Busy year for rescuers after 100th call out

A mountain rescue team says it has had a "busier than usual" year as it responded to its latest call out at the weekend.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called to Dove Crag, near Ambleside, Cumbria, on Saturday evening, after a man injured his ankle and was unable to continue a descent.

The team of 10 located him and took him down to Sykeside, where he was reunited with his friends "for a well earned pint".

A spokesman said it was the team's 100th call out of 2024.

The man had been walking with friends when he injured his leg earlier in the day.

He had managed to continue on the route over both Helvellyn and Fairfield, but as the group started going down into Dovedale it became clear he could not carry on.

Due to poor mobile phone coverage, two of his friends made their way to Sykeside campsite from where they could call for help.

"After stabilising his ankle with a splint, and with some assistance the male was able to slowly walk down to the team Land Rovers," the team spokesman said, adding: "He was then driven to Sykeside to be reunited with his friends for a well earned pint and their overnight camp."

The spokesman said 2024 had been "busier than usual" but the team's volunteers were always available "for anyone who finds themselves in difficulties in the fells of the Ullswater valley".

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].