just in Cockermouth, but in Keswick, Carlisle, Lancashire and York. The Team Leader has played a huge part in developing Mountain Rescue’s involvement and role in “Major Incident Planning and Response”, across the country and beyond and has put hour after tireless hour into making this work. Paddling around in a dry-suit is the easy bit. Thanks, as always, go to families and friends of all the Team members, who endure the same disruption as we do during callouts, but perhaps not receiving the same rewards. Their continued support and tolerance is very much appreciated. So that’s it. Another year in and finally, while we acknowledge the MREW tagline, “so much more than mountains”, let’s not forget, the mountains are why we are here.
Medical Officer’s report: Dr Tom Gallagher It is said that laughter is the best medicine. When I found myself running around the fells above Haystacks, chasing after a ‘tiger’ with the rest of the Team, I imagined we would have to deal with the aftermath of a mauling. Fortunately for us, “Tiger” was the name of comedian Bill Bailey’s dog, who had been spooked while we were en route to rescue his cragfast human companions. The injuries when we eventually caught up with him after a rather hilarious game of chase were thankfully limited to a few minor bites – still, not the sort of injuries I expected to see when I signed up as a Team doctor! In fact, as the year went on, I wondered whether I should have trained as a vet as call-out after callout came in to rescue the likes of dogs with heatstroke, and sheep at risk of drowning or hypothermia in engorged becks. 2015 was a busy year. After a reasonably slow start, the call-outs came flooding in. We dealt with a variety of medical problems throughout the year
ranging from minor sprains to serious medical emergencies, and unfortunately there were a few tragic deaths too. As the Team prepares for the Casualty Care Examination in 2016, they have a new syllabus to contend with which reflects the wide and varied medical problems that present themselves in the harsh mountain environment. Every few years there are new medications to contend with, new life support algorithms, improved equipment with which to be familiar. Team members have to put in a lot of time and effort into maintaining their skills and knowledge in order to prepare for every eventuality. A number of non-medical Team members participate in our medical-subcommittee to help to organise medical training for members, organise medical sacks, keep logs up-to-date, etc. Medical training includes looking after one’s own personal health on the hill – bringing >>> sufficient clothing and food is a good start.
Team practice, casualty with ‘broken’ leg, requiring splint. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 7
>>> Most Team members also spend time maintaining physical fitness, at least half of the Team members are seasoned fell runners with a Bob Graham or two under their belt. Some of the newest recruits have started to organise midweek runs to keep this fitness up. Someone from another Team once asked, aghast, “Do you guys run to all your call-outs?” The simple answer is “Yes” – if we can reduce a casualty’s suffering by getting to them quicker, it’s a no-brainer. On a call-out to a suspected leg fracture above Scale Force last spring, the air ambulance kindly offered to ferry Team members to the nearest safe landing spot above the casualty site to speed things up. Our Team leader, Mike, led an advance party of five up the hill on foot – and reached the casualty first! Even with all of this training, we still see the unexpected. On Carling Knott, what can only be described as a freak accident led to a casualty sustaining a serious eye injury when her dog lead snapped and recoiled upward, embedding itself in her eye. There were some serious falls on seemingly innocuous hills, two in particular from significant heights, sadly resulting in fatalities. We had a number of mountain bike accidents with serious injuries. On all of the above, the assistance
‘Every few years there are new medications to contend with, new life support algorithms, improved equipment with which to be familiar. Team members have to put in a lot of time and effort into maintaining their skills and knowledge in order to prepare for every eventuality.’
from other agencies such as the SeaKings and the Air Ambulance Services were invaluable, and without their assistance, the trauma for casualties and their companions would have been significantly prolonged. The year saw the beginning of a new era of air support, as Bristow Helicopters began the momentous task of training MR personnel on safety procedures with their new Sikorsky S92. We have already worked with them on a number of call-outs and they have been impressive. Our new Sprinter minibus has increased our capabilities no end, and can act as an operational base in the field for major incidents. It had only arrived a few hours when it was put to the test. We required its four-wheel drive capabilities to evacuate some Flimby residents as flood waters suddenly rose. On the same night, when the local ambulance service was completely overwhelmed, we beat the floods to rush an elderly lady to hospital who had collapsed at home and then went into cardiac arrest. There is no way we could have treated this situation in the back of a Land Rover. Over the subsequent days, the Sprinter proved its worth time and time again, and we wonder how we managed without it. Our Team has had five Team doctors until recently, when Dr. Pete Hemmingway left our ranks. Thankfully he didn’t go far – he signed up with the Keswick team, just down the road. We wish Pete all the best, and thank him for his years of service.
Team practice, carrying ‘injured’ casualty down mountainside 8l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Radio Officer’s report: Richard Greenwood The Team’s radio systems have performed well over the past year, often in challenging and difficult conditions out on the hill and in flood rescue work. The new Mercedes Sprinter has now been delivered to the Team and this vehicle is fitted with radios which can be operated both from the passenger seat and from the control area in the back. The Sprinter also has its own internet connection provided by the mobile telephone network. This has already proved useful on a complex search operation, allowing the Team
Leader at the scene to have direct access to the internet-based tools of SARCALL, SARLOC and MR Map. A third Landrover Defender vehicle has joined the Team’s fleet, fitted with a roll cage and a CCTV system. Our two existing Defenders were upgraded to match. We therefore took the opportunity to fit new antennae to all the Defenders to improve radio communications. The CCTV systems caused some radio interference problems which were frustrating to solve, but I’m pleased to report that these have now been resolved.
Treasurer’s Report: Jeff Haslam I can’t believe it’s over eleven years since I took over the role of Treasurer from a Team mate who is sadly no longer with us. Jim Hall was treasurer for many years and it was a brave member who suggested spending any money and if they did they risked a withering stare or wry comment. I’ve tried to follow in Jim’s footsteps but fear I’ve failed miserably. What is interesting looking back at Jim’s last year as treasurer, is the way the Team’s finances have changed and with it the role of treasurer. For instance, in 2005 the annual running cost of the Team was in the region of £15,000 – now it is close on £36,000 and that’s just to stand still as it were. If we add on training, insurance, equipment and vehicle replacement, etc, then the true cost of keeping the Team in action is considerably more. Another change that’s happened over the last few years is that the amount of normal donations
has gradually declined. Fortunately we have benefited from a couple of large bequests which have enabled the Team to invest some money and so give us a cushion of three years’ operating costs, but of course this type of donation cannot be relied on, so we mustn’t get complacent as I’m forever whingeing on about. I sometimes wonder how Jim might have coped with the way the treasurer’s role has changed. Now not only does it involve the daily running of the Team’s accounts, writing cheques, and paying money in but now there’s Gift Aid and VAT reclaims to be made. But no doubt he would have taken it in his stride. Finally, I’d like to thank all those who have donated to the Team, whether it’s as a one-off donation or, like many people have done, by setting up a standing order. Without you the Team would struggle to survive and I would get terribly bored. (Some hope!)
£36,000 just to stand still...
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In practice
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Some call-outs just make you laugh – and fittingly, none more so than Call-out 18, the search for a ‘tiger’. It had gone missing in the Haystacks area and as it was a nice evening, there were plenty of volunteers to go and find it. They knew that the owner was a Mr. Bailey, but what they didn’t realise was it was Bill Bailey from Never Mind the Buzzcocks. His dog, Tiger, had jumped from a ledge and headed for the fells. After a while, a couple of escape attempts and a chew on the Team Leader’s arm, Tiger was finally, successfully, captured and returned to his owner. A delighted Bill thanked the Team by providing front row tickets for his show at The Sands Centre plus refreshments backstage after the gig. “They did such a fantastic job. I was very impressed with them and their operation. I am very grateful to them for responding the way they did,” Bill commented. Andrew McNeil
Bill Bailey, Tiger and the Team. 12l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team
Slide Show Presentations 2016 at ButtermereCroft Farm Café
(GR NY17472 16938)
Wed
Wed
Wed
Wed
Wed
Wed
Wed
3 Aug 20.30
10 Aug 20.30
17 Aug 20.30
24Aug 20.30
31 Aug 20.30
7Sept 20.30
14Sept 20.30
Admission: Adults £3, Children £1
Come and watch a presentation by a member/s of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue. See how they operate, what is involved in getting a rescue started and see how much training they do. A Search and Rescue Dog may be in attendance on certain dates. Team merchandise will be on sale. Tea/coffee and cakes will be on sale. Help the volunteers raise £60,000 each year to keep the Team running. A slide show can be arranged for your organisation. Phone Derek Tunstall on 07841 370644 / 01946 861051
www.cockermouthmrt.org.uk
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team Thank you for your support in the last year. If you would like to advertise in our annual report in 2017 please contact: Chris Abbot 01946 861963
Lingerie, nightwear, swimwear, bra fitting service, socks and hosiery. Men’s undies too!! Gift vouchers available
33 Market Place, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9NF 01900 828200 jan@jacys.co.uk www.jacys.co.uk
‘We’re lost...’ How new technology helps us to rescue people by CAROLYN OTLEY Once upon a time, when a walker failed to return from their day out, the Team was called out by the local policeman going around town knocking on members’ doors. The Team would go out on the hill, search the most likely routes, and have little contact with anyone else until they were back down in the valley. But things have moved on since 1953, and moved particularly quickly in the last five years. Here’s an example of what’s more likely to happen in 2016… A 999 call comes into Cumbria Police – “We’re lost in the mist, and can’t find the path off High Stile”. The police gather some additional information, and then log on to SARCALL, a web-based system developed and maintained by Mountain Rescue. If necessary, the police
can use the SARCALL gazetteer to find out where “High Stile” is, and which of the 12 Teams in Cumbria they should direct the call to. They open a new log on the system, and send a text message to the Cockermouth MRT Team Leaders such as “Group of four people lost in mist on High Stile”. A Team Leader receives the text message, and logs on to SARCALL to get the full information, including the mobile phone number for the missing group. The Team Leader attempts to contact the missing group by mobile phone, to check they’re all uninjured and able to walk off the hill if given instructions. The Team Leader sends a SARLOC (a text message containing a web link). If the missing people have a smartphone, and agree to click on the link (and we Above: A SARLOC text message sent to the lost person.
The location of the lost person shows up on our MRMap at the Team base.
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Below: Call-out messages to Team members.
haven’t had a refusal yet….), this uses the GPS in the phone to determine their position. This pops up on MRMap, our computerised mapping system. The Team Leader phones the missing group back, and gives them instructions on which direction to walk in to refind the path – advising them to click on the link again in a few minutes so that he can check they’re moving in the right direction. They keep walking off the hill, clicking the link periodically, and talk to the Team leader by mobile as needed. The Team Leader then arranges for a group of Team members to meet the missing people as they come off the hill – because as they drop down towards the valley, they’re likely to lose mobile phone reception.
Of course, not all call-outs are this simple! There are plenty of times when people are injured and need carrying off the hill, and we still have searches for missing people where we have very little information on where to start to search. The need for those basic skills and fitness hasn’t changed much in the last 60-plus years. But the technology behind mountain rescue continues to increase and improve, and sometimes it can save a huge amount of work. It’s also completely changed the way Teams across the Lakes work together – for example, on a big search, or during an incident like the recent flooding. All the Teams can read the same online incident log in SARCALL and see each others’ positions on MRMap in real time. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 17
Practice hypothermia at Dove Crag
Call-out 1 11 January 2015 During a training exercise the Team was called to help Keswick MRT with a party struggling to get back down from the Base Brown area. They were escorted down, all safe and well.
Inciden 2 18 Jan A woman from Lamplugh collapsed whilst out walking around Crummock shore. The Team provided medical attention at the scene before carrying her to an ambulance waiting at Scale Hill car park.
3 31 Jan Travelling back to Cockermouth after a training session with a Bristow helicopter near Thirlmere, Mobile 2 was contacted by Keswick MRT to assist with a sledging accident near Longlands. Team was recalled en-route as the casualty had been sledged down to the waiting NWAS air ambulance to go to hospital.
4 7 Feb Team called to assist Penrith MRT with a search for a missing person in the Beacon Plantation area. A body of an adult male ďŹ tting his description was discovered by Team members searching dense woodland and the scene was handed over to Penrith MRT and police. 20l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Practice at High Crag
5 1 Mar The Team was called by Kendal MRT to assist with a snow/ice incident.
10 21 Mar A 37-year-old male biker had fallen at speed at Honister quarry. The Team was called by North West Ambulance Service to potentially assist but was stood down as the incident could be dealt with by their road ambulance and the Great North Air Ambulance.
6 4 Mar A 66-year-old woman from Wales collapsed near Anglers Crag, Ennerdale. When the Team arrived she had recovered suďŹƒciently to be walked to her car at Bleach Green.
nts 2015 7 7 Mar Farmer requested rescue of three sheep stuck in Croasdale Beck, Ennerdale. Team found a large number of sheep in and around the beck and on crags. Due to very poor conditions, the decision was made to leave until daylight to assess the situation.
8 8 Mar Continuation of call-out from previous evening. Team returned to Croasdale Beck area, Ennerdale. Six sheep were safely rescued, without loss or injury, from a stream gully area.
9 20 Mar A 35-year-old male biker had fallen between Honister and Buttermere with potential neck injuries. The Team was called by North West Ambulance Service to potentially assist but was stood down when the incident was dealt with by road ambulance and the Great North Air Ambulance.
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11 24 Mar A 53-year-old woman from Doncaster slipped and sustained a serious ankle injury whilst walking on the Scale Beck footpath near Buttermere. The Team was called out and the exact location of the injured lady was established using SARLOC. The Great North Air Ambulance was requested to assist and although unable to land at the casualty site, was able to drop a paramedic close by. The GNAA then assisted further by transporting Team members up from the valley to the casualty. After treating her injury the Team carried her on a stretcher to a position where she could be safely winched into a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter to be own to hospital in Carlisle.
13 4 Apr A 63-year-old woman from London fell whilst walking down from Wind Gap near Pillar, badly injuring her wrist. Fortunately a friend was able to use her phone to call 999. The Team located her and, after splinting her broken wrist, walked her down into Ennerdale Valley to transport her into Cockermouth to go to hospital by ambulance.
14 4 Apr Party of three lost descending from Robinson were located at Buttermere Moss and then evacuated to the top of Newlands Pass before transporting to the Bridge Hotel.
Inciden 15 6 Apr The Team was called out at 18:40 on Easter Monday, the third call-out for the Team over the weekend, to rescue a 70-year-old woman walker from Bolton, who had fallen and injured her knee. A Team member local to the incident met the casualty and assisted her to Gatesgarth where she was met by an ambulance. 12 3 Apr The Team was called by the police at 20:45 after a woman reported her husband overdue from a walk up Haystacks in the Buttermere valley. He turned up safe and well whilst further information was being gathered – his day on the hill took longer than expected due to a navigational error in poor visibility. 22l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
16 11 Apr A 79-year-old woman fell in the river Cocker near Cockermouth Youth Hostel. Bystanders rescued her as the Team was mobilising. She was taken to West Cumberland Hospital.
17 18 Apr Report of a dog collapsed on Ladyside Pike. The Team attended and searched the area. The dog and owner were understood to be making their own way down to Whinlatter and the Team was stood down.
18 20 Apr A dog was reported as injured and stuck on a ledge on Haystacks. The dog jumped off the ledge and headed off across the fells before the Team arrived. Team members tracked it down, pursued it, finally capturing it and reunited ‘Tiger’ with its owner – comedian Bill Bailey.
19 23 Apr A 57-year-old man suffered a fractured arm in the Red Pike and Ling Comb area, Buttermere fells. The casualty was airlifted from the scene by air ambulance to Buttermere, for onward road ambulance transport to hospital.
20 2 May A woman from Bolton walking the Coast to Coast fell 60 feet by Anglers Crag resulting in serious injuries. She was treated at the scene by Team doctors, a North West Air Ambulance doctor and a paramedic, then winched into a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley, North Wales and flown to Carlisle hospital, but died, due to the severity of her injuries.
nts 2015 21 3 May A 42-year-old and a seven-year-old cyclist reported overdue at Black Sail youth hostel, Ennerdale after setting off from Bowness Knott. The pair turned up safe and well at Gillerthwaite YH just as Team members were setting off for a search.
22 4 May A hill walker suffered a suspected heart attack near the summit of Haycock. Another member of his party of eight raised the alarm. The North West Air Ambulance assisted the Team with the incident and was fortunately able to land close to the casualty. He was treated by members of the crew and then flown to hospital after which Team members descended with his group back into the Ennerdale valley and transported them back to their vehicles.
23 8 May A 59-year-old female suffered an ankle injury between Far Ruddy Beck and Scale Force, Buttermere. The Team attended, treated the injury and stretchered her to a waiting ambulance in Buttermere. 24 16 May A cyclist taking part in an organised event lost control on the descent from the Borrowdale side of Honister Pass, and fell into the gill next to the road, suffering multiple injuries. Keswick MRT asked for assistance but we were stood down when it was found that the casualty could be carried to the air ambulance with the help of bystanders. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 23
25 18 May Wasdale MRT requested assistance from Cockermouth and other Lakes teams to extend the search for two people who had been out overnight, lost on Scafell Pike. We sent a Swiftwater Rescue Team to search part of the River Esk. Fortunately the missing persons were located safe and well by late morning, having made their way back to the summit of Scafell Pike. They were walked partway down off the hill to below the cloud, and then flown to the valley floor by a Royal Naval helicopter from RAF Gannet.
26 24 May A missing ‘wild camper’, overdue for two nights after spending a total of four nights on Wasdale was eventually located fit and well on Gavel Neese by RAF Lossiemouth Team at approx 10.15am and escorted down to Wasdale Head Hotel.
27 30 May The Team was called to a 59-year-old man who had injured his ankle near Flouten Tarn and was treated on scene. Most Team members were now involved in a second incident (details left) so he was evacuated by the Great North Air Ambulance to a waiting land ambulance.
Practice at Round How
29 7 Jun A mountain biker sustained a head injury in an accident in Setmurthy Woods. He was unconscious when the Team arrived at the scene, was treated by Team members and transported to a landing site for pick-up by a Sea King helicopter from RN Gannet for onward transport to Newcastle RVI.
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31 12 Jun A female in her 60s from Kent, who had been out walking with a friend, called for help after she made it to Black Sail Youth Hostel but was unable to continue any further. She reported suffering from the symptoms of sun stroke and heat exhaustion. The Team treated the lady before transferring her in a Team vehicle to awaiting ambulanceat Bowness Knott.
30 11 Jun Two walkers became lost after walking from Ennerdale Bridge along the River Ehen. They were found safe and well by Banly Gill and escorted back to Ennerdale Bridge.
Practice at High Crag
Inciden
28 30 May The Team was called to a 55-year-old male who had suffered a cardiac arrest on Graystones, above Whinlatter. The Great North Air Ambulance was also tasked to this incident, and as the Team was already dealing with the previous incident, we requested help from Keswick MRT. Sadly the man was certified dead at the scene.
Photo from a call-out in 2014
32 14 Jun The Team was called because two walkers had been overdue on a walk. Two of their friends had gone to look for them – and whilst the original two walkers had now made it safely back to Buttermere, the two who had gone to search for them had not. Fortunately, the two remaining overdue walkers turned up safe and well as the Team leaders collected more information.
33 21 Jun The Team was called to a man from Blackpool who was reported ill – between Ennerdale and Black Sail youth hostels. He was assessed at the scene, and then transported by the Team to his accommodation at Honister Youth Hostel.
34 22 Jun Day 1 of a search undertaken for a missing person in the Cogra/ Felldyke area. Cockermouth, Wasdale, Keswick MRTs and the Search Dogs Team spent the night searching the area
35 23 Jun Day 2 of Felldyke search – the missing male found dead by Police at 14:45, suspected suicide. The body was recovered to the forest track.
nts 2015 36 28 Jun The Team was asked to assist Wasdale MRT with an incident on Great Gable. A 68year-old man taking part in an endurance event had fallen and injured his hip, and was unable to walk. The Team carried him to Black Sail Youth Hostel, and then transported him to an ambulance at Bowness Knott.
37 30 Jun A walker in his late 60s was reported to be suffering from heat exhaustion close to Ennerdale Youth Hostel. The Great North Air Ambulance crew found and treated the casualty before the Team arrived. He was taken to West Cumberland Hospital.
38 1 Jul The Team was called by the Police after reports of shouts for help from the Green Crag, Haystacks area. Team members found that a walker had fallen 150 feet down Green Crag, with another in a precarious position higher up the crag. The fallen casualty was treated at the scene and then winched and flown to Carlisle Infirmary by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer. The helicopter then returned to winch the other walker from the crag. Sadly, the injured casualty was a fatality.
39 6 Jul A 40-year-old walker was reported to have failed to return from a walk in the Red Pike, Haystacks, Seatoller area but he was eventually found to be at home.
CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 25
40 9 Jul The Team was called to a male walker near the summit of Haystacks. He was reported to be ill and unable to walk down. The Great North Air Ambulance crew and Team members treated the casualty at the scene; he was found to be suffering a heart attack. He was air-lifted to Carlisle Infirmary and had been treated successfully before the Team returned to base. See article page 52. 42 19 Jul Two Team members came across a woman who had become lost in mist on Red Pike and couldn’t find her tent. After a brief search the tent was found and she was reunited with the other occupant.
47 23 Aug Two girls were reported to be in difficulties in a boat between Scale Island and Woodhouse Islands on Crummock water. Three Team vehicles, the Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and the Great North Air Ambulance attended. Fortunately the Team found on their arrival that both girls had been rescued and were safely on the shore of the lake.
41 18 Jul A female walker was reported lost in fog on the descent from Pillar, towards Ennerdale forest, asking to be guided down to the car park. She walked out of the fog and found her way down without assistance from the Team.
46 21 Aug The Team was undertaking a mountain bike training event in Whinlatter forest when they were called to a genuine accident in the forest near Revelin Moss. A male biker sustained a serious jaw and facial injury and was taken by land ambulance to Carlisle Infirmary.
Inciden 43 25 Jul The Team was called to the Carling Knott area near Loweswater where a female fell walker from Cumbria had sustained a serious eye injury. She was treated at the scene, stretchered to the Great North Air Ambulance and flown to Carlisle Infirmary.
26l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
44 13 Aug A 55-yearold female walker fell, sustaining an arm injury. She made her way to Cat Crag Youth Hostel from where the Great North Air Ambulance was able to deal with the injury.
45 17 Aug A 14-year-old boy fell onto a sharp slate rock above Black Star, Honister sustaining a deep cut to his leg. He was treated at the scene by Team members, carried to a Team vehicle and driven down the mine track to Honister Pass.
48 2 Sep A 41-year-old male fellwalker was reported to be fitting on Great Borne Fell, Ennerdale. He had recovered sufficiently to walk part of the way down, where he was met by Team members and taken by ambulance to West Cumberland Hospital. 49 3 Sep The Team was called by police following a report of a casualty being given first-aid two miles from Rosthwaite, Borrowdale. Nothing was found after a search of all roads by Cockermouth and Keswick MRT vehicles and an ambulance. 50 8 Sep A 30-year-old female mountain biker from Ambleside sustained chest and neck injuries when she fell from her bike in Setmurthy Woods near Cockermouth. She was treated by the Team doctor and others at the scene and stretchered for pickup by the North West Air Ambulance. She was then flown to Carlisle Infirmary.
53 18 Sep The team was called when a 38 year old male parapenter from Cumbria was reported overdue in the Buttermere valley area. The local paragliding community played an invaluable role in helping the team narrow down the search area to the Fleetwith Pike area where sadly a body was located the following morning. We were also supported in this search by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team and the crew of Rescue 936, one of the new S-92 helicopters from Caernarfon, North Wales.
51 9 Sep A walker sustained a laceration to her leg following a fall on the Buttermere Lake shore path. She was treated by Team members and stretchered to Gatesgarth Farm, from where an ambulance took her to West Cumberland Hospital.
52 18 Sep The Team was asked to assist Penrith MRT in the search for a missing 78-year-old resident of Crosby Ravensworth who had not returned from walking her dog. There was a massive joint effort with Coniston, Duddon & Furness, Kendal, Keswick, Kirkby Stephen, Patterdale, Swaledale, Teesdale & Weardale and Wasdale MRTs, RAF Leeming, plus six search dogs and 10 members of Penrith for 11 hours. Sadly a body was discovered two days later near Hardendale Quarry.
Practice
nts 2015 54 25 Sep Two adult fell walkers were reported as stuck on a ledge 400 metres south east of Pillar Rock, Ennerdale. They were located by Team members uninjured and well-equipped, and escorted down the mountain side to the valley. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 27
55 27 Sep Police reported a caller who could hear someone shouting for help across Crummock water in the Ling Crag area. Team members set o from Buttermere to search the area but came across shepherds with a large number of sheep who had been coming down the fellside. A wellintentioned false alarm. 56 28 Sep Two walkers left Buttermere and headed towards Ennerdale Youth Hostel over High Stile when they become lost. They had no map or compass but they believed they were in Ennerdale. According to an app on their phone uphill was approx north east, and, below, they could see a river. The Team used SARLOC to pinpoint their location as approximately one kilometre above Gillerthwaite and Team members located them and helped them to return safely.
Inciden 57 28 Sep A 71-year-old man was reported as missing by the Police. He was located before the Team had mobilised.
58 29 Sep A 58-year-old woman slipped whilst walking on Sale Fell, Bassenthwaite and sustained an ankle injury. She was treated at the scene by a Team doctor and then stretchered down to an ambulance at Wythop Church. 28l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
60 5 OctThe Team was called to Wind Gap, Pillar to assist a 74-year-old male with a head injury. When the Team located the casualty he was being treated at the scene by a passing doctor. He was loaded onto a stretcher and lowered into Windgap Cove, where he was transferred into a S92 Helicopter from Caernarfon and own to Barrow-in-Furness hospital. This was only the second time that the Cockermouth Team had worked with the new S92 Coastguard helicopter.
59 1 Oct North West Ambulance Service requested the Team to assist in carrying a 53-year-old man with a fractured ankle across Church Meadows, Great Broughton, to an ambulance. The casualty was reported to have arrived in the ambulance just as the Team was mobilising.
61 3 Oct A walker from the north east was reported missing, last seen at Buttermere Youth Hostel on 30 September. His car was located below Honister Pass and the Team searched locations such as youth hostels and huts, but he was not found. 62 4 Oct A number of teams continued the search from the previous day. Cockermouth and Keswick MRTs, Lake District search dogs and the Cave Ore Mines Rescue Unit (COMRU) searched the Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head, Haystacks and Great Gable areas. A body was recovered from the scree below Fleetwith Pike and evacuated to Honister Pass.
63 14 Oct A male walker set off from close to the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater towards Melbreak. He contacted the Police when he lost the path and was unsure where he was. As the Team was mobilising he contacted again to say he had found the path and no longer needed help.
64 17 Oct The Team was called to assist Keswick MRT, who were busy with another incident, when a 59-year-old walker sustained a knee injury near the summit of Glaramara, Borrowdale. Members from both Teams treated the casualty and the North West Air Ambulance from Blackpool airlifted the casualty to Furness Hospital.
Practice
nts 2015 65 25 Oct A fellwalker twisted his knee close to Stake Pass; a member of his group raised the alarm after a long descent to Langstrath. The Team was called to assist Keswick MRT, and Langdale-Ambleside MRT assisted in helping the casualty down to the Langdale valley.
66 27 Oct A friend reported a 60-year-old walker overdue after being dropped off at Buttermere to walk Scarth Gap, Scafell, Pillar, Steeple and Ennerdale Water, finishing at Ennerdale Bridge. He turned up safe and well as the Team was mobilising.
67 27 Oct The Police were contacted by someone reporting he had lost four members of his family on High Stile, Buttermere. They all turned up safe and well as the Team was mobilising. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 29
68 14 Nov The Team was alerted to potential adverse weather incidents, including a call for seven swift water technicians to head to Wigton to support with potential evacuations.
70 3 Dec The Team was asked to support the ambulance service on the west coast of Cumbria due to local flooding incidents and dealt with several 999 calls.
71 4 Dec Team Leaders were involved with planning for predicted adverse weather impacts in Cumbria.
69 28 Nov A report was received of three people being trapped in cars on a flooded road in Mawbray. The incident was dealt with before the Team mobilised.
72 5 Dec The Team dealt with a large number of water rescues, initially in Keswick and then in Cockermouth.
73 6 Dec The Team continued to respond to calls in Cockermouth and also assisted with floods work in Carlisle.
75 7 Dec The Team continued to evacuate a small number of residents and supported vulnerable residents in their properties in Cockermouth.
30l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
74 6 Dec In the midst of the Cockermouth flooding a walker was reported to have fallen injuring his shoulder near to Scarth Gap, Buttermere. He was unable to walk. Keswick MRT responded to this incident on our behalf.
76 26 Dec Team members with specialist flood rescue equipment and MRT members from Keswick MRT and Wasdale MRT travelled over to York to help with flooding rescues.
‘Charlie Sprinter’ Cockermouth Team has used Land Rover Defenders as rescue vehicles since before I was born (not that long ago actually)– and we wouldn’t swap them for the world! They’ve seen us through many a tight spot over the years. But, Keswick MRT, our friends and neighbours, invested in a four wheel drive Mercedes Sprinter some time ago, (they now have two), and on the countless occasions we’ve helped them out when they’ve been shorthanded, we’ve been very impressed with the benefits the Sprinter gives as an additional vehicle in their fleet. So 12 months or so ago, we started looking into buying one of our own, and a vehicle group put together the specification we would require. Initial conversations were held with Mick Guy from Keswick Team and Andrew Kinnersley from Ciceleys Mercedes in Carlisle, both whom were tremendously helpful, having gone through the process previously. Building a rescue vehicle basically from scratch has its challenges. There are
ambulance regulations to comply with, weight restrictions, driver age restrictions, radio systems, a stretcher-carrying system to design, flexible seating and table arrangements, coupled with the ability to use the vehicle as a forward control base with 4G, internet provision, GPS mapping, diesel powered night heater, floodlighting – the list goes on. Ciceleys recommended a firm of vehicle conversion specialists in Clitheroe, James Alpe, to carry out the conversion works from what was basically a brand new large four-wheel drive white panel van. They were superb to deal with from the first meeting we had with them and I can’t thank Stephen, Alison and Kevin enough for all their hard work on the project. From the very first day that the Sprinter arrived in our garage, it was called into action on an Ambulance Service assist job, following the first flooding incidents across West Cumbria. It coped with two feet of water
admirably and worked throughout the night supporting the North West Ambulance Service. The Sprinter gives us the ability not only to transport a casualty on a stretcher, but to have the space to work on the casualty inside the vehicle. The Sprinter has since been used as a forward control operating base on a missing persons search in the Carlisle area, was used extensively during the floods in Cockermouth and on numerous call-outs and has transported Team members and equipment to Scotland on our Winter Training exercise in Glencoe, where it handled the snowy conditions superbly. I’d like to thank Richard Greenwood and Jim Coyle for their invaluable help on the project. Any purchase of a new rescue vehicle is a large expense for the Team and is a carefully-considered decision. The Sprinter has certainly been a success, and already we are starting to wonder how we used to manage without it. ANDREW McNEIL CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 31
Right: Lucy presents a cheque having raised this through making and selling items.
Left: Chris receives the Community Shield from Mayor Julie on behalf of the Team.
Thank you
to all our fundraisers Right: Josh presents a cheque, following a 25mile sponsored bike ride.
Left: Catherine Keevil presents money raised by running the London Marathon. 32 l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Right: Derwent Rotary present cheques to Chris.
Below: Nursery group fund raise following Jackie's accident.
Right: Peter Hodgson presents a cheque on behalf of the West Coast Walkers. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 33
Posters sent by Our Lady & St Patricks Junior School pupils after a visit to the Team’s base.
82 talks and counting!
What does a mountain rescuer do within the Team? Rescue people from the mountains, is the usual answer from the many children in the schools we visit throughout the year. Why do we visit schools you might ask? All the schools seem to have “The Environment” on the curriculum these days, so it is appropriate to help by explaining what we do, besides rescuing people from the fells. In our talks we explain that we also rescue people from flooded areas as in the floods of 2009 and 2015, search for missing people in the Lake District and 34l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
West Cumbria and even rescue animals. We show them our Land Rover and some of our equipment. The highlight of the visit is usually when we wrap a teacher in our vacuum mattress. In 2015 we gave a total of 82 talks, not only to schools, but to scouts, brownies, Outdoor Centres, foreign visitors and even a group from the hospital. Our talks are illustrated with Powerpoint presentations and always prove popular. Should your group like to visit the Team headquarters or have us visit your venue, please contact us. Derek Tunstall
e us es o th k t ut ac llo d b pu en se d s ea n Pl s a ge pa
Support the Team Please treat the enclosed gift of ÂŁ______________ as a Gift Aid donation. I am a UK taxpayer and I wish Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team to reclaim tax on the enclosed donation made under the Gift Aid Scheme Signature__________________________________ Date__________________ Full Name ________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Post Code _____________________ Charity Reg No: 506956
Gift Aid Declaration Form As a charity Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team can reclaim the tax on any donation you make (providing you are a UK tax payer) and increases its value by nearly a third – without costing you a penny. It is one of the most effective ways to help the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team members even more, and enable them to continue their rescues.
Can you help the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team by giving a regular amount each month or year to help continue our work? If so, please fill in the form overleaf...
Please complete, pull out this centre spread and send to: Chris Abbot, High Leys, Rowrah, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3XT
Can you help the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team by giving a regular amount each month or year to help continue our work? If so, please fill in the form below...
Text a donation on your mobile phone. Text the message CMRT11 £20 to number 70070, and we receive a £20 donation, simple as that! We are charged no fees for this service so we receive every penny of the amount you donate. Make an on-line donation via the Charities Aid Foundation website www.cafonline.org
Bankers Order Date________________ To ___________________________________________ Bank Address_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Post Code ____________________ Name of Account to be debited _____________________________ Account No___________ Please pay to: National Westminster Bank, 23 Station Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria Code No 01-02-17, for credit of CMRT, Account No 08702349 The sum of £ __________ in words:____________________________________________ Commencing ____________________________________________ (Date of first payment) And thereafter every _____________________________________________ (Month/Year) Until ________ _(Date of last payment or until further notice) and debit my/our account accordingly Signed ___________________________________________ Date __________________
Please complete, pull out this centre spread and send to: Chris Abbot, High Leys, Rowrah, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3XT
Help support us by buying some of our Team merchandise WOOLLY HAT £7 one size fits all (please ring for other colours available)
PIN BADGE £3 Total £ PEN £1 Total £
Orange Total £
Sky Blue Total £
Burgundy Total £
SMALL TORCH £3 Total £
For mor info, ringe Chris Ab b on 0194 ot 6 861963
Yellow Total £ EMERGENCY BLANKET £3 Total £
LAND ROVER £6 Total £ SPORTS TOWEL £3 Total £
RUCKSACK ‘DRY BAG’ £5 Total £
WATER BOTTLE £3 Total £
SWEATSHIRT £17 Size(s) Colour(s) Total £
FLEECE full zip £22 Size(s) Colour(s) Total £
All clothing in chest sizes: S 36/38 M 38/40 L 40/42 XL 42/44 (please ring for other colours available) POLO SHIRT £15 Size(s) Colour(s) Total £
FLEECE 1/4 zip £20 Size(s) Colour(s) Total £
T-SHIRT £7.50 Size(s) Colour(s) Total £
MUG £4 Total £
XMAS CARDS Pack of five for £4 x Six packs for £20 x Total £
Please add P+P £2 for clothing and mugs and 50p for other items Total £
Name
Donation £
Address
Total enclosed £
Phone
Please make cheques payable to Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team and enclose with this centre spread pullout to: Chris Abbot, High Leys, Rowrah, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3XT
Family Severs in memory of Miriam (Nee Elwin), a lover of the fells who in the fifties and sixties was a member of the Team and Secretary to the Cockermouth Mountaineering Club. Died September 1986, aged 48, thirty years ago.
Burning daylight A yacht we had never seen before and a crew that had never sailed together was not the most promising recipe for a gruelling sailing race! This was the ‘Three Peaks Yacht Race’ in which two runners must scale Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis (the equivalent of three marathons in four days) and three sailors must get them to the starting points by navigating 400 miles of difficult waters. Team “Burning Daylight” (a phrase often used by Mike) was keen to have a go at this, but not without some trepidation! And so we all met up in Barmouth, the home and starting point of the race and the home of H W Tilman, the sailor, mountaineer and adventurer who was its original inspiration. Bill Tilman was a tough character and a hard taskmaster and the rules of the race reflect this: no engines allowed until in
by BOB LIDDELL
harbour and no outside help for the runners. Selfsufficiency is the order of the day. Sadly, Tilman was lost without trace while on a sailing and climbing expedition to the South Atlantic in his 8oth year. It was 1977, the first year that the race was run. Since then the event has attracted such well known sailors as Sir Robin Knox Johnson and Brian Thompson. Barmouth was also for many years the home of Laura, a member of the Team and the Search Dog handler of Jake, a very obedient border collie. She and her family have had a long association with the race organisation and she was very keen to have an entry consisting only of Team members. She persuaded Mike, our Team Leader, to do the running along with husband Neale and Andrew Graham; each runner to do two of the three summits. Sailors were needed. The skipper’s job
was given to me, with Richard Greenwood as a very able mate. The runners would also be sailors whenever possible. In the event Neale and Mike ended up doing all the running as Andrew made a mess of his shoulder only weeks before the race during the Isle of Man TT – not on a powerful motorbike, but a mountain bike. John Bulman quickly stepped into the gap as fifth man and did a superb job during the race, frequently tying himself to the mast when reefs were needed in heavy weather. The local lifeboat led the procession of ten yachts out of harbour in a very pleasant breeze and after the usual startline games we were off,
The crew in Barmouth. 40l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Burning Light leaves Whitehaven.
heading for our first stop at Caernarfon 62 miles away. The weather gods seemed to be smiling on us giving a fair wind to sail a direct course towards the sandbanks of St. Patrick’s Causeway which we crossed with one metre under our keel and on to Bardsey Sound. Here the tide was against us but the wind had strengthened considerably producing rough water. The lights of one of our competitors out to starboard suddenly disappeared and we later learned that they had been knocked down and suffered some damage. Scary! Caernarfon Bar was the next obstacle, living up to its reputation by giving us a wet ride in the dark, while at the same time the runners were getting themselves prepared for a long road and mountain run. On the approach to the dropping off point, yachts are allowed to use their engines but to our surprise ours jammed in reverse just as we touched the jetty! The runners managed to disembark but the sailors had a problem. By this time a strong tide was running and we needed to be somewhere safe to sort the gearbox out. The solution was to sail into the marina which was tricky given the narrow entrance and strong cross-current. Normally the sailors get their heads down while the runners are away but this time we had our heads in the engine compartment coaxing a
reluctant gearbox to go into neutral. A combination of Richard’s engineering skills, without which our race would have ended there in the marina, and Laura’s arrival with hot breakfast baps boosted our spirits considerably. The runners had meanwhile been recording some excellent times on their 24-mile run to the summit of Snowdon but instead of jumping aboard and casting off we had to wait some hours before the marina gates could open. When they did it was off into the Menai Straits and the tricky navigation of the Swellies. Little room for error and lots of rocks just waiting to take a bite out of your keel! A big sigh of relief once we were clear of the obstacles and out into the open water of the Irish Sea where we could set a course for the 100-mile sail to Whitehaven, avoiding the gas rigs of Morecambe Bay, and enjoying a great run. Yachts must enter the marina at Whitehaven before launching their runners; normally a simple matter but this time it was complicated by not being able to engage astern gear! Mike and Neale were quickly away on their bikes as this leg to Scafell Pike involves cycling to Black Sail Hostel then running over Black Sail Pass to Wasdale Head before the climb to England’s highest point. As Whitehaven is home ground to us we enjoyed lots of support from family and >>> CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 41
>>> friends and the cheers for Mike and Neale as they finished 40 miles of cycling and running were the best that anyone got. They did a brilliant job taking time from teams that had set off before them. All that was left to do was run up one more mountain! Though the Ben is the highest of the three it involves the shortest distance on land but the longest sail at 230 miles with many tidal gates to deal with. A good southerly wind enabled us to reach across to the Mull of Galloway while the runners had a well-earned sleep to recharge their batteries. Winds have a nasty habit of accelerating around headlands and in channels; a habit they were not going to break for us! The Mulls of Galloway and Kintyre gave us a roller-coaster ride with 35 knots of wind over the deck and big seas to match. The old girl picked up her skirts and flew wearing only a headsail. Sleep was definitely not on! It is often said in the sailing world that winds are either too strong for comfort or too light for decent sailing and that is just what we found going north. After flying around the Mulls, the Sound of Jura found us ghosting along in light winds and a recalculation of our progress persuaded me that we would be arriving at the Sound of Luing at the wrong time. Tides there run at seven knots and you need a lot of wind to sail through that. The alternative was the Sound of Islay so that night saw us sailing past some famous names in the whisky world; Lagavulin and Arbeg. A dram 42l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
would not have gone amiss! This rerouting worked well and gained us a couple of places but near the infamous Corryvreckan the wind died completely. Rowing a 35-foot yacht with improvised rowlocks is not easy but it can stop you drifting backwards with the tide and can even gain you some ground if you are determined enough. We were determined but Insh Island seemed to remain doggedly abeam for most of
From top: Rough weather; Mike and Neale return from Scafell; and the finishing line.
the day despite best efforts. Relief came when catspaws developed into a sailable breeze and we were off again towards Loch Linnhe and our final destination. As day turned once more into night we realised that we were down on battery power and unable to start the engine for charging. Lights and instruments began to fail so it was back to basics! As dawn broke the lights of Fort William hove into view and beyond them the finish for sailing. A difficult berthing manoeuvre without engine was a fitting finale for the sailors and then it was all up to the runners. Cloud shrouded even the lower slopes of the Ben and there was significant snow towards the summit so it was not going to be an easy run for Mike and Neale. They did do some slipping and sliding but got back to the finishing line in an amazing time to a rapturous welcome, particularly from Jake the dog. Once Neale had recovered enough to speak, his first words were, “Next year I’m marshalling!” Challenging sailing, challenging running in the true Tilman spirit and all thanks to Laura who masterminded it and gave encouragement at every stage. Big thanks to my wife, Pat, who provided transport, cheer and lots of lovely grub to five hungry men. Last of all our sincere thanks to Berghaus for supplying excellent clothing and to Bond Dickinson for their generous financial support.
emerges and glimpses of depths and jellyfish alternate with high mountains. Staggering out at the end was a blur. Then a quick change and straight into eight hours on the bike. At least you can’t drown on a bike. After the 10 degrees cold of the water it takes 20 or 30 miles to warm up. There are some tough climbs and the headwind can be tough too, but fantastic support from friends nursed me round to the run.
The fell run is a race to make a time cut off along forestry tracks, then thankfully there is a steep pass in the second half with some rough ground and some peat bogs. As a Cumbrian I finally felt in my element. It is a great boost to morale to be skipping over bad ground when others are picking their way. The finish finally came after a couple of miles of heart-sinking tarmac. Every finisher had a huge smile and a beer on crossing the line. It’s hard to find a way to describe the day, words like epic and intense come to mind. But it will live in my memory as a fabulous adventure. I would wholeheartedly recommend it. JO GROvE
Celtman
Team members are often involved in events in the outdoors. After all, that’s why we join a Rescue Team in the first place; to give something back and use our outdoor skills and experience. Looking for a fresh challenge is a challenge in itself. What’s next after all the long fell races, mountain marathons and the Bob Graham Round? With the rise in popularity of open water swimming and triathlon, the ‘Celtman Extreme Triathlon’ caught my imagination. This event takes place every year in the Torridon area in the far Northwest of Scotland. It is a race combining a 3.8 kilometres swim across a sea loch, a 125-mile bike ride and a marathon run over a mountain course. The scenery is magnificent and the day has a wonderful atmosphere. After learning to swim the crawl through the preceding winter, I started training in Crummock, Derwentwater and Loweswater. I also did some cycling up the passes and a bit of running. At dawn on 27th June, in a green field next to Loch Torridon, as the mist rose off the water and the sound of swirling pipes and drums echoed from the hills, surrounded by hundreds of athletes in wet suits lit up by flaming Celtic symbols, it felt more like going into battle than a race. The anticipation was indescribable. Once in the water there is a blur of feet and hands and foam. As the crush thins, a rhythm
CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 45
On the evening of Friday 5th June, 150 people met in the village of Threlkeld with the task of ascending Blencathra via Halls Fell Ridge, reaching the summit in darkness – all in aid of Community Action Nepal. The event was created by Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team Member John Brooks and work colleague Matt Le Voi The idea was dreamt up in John’s kitchen a week after the first quake. Going with a similar event to one that was run for the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association just weeks before, the guys thought they would try and replicate the £300 raised. Within just three days the total had hit over £1000. The event, which was promoted purely through Facebook generated a lot of attention, and before they knew it, over 100 people said they were going to attend. By this point John and Matt knew they had done well, but what 46l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
happened on the night would blow them away beyond all comprehension. Despite being outside of CMRT area the event was also guided by Team leader Mike Park, and Team members Mark Steel and Tom Strong. After a short talk from John, Matt, and David Nightingale from CAN, the raffle, which had been kindly supported by so many different companies and people, was drawn and the group left Threlkeld for the iconic Halls Fell Ridge. The group continued over the summit and down to the top of Doddick Fell. By this point the group was just below the cloud base again, and the light was just fading. There was a real buzz in the air with people nattering away, taking pictures, and generally just enjoying the experience. Only
one rescue had to be carried out on the night but Mike Park didn’t mind rescuing a fallen backpack which might have had something to do with the Maltesers inside it. There were however a few apologies to some hopeful Bob Graham runners who may have felt passing 150 people on their way down was a tad annoying. Coming down Doddick Fell was a real highlight of the night. As you looked back up the fell, it looked like a Christmas Tree of head torches all winding down the fell. The group safely made it
Blencathra by moonlight for Community Action Nepal
back into Threlkeld village shortly after midnight and everyone went their separate ways, no doubt with gleaming smiles on their faces. The event raised over £5000 which is just sensational. We would like to take this opportunity again to thank all the support Team who helped guide on the evening, which included members of Cockermouth Mountain
Rescue, Bay Search and Rescue and local outdoor instructors. Thanks go to Rachel Kearns of Cotswold Outdoor in Keswick for bringing in some fantastic raffle prizes from Montane, Gore, Ruffwear, Cicerone Press, Superfeet, Bridgedale & Buff. Other great prizes came
from The Soap Co in Keswick, Embleton Spa Hotel and Sir Chris Bonington. The final thanks, of course, go to everyone who has generously donated money and a great deal of stationery to the cause. JOHN BROOKS CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 47
GROUND ANCHORS by JOHN BuLMAN Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team has used an integral multi-leg ground anchor for belaying the back rope during stretcher skidding, where no convenient boulder exists, since the 1960s. It took the form of a four-legged mild steel claw on a welded mild steel ring. It was fabricated by a Team member at home and its design was based on ‘gut feel’ with regards to shape and size. This served its purpose but gradually the general use of this original heavy version declined. It then hung on the back wall of the Base next to the sheep net with which it was used on many occasions in the rescue of cragfast sheep in those early years. Belaying of the back rope 48l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
during stretcher skidding was subsequently carried out for a number of years with a line of six to ten Team members sitting on the fellside behind the stretcher on the descent line down, belaying and or paying out the back rope and leapfrogging down past each other, as they in turn became the last uphill person. Whilst an effective technique for many years, in general it resulted in many a rope burn, melted waterproof or members needing to be very fleet of foot to take up their position on the back rope lower down the fellside, as the lower progressed. In 2004 I attended an Industrial Health & Safety Exhibition at the NEC and on the HB Products stand I saw a
ground anchor almost identical in size and shape to the Team’s old mild steel version referred to above. HB Products were producing the item and primarily selling it to the armed forces for creating anchor points on the grass slopes at the top of cliffs to help protect marine soldiers as they scaled up them. At the next Team monthly meeting, photographs of the HB Products ground anchor were shown and a decision was made to place an order for two of the ground anchors to trial their use. The trials proved effective and they immediately became part of Team kit on the hill fixed to the side of two of the rope sacks, becoming affectionately known as the ‘ground claws’. Fabricated from aluminium bar used for the fabrication of carabiners, they consisted of five legs, bent at 90 degrees, each having flattened, splayed pointed ends which are joined together through drilled holes with a doubled crimped wire. In the early days of using the two ground claws a metal hammer was used for hammering them into the ground. Given the fact that they suffered little damage or distortion, members gradually forgot that the material they were fabricated from was aluminium and thought that it must be titanium. The metal hammers were subsequently replaced by weighted rubber tent peg mallets, as by that time HB Products had ceased trading and the general opinion was that the two ground claws the Team had would have to last forever.
