Mountain rescuers and the RAF were called on just 44 minutes into the new year after two walkers attempted to scale a 3,000ft-high Lake District fell in poor weather to see in 2023.
Keswick Mountain Rescue team, in their first emergency call-out of the year, were contacted by two well-equipped and experienced walkers who decided to celebrate the new year at the top of Great Gable.
However when they reached the linked Green Gable, the women were met with strong winds, blowing, persistent rain, sleet, hail and snow, said the team. Taking note of the weather, they decided to turn back. But on their descent, one of the women fell, breaking her ankle.
It prompted them to call on the help of the mountain rescue team, who were able to approach from Honister then the steep mine track up towards Dubs Hut, reports Lancs Live.
Due to the potentially difficult location, rescuers called on the help of the coastguard. Unfortunately, weather conditions meant they had to turn back. The team were eventually able to locate the walkers and safely bring them down from the fell.
A spokesperson for Keswick Mountain Rescue said: "Happy New Year! In what must be some kind of record, our first callout for 2023 occurred just 44 minutes into the new year. Two well equipped and experienced women, who had considered the weather forecast, decided to celebrate the start of the new year on top of Great Gable.
"When they reached Green Gable conditions were impressively unpleasant with strong winds blowing persistent rain, sleet, hail and snow so they wisely turned back. Unfortunately on the descent one of them slipped and fell breaking her ankle so they called 999 and asked for Mountain Rescue.
"Keswick team responded quickly (those that were able!) but as luck would have it members of RAF Valley and RAF Lossiemouth have been staying in Keswick base for a few days and were able to boost our numbers considerably.
"The teams approached from Honister then the steep mine track up towards Dubs Hut. Due to the location and potential difficulty in extracting the casualty the Coast Guard were also tasked. Rescue 936 from Caernarfon attempted to approach from Wasdale and Ennerdale but they were forced to turn back because of the conditions.
"The casualty and her friend plus two dogs were found exactly on their Phone Find location. The injury was assessed, pain relief administered and the leg splinted and bandaged before the casualty was loaded onto a stretcher for the carry back to Honister. We owe a huge debt of thanks to the RAF MR team members who came out and helped with the callout.
"What a memorable start to the new year."
The team also responded to a second New Year's Day rescue after a couple and their dog 'got a bit confused' after descending Scafell Pike and ended up in Wasdale.
READ NEXT:
