30-06-2025
Mountain Rescue teams help 3 DofE groups in 24 hours in the Lake District
A Lake District mountain rescue team had to help three different Duke of Edinburgh expedition groups in the space of 24 hours.
Two of the groups reported being disorientated, while the other was said to be 'lost, wet and cold' in their tent.
Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team said it had to 'dig deep'.
'Planning and preparation is absolutely key when heading out into the mountains,' it warned in a statement.
The first rescue began at around 1pm on Friday, the rescue team said.
'We were alerted by Cumbria Police to two groups of Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) students, 12 people in total, that were in difficulty close to the summit of Bowfell,' it said.
'Both groups had kept moving since they called in and were thankfully found half way down Rossett Ghyll.
'Vehicles transported them down Mickleden to their intended campsite in Langdale.'
At around 6pm, just over an hour after finishing the first rescue, the team was called out again.
'We received a call from Cumbria Police about a group of DofE students that were lost, wet and cold in their tent.
'Their intended location was Grizedale Tarn, however due to extremely reduced visibility they had become disorientated.
'After numerous calls to the school staff, as well as liaising with Patterdale MRT, it was decided that we would send two small groups to search the paths from our patch up to the Tarn.
'School staff also headed out to turn another of their groups around who were camping up Tongue Gill.
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'Team members helped the groups pack their tents and walked them down to the valley floor where they were met by the minibus to take them to Patterdale.'
The statement added: 'There are so many ways to assess the mountain weather forecast, ensure you have the equipment you need and gain the skills to undertake your planned activity.
'As we often say, we will always come out to help those in need and we know that accidents happen; all we ask is that you do everything in your power to create a safe and successful day.'