It subsequently became known that a company called DMM had taken over many of the HB Product designs. So, about two years ago, I phoned DMM to find out if they had ever started to manufacture the item. At that stage it turned out that they hadn’t, but after they made internal enquiries they found that they still had the HB Products’ design details and they said that they would initiate discussions within its design team and get back to us to advise if fabrication could be undertaken again. All went quiet for about six months and a further call was made to DMM to enquire what the situation was. It turned out that second call to DMM had coincided with enquiries from the Marines about wanting replacements too. DMM established that sales to both the Marines and MR Teams would make a production run feasible. Over the last 18 months, in conjunction with direct trials and feedback made by the Team on a number of prototype models, DMM have
developed a replacement to the ground claw which they now have put into production. The item is being marketed as the ‘Talon’. The DMM ‘Talon’ Ground Anchor is similar to the original HB Product Ground Claws in that it has five legs joined with a belay loop, however it has been fabricated from laser-cut aluminium plate instead of aluminium bar, and the belay loop is stitched Dyneema tape as opposed to a crimped wire loop. The top edges of the legs are serrated to give a degree of grip underfoot for the individual who stands with both feet spread over the anchor when it is set in the ground and is a standard procedure by the Team when skidding a stretcher. During stretcher skidding the back rope is connected to the Talon’s Dyneema Loop by Carabiner/Italian Hitch. The individual controlling the back rope through the Italian Hitch and the individual standing on the ‘Talon’ work as a two-person team at the belay station, with the individual standing on the anchor relaying radio messages back from the stretcher party on required back rope speeds. A ‘Rope Rescue Course’ was held in the Dolomites in Autumn 2014, run by Kirk Mauthner from Canada and attended by both Cockermouth and Keswick MRT members. There, the ‘Talon’ proved effective when used as a Ground Anchor for the pre-tensioning of top of crag belay systems. CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 49
Special People of Distinction Society (SPODS)
In memory of Frank and Doreen Sippetts and Brenda Treharne Greatly missed by SPODS
For the last few years we have spent our summer holidays in the Lake District. Since walking around Buttermere in 2014, my partner Phil had been longing to return and climb Haystacks, Arthur Wainwright’s favourite place. On the last Thursday of our holiday in 2015 we awoke to a beautiful day and decided that today was the day to return to Buttermere and make Phil’s dream come true. Little did we know then that the dream would be more like a nightmare. The car park at Gatesgarth was full to overflowing so we had to park up some way back on the road towards the Honister Pass but eventually we got on our way. We took our time because I’m not the greatest or fittest walker and we stopped often to admire the breathtaking views. A woman in an orange shirt went past us as we made our way to Scarth Gap and we exchanged some friendly hellos. A little later on the path went up quite suddenly as we started to approach the summit. The woman in orange was sitting on a big rock and said to us “I can’t make it – I can’t see a path and it is way too steep. And my rucsac is too heavy.” Phil immediately offered to go up and explore the situation. He soon came back to tell us he’d found the path – it was steep but not for long. As far as the rucsac was concerned he told Irene (introductions had been made by now!) he would 52l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
What a relief... By SyLvIA vAN SOEST carry it for her. She accepted his offer and the three of us set off again. After the steep climb the path levelled out – the summit was getting near. We were so pleased with ourselves that we took some photos with the stunning backdrop of Buttermere behind us. Suddenly though, Phil sat down in the grass and said: “I don’t feel well.” I looked at him and noticed his face was pale and sweaty and he was short of breath. We waited a few minutes but it became obvious that he was getting worse so we decided to call for emergency help. Except
that to our horror nobody could get a phone signal. I stayed with Phil while Irene went down to seek help. Would she get there in time? There was nothing to do but sit and wait. Eventually another couple appeared. They were making their way to the top and must have passed Irene on the way up. What a relief it was to have somebody else helping. The woman got out her rescue
blanket and wrapped it around Phil while her husband sat down next to him and asked how he was doing. After a short while he started walking around to try and get a phone signal somewhere. He was successful and was able to call Mountain Rescue. He shouted over to us: ‘They will be here in 15 minutes!”. Then more help arrived – a couple who had started making their descent from Haystacks – Suzanne was a nurse and gave Phil some aspirin to try and help. Then two young mountain bikers from Durham – with their bikes – showed up as well
Call-out 40: Sylvia and Phil on the way up Haystacks.
and helped to keep our spirits up. Meanwhile, it was getting cold; the sun was setting and there was a chilly breeze coming from the vale below. Phil was in a terrible state.... Finally, we heard the sound of a helicopter coming from the valley. We saw the blades coming up – such a magical moment! Mountain Rescue were here... We waved and after circling around us we realised they were looking for a place
to land. Wow. Somehow they managed to find a spot to land and soon I saw two men running towards us, carrying a big bag full of medical equipment. After asking Phil some questions they put some electrodes on his chest and took an ECG. Theo, the doctor, said to Phil: “You are definitely having a heart attack. We need you get you off this mountain as soon as possible”. Phil answered: “Well, at least you guys didn’t come all the way here for nothing...” Just then another Mountain Rescue Team appeared, making their way down from the summit having approached it from the Honister Pass. They took Phil to the helicopter and off it went to the Cumberland Infirmary. The members of the Mountain Rescue Team walked me down the mountain and one of them – a fell runner – even ran ahead to fetch our car. Once back at Gatesgarth I got into the car and was driven to the Team Base in Cockermouth where Chris phoned the hospital and was told that Phil was doing OK – he was, at least, in the best hands possible. We don’t want to think about what would have happen if the Mountain Rescue Team hadn’t come to save Phil that day on Hay Stacks.... We were deeply moved by their professionalism and particularly the kindness of all the Team members: we’ll never forget what you did for us. Thank you! CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 53
Comments from the casualties
What they say Without you he certainly wouldn’t have survived
I really felt that I was in safe hands
We were blown away by your care, empathy, professionalism and humour and will always be grateful for your actions
I cannot thank you enough and marvel at the job you do for all of us
Thanks to the Team for their professionalism
My sincere thanks to all the Team for doing an absolutely brilliant job in getting me out with such speed and comfort
Heartfelt thanks to the rescue Team for the most professional and compassionate manner in which you dealt with the recovery 56l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
about us! A big thank you for the professional eďŹƒciency and kindness
I would like to thank all the Team for your expertise, kindness and dedication
How impressed my wife and I were with all aspects of the response
A big thank you for the professional eďŹƒciency and kindness
We always walked with happy hearts, knowing your Team was there should the need arise
All you wonderful people do such an incredibly fantastic job
The hospital commented on how well my splint had been applied
Words cannot express my thanks for all that you did. It was amazing to see so many people trying so hard in extremely grave circumstances. The Team could not have done more CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 57
To quote Sir Edmund Hillary “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves”. But sometimes you have to know when you are beaten! Ama Dablam, the ‘Matterhorn of the Himalaya’, is an iconic mountain in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, which dominates the skyline for several days for anyone trekking to the Everest basecamp. It is 6,856 metres high. Ama Dablam means ‘Mother’s necklace’, the long ridges on each side are like the arms of a mother (ama) protecting her child, and the hanging glacier thought of as the dablam, the traditional double pendant worn by Sherpa women. Once seen, it creates an overwhelming urge to climb it, with a simultaneous shiver of foreboding as you imagine yourself clinging to an icy slope over a 2,000 metres drop. We were fortunate to know Keswick’s Tim Mosedale*, who has gathered an effective team in Kathmandu to deal with the logistics and bureaucracy, and, in the Khumbu, to manage base camp, cook, guide and carry. He took great pleasure in introducing us to the locals he knows well, and from whom we benefited greatly. We respect and recommend him highly.
