Incident reports

Outcome: Person located and handed over to police.

An American tourist required mountain rescue assistance after becoming severely ill from drinking untreated river water along the West Highland Way. The team transported him to safety after he experienced vomiting and was unable to walk. This was the second similar incident in the area within a week, prompting the rescue team to issue guidance on water safety in agricultural regions.

Outcome: casualty transported by mountain rescue team

A team was requested by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist with the extrication of a casualty in Riffa Woods on 13 June 2026. Team members and specialist vehicles worked alongside ambulance colleagues to carefully extract the casualty from the remote woodland location and transfer them for onward medical care.

Outcome: casualty extricated and transferred for medical care

Mountain rescue teams were called out on Wednesday afternoon to a young female who had fallen into a ditch and sustained a suspected broken ankle. Upon arrival, the individual was already receiving care from local park rangers and the fire service.

Outcome: Medical attention provided by other services

Two walkers on the West Highland Way became ill after consuming water from a stream near Conic Hill. Both individuals were evacuated by mountain rescue teams due to vomiting and required hospital attention. The team advised that filtering alone is not guaranteed to make natural water sources safe for drinking.

Outcome: Medical attention required; advice given to use bottled or treated water.

Mountain rescue teams were called out to assist with a multi-day search for a missing person near Penton/Kershope Forest. After extensive searching involving numerous agencies and resources over several days, the individual was eventually located by a police dog on Tuesday afternoon.

Outcome: Missing person found alive

A 12-hour search operation involving 25 rescuers and five boats was launched on Ullswater for a missing person. Multiple teams including North Cumbria Search and Rescue, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, HM Coastguard, and Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association were deployed to the area.

The rescue team responded to reports of an American tourist who became severely ill after consuming water from a stream on the West Highland Way. This was noted as the second such incident in a short period, leading officials to advise that all collected stream water should be treated by boiling or chemical means.

Outcome: Casualty required urgent medical attention and was transported back to a main car park.

The team responded to a request for assistance regarding a walker who sustained a knee injury on Kerridge Ridge. While ambulance crews located and treated the individual, they required support transporting the casualty from the ridge down to the waiting ambulance on the road below.

Outcome: Casualty safely transported from the ridge to an ambulance.

West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team conducted a seven-hour search for a high-risk missing person in the Illogan area on 17 May. The missing person was located outside the search area by police, and the team stood down at 17:30.

Outcome: missing person located by police

Two walkers on the West Highland Way became incapacitated by vomiting overnight, prompting Lomond Mountain Rescue Team to assist with evacuations. The incidents have led authorities to warn walkers against drinking untreated water from streams, recommending use of bottled water or treated sources instead.

Outcome: both casualties assisted and evacuated; one returned to car park by rescue team vehicle

Outcome: The walker was safely rescued after sliding down a slope and being held by his foot jamming between two trees. He received treatment for a suspected lower leg injury before being transported to hospital.

Mountain rescue teams were called out after two walkers became stranded in the waterfalls area of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. One walker was found dangling upside down above a 20-foot drop, requiring a complex rope rescue operation to bring them to safety.

Outcome: The casualty was safely rescued and treated for a suspected lower leg injury.

A fell runner sustained a lower leg injury after falling near a stone stile on the Upper Brockholes section of the Calderdale Way. The team attended to the casualty, provided pain relief, and evacuated them via an ambulance for onward treatment at Huddersfield A&E.

Outcome: Transported to hospital

Patterdale MRT was conducting a search for a high-risk missing person and requested additional support from the LDSAMRA Silver coordination group. Wasdale MRT deployed five team members to assist with searching areas within their allocated patch.

Outcome: Search concluded successfully.

Wasdale MRT was contacted by Cumbria Police regarding a couple and their dog needing assistance at the bad step on the Corridor Route. After establishing phone contact, the Team Leader provided reassurance and guidance, enabling the individuals to safely navigate past the obstacle themselves.

Outcome: No further assistance required

A walker undertaking the Coast to Coast fell down Loft Beck near Ennerdale on 14 May 2026. A Maritime Coastguard Helicopter was requested due to initial concerns of a significant fall and potential head injury. The casualty was airlifted to hospital by helicopter with a back injury.

Outcome: airlifted to hospital with back injury

Outcome: Casualty safely transported from the scene for medical assessment.

The team responded to a request from North Wales Police to search for a high-risk missing person in the Halkyn area. Searches were conducted on Wednesday evening and resumed on Thursday morning with assistance requested from neighbouring teams.

A walker from a group of four slipped on a steep, scrambly section of the upper edge path at Ashway above Dovestones on Sunday morning and sustained a suspected upper-arm fracture. The casualty was assessed by Oldham Mountain Rescue Team and airlifted by North West Air Ambulance to hospital, with twelve volunteers involved in a three-hour 45-minute rescue operation.

Outcome: casualty airlifted to hospital by helicopter

A casualty was found by a member of the public after falling down a steep bank into a stream at Lumb Clough Beck. They sustained injuries to their knee and shoulder before being treated by multiple services and airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary.

Outcome: Transported by air ambulance