Lakes Rescue Stats 'On The Up'

Lake District mountain rescue teams are reporting that their call-out statistics are now back up to pre-foot and mouth levels according to this story on the BBC News site.

In 2002, says the report, there were 337 incidents on Lakeland fells, only marginally fewer than before foot and mouth struck. Other trends include MRTs becoming better equipped and more walkers and climbers carrying and using mobile phones.

If you're feeling ghoulish or maybe just curious, the annual Lake District rescue statistics are available on the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association web site. Last year's haven't been added yet, however there are details for the years between 1991 and 2001.

Rescue In Coniston Area...

Meanwhile, as part of the same story, the Beeb reports that two climbers who 'fell 30 feet while climbing on a rock face below B buttress on the Old Man of Coniston' survived despite suffering head injuries and were helicoptered to hospital in Whitehaven.

Incidentally, it seems more likely that they were actually below B Buttress on Dow Crag.