60l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
where we met the rest of the party. Although from varied backgrounds, we had a common interest and gelled well. There was a Spanish financier; a Swedish plastic surgeon; two lads from Edinburgh – one Navy, one ex-RAF; a metallurgist; an outdoor pursuits instructor from Keswick; a Brit living in Burma; and a Blackpool-born arborist residing in Vancouver! The flight from Kathmandu to the precariously placed airport at Lukla (2,845 metres by MARK STEEL above sea level) was... Mark was lucky enough to be ‘entertaining’. The short runway due a two-month sabbatical from slopes upwards into the hillside to work. Steve had to arrange cover slow the planes on landing and for his Dental Practice for a to encourage them when month. We then had to convince taking off! our very understanding wives The next day we set off on that the cost and being away for a the five-day trek to base camp month was a good idea! (4,600m), which is higher than In April it almost became the summit of the Matterhorn. “Kathman-don’t” not “Kathman- The trail makes it way up the do” when the devastating steep-sided, enormous earthquake struck Nepal, briefly Khumbu valley, crossing the trapping Tim at Camp 1 on river several times on huge Everest and killing three suspension bridges, often with members of his team at Everest the remains of destroyed bridges base camp. Eight thousand in the river below. It passes people were killed in Nepal, over through villages I remember from 20,000 injured and our families the expedition stories I read as a were concerned there could be youngster; Namche Bazaar, another earthquake. We Tengboche (with its magnificent rationalised it by saying another Buddhist temple and spectacular one was unlikely for another 80 views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse and years. A bit like a flood in the tip of Mount Everest), and Cockermouth. Until the Pangboche. second earthquake in May! We stayed in tea houses which As the months passed, it were largely stone-built. The became clear that travelling rough and often steep track is after the monsoon would be usually about 12 feet wide, paved safe and indeed beneficial to with natural stone in places and the local economy as tourist populated by fellow trekkers and numbers and hence income porters who carry the most had decreased dramatically. amazing loads (such as sheets of We flew from Manchester plywood, propane cylinders or to Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu multiple boxes of the ubiquitous
amDbearb20la15m Am Nove
*http://keswick-bed-andbreakfast.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/ supported-film-by-matt-sharman.html
San Miguel beer). There were also regular mule and dzopkio trains (the latter a cross between a cow and yak) and above Namche Bazaar, yak trains (it is too warm for them below Namche). Occasionally a pair of wild-looking youths would come racing down the path on small horses, harnesses rattling with bells, like the Mongolian horsemen of history. At the Ama Dablam View Lodge (run by a perfect host: Tashi, a wonderful, generous, mother figure), our first view of our mountain stunned us. Laxman, a gentle young man, accompanied us on the trek. He
carried the first-aid bag, answered our questions and translated if needed. He had the task of providing water to Camp 1 and the roar of his paraffin stove and offer of “hot water” became one of my fondest memories of the trip. One night, Steve asked him where Tim was. Tim was actually on the hillside taking time-lapse photographs of the night sky but had been having some…. health problems and so Laxman, in his completely unaffected way, simply said, “Mr Tim is outside making movies and diarrhoea.” Arriving at Base Camp was amazing. Looking up at
the mountain towering above us was humbling and awe-inspiring. The top snowfields looked endless and vertical. We each had our own tent with a thin mattress, and there was a mess tent, toilet tent (complete with hole in the ground, best to use in the morning), wash tent, plus cooking, radio and store tents. Day times were pleasantly warm, night times were cold, we regularly woke with frost and our pee bottles frozen! The air was dry, causing all kinds of mischief to our mouths and noses. We were amazed what physical wrecks we had become – walking at base camp had us gasping for air, never mind climbing. A burp would cause a flurry of gasps, not to mention the phenomena of HAFE (high altitude flatulence expulsion). After a day or two supposedly acclimatising, we held a Puja to appease the mountain god, then made our way up the moraine to Advanced Base Camp – ABC (5,200m). A night at ABC, then up to Camp 1 (5,600m), involving an enormous boulder field then steep slabs with fixed ropes to the ridge where precarious tent platforms had been fashioned in the rocks. Camp 1 is at the foot of the southwest ridge proper. Mark however, spent the day on his
back, nauseous, regretting eating a huge dehydrated sausage the night before. Then the next day back to BC, then up to ABC, spend a night, then up to Camp 1, spend a night, climb to the base of the Yellow tower below Camp 2 (5,900m) and back to Camp 1. Then right back to base camp next day. Despite the spectacular surroundings, the track up and down the moraine became grimly familiar, but all this upping and downing was to acclimatise us for the final push to the top. We depended heavily on the Sherpas’ fitness to help us make progress up the mountain. They never appeared breathless. They carried our harnesses and helmets to the foot of the slabs, and our climbing boots, crampons and axes up to Camp 1. Water was carried into ABC as there was hardly any snow to melt. We baulked at the ethics of these techniques as well as pulling on the fixed ropes but, as Tim said, if we wanted to climb the mountain in a purist manner we would need six weeks, not the four we had. Then came the time for our summit bid. We both felt nervous on the climb to Camp 1. The next day, carrying sleeping bags, >>> CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
>>> mats, spare clothing and climbing equipment from Camp 1 to 2 was exhausting. Camp 2 is an incredible perch, just Google it if you have not seen it. But I was disappointed with the mess, including the human faeces scattered around. Certainly caused anxiety when melting rather grey-looking snow to make water! We set off at 2am, but there was quite a bottleneck climbing the Grey Couloir and, more worryingly, rock fall, unseen in the darkness. A rock cracked off Pepe’s helmet, fortunately only causing alarm. By dawn, we had reached hard ice and donned crampons. It was cold so we wore duvet jackets and trousers as we made our way along Mushroom ridge. Here the sun hit us and we began to sweat. Our Sherpa began to mutter that we were too slow and would have to turn back soon. Looking up I saw our next challenge. An overhanging ice cliff dripping in the bright sunlight. The leaders seemed to be having a real struggle on it. We took off our jackets and advanced, every step an effort. Andy was just ahead and in an attempt to make himself safer, had clipped two extra ropes, he was jumaring. The extra ropes had disappeared into the ice and he was now stuck! The hypoxia must have got to him because his Sherpa had to go up and release him. All this took time we did not have. Mark’s turn came next. “Oh my Lord,” as Steve would say. Pulling over the top, Mark saw a lonely Jens sitting where our Camp 3 62l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT
would have been if an avalanche in 2006 had not deterred teams from using this site. Sean was sitting on the edge of the plateau, head in hands, having decided to turn back as he had nearly blacked out and felt sick. I decided to walk to Jens. I reckoned if I took four deep breathes per step I would be OK. I stepped, took my four breathes… and still felt like I was about to die. It took another four before I felt normal again. Therefore, taking eight breathes per step I slowly made my way to Jens, glancing up the 500 metres to the top knowing I could not make it. To the right of the Dablam, I saw Matt, Pepe and Bill climbing with Andy (who would turn back soon) slowly following them. I drank the last of my water, ate some jelly babies…. and didn’t feel any better. Then Steve appeared, panting. Well, if I looked anything like that I was definitely going down, I thought. So, with heavy hearts,
we turned around at 11.30am having reached 6,300 metres. Trying hard not to die on the descent, we made it back to base camp in the fading light, significantly dehydrated, desperate for water. Steve took a nasty fall when a rock he stood on slid sideways and he bounced a body length down the steep scree. For one moment I thought he wasn’t going to stop…. Our thoughts were filled with failure; could we have pushed on? If only we had taken more water... maybe we have set off earlier... However, as Tim said, in Nepal “things are what they are” and I was glad to be going home to my family. Next day we left base camp and, after three days of agreeable walking we arrived back at Lukla, from where we flew out the next day. The technique on the runway seems to be to hold the plane on the brakes, rev up to full power then release the brakes so that the plane accelerates and reaches sufficient speed that it is flying just as the runway ends abruptly so that there is no dropping sensation despite the ground suddenly disappearing! In Kathmandu Tim treated us to a fantastic pizza, a trip to the local barbers who removed our untidy beards with great aplomb, an enormous steak and a session in the infamous Sam’s Bar. After a month of dry weather, we arrived back in Manchester to the chaos caused by Storm Desmond, but that is another story and this is simply the tale of our “Himalayan climbing days”!
“Cockermouth is defended” by MARTIN PICKAvANCE
64l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
‘Between the morning of Saturday the 5th of December and the afternoon of Monday the 7th Cockermouth MRT responded to 74 separate requests for assistance from people in our town’
It was still dark when I received the text message but it wasn’t out of the blue. All the forecasts were predicting that the northwest was about to be subjected to another ‘significant rainfall event’ and that areas of our region were once again at risk of flooding. I had spent much of the previous evening at the Team’s base, sitting in on a multi-agency teleconference , collating responses from the Water Rescue Group in order to identify the numbers of Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (SRTs) and other assets that mountain rescue teams across the Lakes would be able to make available over the next 48 hours. As I was pulling on my kit the phone rang. This time it was
Mike Park, our Team leader, asking if I was heading to the base. I was... but first I had to check something out. You see, until very recently me and my wife Jo, our two boys and Murphy the black labrador, all lived in a Victorian terrace at the top of a hill. But we sold our house and were now living in a nice little cottage, with scenic views of the River Derwent situated about 20 metres from the front door! I squinted out of the bedroom window into the gloom. The river had been up for weeks now, but this morning it was definitely higher than usual, breaking its banks in several places. We had seen this on a couple of occasions already this winter, but the water was >>> CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 65
>>> still a long way short of the flood defences constructed after the 2009 floods. As I was heading out of the house Jo asked me if we were going to flood. I repeated to her a phrase that I had heard used on multiple occasions during the previous night… “Cockermouth is defended!” Once at the base Mike and I went over the plan again, discussing the likely sequence of events, the command structure that would be in place, and the role that the Team would play. We had a brief discussion about my role. As a Water Incident Manager, I would normally offer to provide support to the strategic coordination from either Silver Command in Workington or Gold Command at Carlton Hall, Penrith. Mike however, understanding that our house was likely to be one of the first flooded, agreed that I should remain in Cockermouth. I could support any rescue activities taking place in the town whilst being able to stay in contact with Jo at home and, if it flooded, I could get there pronto. Once agreed I made two quick phone calls. The first was 66l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
to Jo, we discussed the height of the river; “now at the base of the flood banks”, and I reassured her that I wasn’t about to disappear off anywhere, and that I could be back at the house in a couple of minutes if necessary. The second call was to Andrew ‘Macca’ McNeil, one of the deputy Team leaders. I knew Macca and his wife Lyn had a nice holiday cottage in Pardshaw and I wanted to ask them if it was currently available! Hope for the best but plan for the worst… If our house on Gote Road did flood I wanted to know we had a dry place to stay for a few days. Since the 2009 floods the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, along with the other teams in our region, have put a great deal of effort into ensuring that we are prepared to support our communities during this kind of major incident. These preparations, funded entirely through the generous donations made by individuals and local
community groups across Cumbria have included: • Significant increases in the numbers of qualified Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (SRTs); • Funding and training of SRTInstructors, who provide high quality and rigorous training to MR Teams in the region free of charge; • Improvements in safety equipment worn by SRTs and the rescue equipment that they have access to; • Funding and training of Water Incident Managers (WIMs), to assist with the coordination of and response to flood events and other types of water rescue; • The development of a regional Water Rescue Group so that Teams are better able to provide timely support to one another
when dealing with major incidents or prolonged water search and rescue activities; • Continued involvement with the Local Resilience Forum, enabling mountain rescue Teams to contribute to major incident planning in our region; and • The continued development of SARCALL, our web-based incident management platform, developed by mountain rescue, but now widely used by emergency services across the UK. Within an hour of arriving at the base it was clear that the flood defences in Keswick were not going to be able to contain the River Greta for much longer. MR Silver Command (our Strategic >>> Command Group based at CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 67
>>> Wasdale MRT’s base) requested that we send a Type-C team to Keswick. We quickly mobilised a small team of seven SRTs led by Macca. By this point the rest of the Team had arrived at the base and were quietly and efficiently getting prepared for what most of us now was the inevitable. Although no official word had come through to tell us that Cockermouth was at any increased level of risk, we had all seen the height of the rivers and the reports coming back from Keswick so it was clear that things were likely to get worse. Most of the Team’s remaining SRTs were sorting equipment and helping each other into drysuits. Other members were preparing vehicles, identifying decontamination areas or going off to assist and advise at Gold and Silver commands elsewhere in the county. At about 11am Jo rang to tell me that she was starting to move the remaining furniture upstairs. Our neighbours had started to do the same and the river Derwent was now halfway up the flood defences and rising. I made my apologies to the rest of the Team in the control room, did a quick handover to another Team member, and drove home. Over the next 30 minutes we took down all the Christmas decorations, packed up books and toys and moved as much stuff as we could upstairs. Whatever wouldn’t go up the stairs was precariously balanced on top of the kitchen counters… surely it wouldn’t get higher than that! Just as I was preparing to leave the house Mike called again. He was on his way back from Silver Command in 68l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
Workington and was keen to take a look at the height of the River Derwent. A couple of minutes later we were both standing on top of the flood defences. The water was now just inches from the top of the bank and when we looked across the fields towards the cricket club we could see water pouring through the wire fence. It was definitely time to leave. After leaving the house I collected the keys to the holiday cottage, and then Jo and I set off in convoy along dark, flooded and debris-covered roads to Pardshaw. This journey, which usually takes less than 10
The Gold (Strategic), Silver (Tactical) and Bronze (Operational) command structure referred to in this article was created in 1985 by the Metropolitan Police Service in the wake of the Brixton Riots. Its primary objectives are to speed the flow of information and to support and coordinate operational taskings in the event of a major incident. At Gold and Silver levels a multiagency approach ensures that the right resources are utilised in the most effective way. MP
minutes, took at least forty. Once we had settled the boys in for the night and Jo had a glass of wine in her hand I headed back to Cockermouth. As I walked into the control room it was clear the situation had escalated significantly. Main Street, Waterloo Street, Rubby Banks Road, Gote Road, much of Derwentside Gardens and many other areas of the town were now completely flooded. Teams of SRTs were currently carrying out rescues on both sides of the River Derwent and, due to the closure of Gote Road bridge, the town was effectively cut in half. Our base was acting as a Bronze Command Hub. Silver Command was receiving 999 calls and other requests for assistance from all over the region. Based on the type of emergency, its geographic location and the assets available, Silver Command would allocate taskings to the most appropriate Bronze Hub. All this was done through the Silver SARCALL log, and as we received each tasking we would deploy a team tasked with carrying out a specific rescue. Once deployed, a separate Bronze log was used to record any issues or developments occurring during the course of the rescue. When the tasking was complete, ie the person or persons were in the care of an ambulance crew or had been transported to a designated reception centre, we would close the job, update both logs and then prepare to re-task the team on the ground. Now we were being supported by a number of SRTs from different MR Teams in the Lakes, as well as the Coastguard
‘All of the additional training, equipment and planning, funded predominantly by donations made in the wake of the 2009 floods, had a dramatic impact on the Team’s operational capacity and capabilities.’
