Wild camper feared wind would throw him into tarn

A wild camper who braved the rain to spend the night on top of a mountain told rescuers he feared he would be blown into a tarn by high winds.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) were called to help the 21-year-old off Helvellyn, in Cumbria, on Thursday.

The call came at about 22:00 BST from the man himself, who was camping just south of the summit shelter after climbing Striding Edge.

KMRT helped the man to safety, but said he had to endure a "telling off" from his mum.

A spokesman said: "Whilst he had seen the forecasted rain and was prepared for that, the wind got the better of the tent and broke the poles.

"Concerned he may be lifted by the wind and thrown into Red Tarn inside the rapidly deteriorating tent, he escaped and took refuge behind the walls of the summit shelter from where he called 999."

Five rescuers found the man wet and cold, but able to move quickly and be guided down the mountain.

KMRT posted on its Facebook page: "With his accommodation for the night still somewhere in the Helvellyn summit area, he phoned his mum who, after a bit of a telling off, agreed to come and collect him from the team base."

They added anyone who spots the man's camping equipment should contact the team.

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