and International Rescue. All of the visiting Teams were outstanding; however, I would like to take this opportunity to single out three individuals whose support was absolutely invaluable. Firstly, I would like to thank Mike Blakey and Bernie from Patterdale MRT who, despite being dressed in full SRT kit, spent most of Saturday afternoon and evening sitting in front of computers managing SARCALL logs. At one point I apologised to Mike. He brushed
off my apology saying, “We’re here to do whatever you need us to do!” I would also like to mention Paul White from Keswick MRT. Paul became stranded in Cockermouth on Saturday afternoon when the A66 was closed. Realising that he wouldn’t be able to get back to his home Team he made his way to our base and volunteered to help out. I quickly sized him up and suggested that he go downstairs and find Steve Whitehurst’s kit bag. Steve was
away in the Himalayas, but I was pretty sure he wouldn’t mind me lending his SRT kit out under the circumstances. Paul spent most of the next two days working as part of our Team and proved himself to be an excellent Team member and an all-round top bloke. Mountain Rescue Teams in the Lake District have always supported one another on callouts. However, over the last couple of years the bonds between Teams in the Lakes have been strengthened >>> CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 69
>>> through shared training, and other initiatives aimed at improving the ways that we work together in situations like the floods. The examples described here of the ways in which Mike, Bernie and Paul helped us only scratch the surface. In addition to supporting Cockermouth, LDSAMRA Teams from across the region provided SRTs and operational support to communities throughout our region. Between the morning of Saturday 5th December and the afternoon of Monday 7th Cockermouth MRT responded to 74 separate requests for assistance from people in our town. These ranged from simple welfare checks, with Team members wading through flood waters to visit elderly or infirm people, delivering medicine and food, or sometimes just providing some much-needed
This is my twelfth and final report for the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. I took on the job as editor because I felt that it was important to keep a dialogue with our supporters, the people who hold the collecting boxes, those who regularly donate and the general public. Though I have collated the articles and photographs, I have relied on members and other people, such as some we have rescued, to provide them. Likewise Chris Abbot must be credited with obtaining the adverts which help to offset the costs of production. 70l CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016
reassurance to full-blown technical rescues involving rescue boats and helicopters. The Team worked tirelessly to support their community, displaying the highest levels of commitment and professionalism. All of the additional training, equipment and planning, funded predominantly by donations made in the wake of the 2009 floods, had a dramatic impact on the Team’s operational capacity and capabilities. As soon as the flood waters had receded, Jo and I started the
However the real skill of producing the report lies with the graphic designers, initially with Mandy Salkeld and, for the past seven years, with Andy and Denise (pictured above, with me and Steve Brailey) from Smith+Bell, who have made it such a
job of clearing out the house on Gote Road and trying to salvage as much furniture as we could. Jo, with some help from our friends, managed to find us a rental property in town, and Liz at Lillingtons did an amazing job of fast-tracking the paperwork so that we could move in the following weekend. Thankfully Murphy and the boys seemed to take the whole thing in their strides, and, exactly a week after we were flooded out, we were settling into our new house and decorating a replacement Christmas tree. We decided to spend Christmas Day itself with Jo’s family in York, to get away from all the flooding. I spent most of Boxing Day fielding sarcastic text messages from fellow Team members, many of whom were travelling down the M1 to assist with the evacuation of properties... in York.
professional publication and who have given a lot of time and, generously, their services free. Finally my thanks to everyone who has assisted me in any way over the past twelve years. John Dempster
Collection boxes The Team is very grateful to the people and places who display our boxes. New box holders are very welcome. Please contact Derek Tunstall, who will be happy to supply one, on 01946 861051 or 07841 370644
4Play Cycles, Cockermouth Allerdale Court Hotel, Cockermouth Art & Craft Shop, Cockermouth Banks, Cockermouth Base Bassenthwaite Sailing Club Bassenfell Manor, Bassenthwaite Beaty & Co, Wigton Bitter Beck Pottery, Cockermouth Bitter End, Cockermouth Black Sail yH, Ennerdale Bleach Green Box, Ennerdale Bowness Knott Box, Ennerdale Bridge Hotel, Buttermere Bryson’s, Cockermouth Bush Inn, Cockermouth (2) Buttermere Café Buttermere yH Castle Bar, Cockermouth Cockermouth Sweet Shop Coffee and Cream, Cockermouth Commercial Inn, Dearham Crag Farm, Buttermere Croft House B&B, Cockermouth Derwent Labs/ Derwent House Surgery, Cockermouth Derwent Lodge, Embleton Dockray Meadow, Lamplugh Duke of Cumberland, Bridgefoot Ennerdale yH Fagan’s, Cockermouth Fanny Mercer, Buttermere Felldyke Bothy Firns, Cockermouth Fish Hotel, Buttermere Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale Galloping Horse, Harrington Gatesgarth Box Gatesgarth van Golf Club, Cockermouth Grange Hotel, Loweswater
Harrison’s Butchers, Cockermouth Heals Opticians, Cockermouth High Crag Cottage, Buttermere Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite Honister Box Honister yH, Buttermere Hundith Hill Hotel, Lorton Inglenook Caravan Park, Lamplugh Jennings Brewery Shop, Cockermouth Julie’s Sandwich Bar, Cockermouth Jubilee Garage, Egremont Kingfisher Hotel, Cockermouth Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater Lakeland Crafts, Buttermere Lakeland Guns, Workington Lifestyle Fitness & Shapers Gym Lifestyle Repairs, Cockermouth Lily & Co, Cockermouth Limelighting, Cockermouth Link House B & B, Embleton Liz Hunter, Cockermouth Lorton Shop, Lorton Low Park, Loweswater Maureen at Gatesgarth Merienda, Cockermouth Melbreak Hotel Mitchells, Cockermouth Moota Garden Centre New Bookshop, Cockermouth Oasis, Cockermouth Old Posting House, Dean One Stop Shop, Cockermouth Ouse Bridge, Bassenthwaite Paper Shop, Cockermouth Parkside Hotel, Wath Brow Pet Shop, Cockermouth
Percy House Gallery, Cockermouth Pheasant Hotel, Bassenthwaite Punch Bowl, Broughton Quince & Medlar, Cockermouth Rose Cottage B&B, Cockermouth Royal yew Tree Inn, Dean Sainsburys (inside), Cockermouth Sainsburys (outside), Cockermouth Scales Farm, Embleton Seth’s Bar, Cockermouth Shepherd’s Arms, Ennerdale Ship Inn, Dovenby Simply Drinks, Cockermouth Slatefell Stores, Cockermouth Snooty Fox, Uldale Sole it, Lock it, Workington Stork Hotel, Rowrah Swan Inn, Cockermouth Swinside End, Lorton Tea and Tranquility, Cockermouth The Brow, Lorton The Old vicarage, Lorton Tourist Information, Cockermouth Travis Perkins, Cockermouth Walkinshaw Garage, Workington Wellington Farm, Cockermouth Wheatsheaf Inn, Lorton Wheatsheaf Inn, Embleton Whinlatter visitor Centre Whitehaven Rambling Club, Whitehaven Wild Duck, Branthwaite Wishes, Cockermouth Woodhouse Guest House, Buttermere Wordsworth Hotel, Cockermouth Wyndham Caravan Park, Cockermouth CMRT ANNuAL REPORT 2016 l 71
Text a donation on your mobile phone. Text the message CMRT11 ÂŁ20 to number 70070, and we receive a ÂŁ20 donation, simple as that! We are charged no fees for this service so we receive every penny of the amount you donate.
Make an on-line donation via the Charities Aid Foundation website: www.cafonline.org
If you need mountain rescue, dial 999, ask for Cumbria Police, then mountain rescue www.cockermouthmrt.org.uk Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, PO Box 73, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 3AE