A mountain rescuer sustained 'life-changing injuries' after falling 500ft (150m) while trying to reach two people who breached lockdown rules to go camping in the Lake District.
The volunteer, a man in his 60s, had been part of a team responding to calls in Red Screes, above Kirkstone Pass, where one of the duo camping was suffering chest pains in the early hours of Saturday morning (6 February).
The injured rescuer, from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, was airlifted to hospital by a HM Coastguard helicopter, while the North West Ambulance Service transported the man with chest pains to hospital by road.
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According to the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSMRA), the mountain rescue volunteer suffered serious injuries during the fall, and is being treated in hospital.
Cumbria Police said the two campers - a man from Liverpool and a man from Leicester who had car-shared to drive to the Lake District - each received a £200 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions.
Mike Blakey, operational lead for the 12 teams of the Lakes District rescue teams and Patterdale team-member, said: "I cannot stress enough the message to stay at home during lockdown.
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"This rescue, and the subsequent life-changing injuries incurred by our team member, were avoidable.
"Rescue team members are volunteers who train extensively to rescue others in the most atrocious weathers and in inhospitable places.
"However the risks are always there and the impact of an incident like this is far-reaching across the rescue and emergency services family.
"On behalf of the casualty's family I would like to formally thank everyone involved in the rescue of our team member, including the medics and helicopter crew, and the amazing support he has received so far since being admitted to hospital.
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"Of course our priority now is to support him and his family."
Speaking to press at the site yesterday (7 February), Blakey added that his injured team member was awake in hospital and speaking.
He added: "I'm absolutely clear that this was a completely avoidable risk.
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"And I genuinely hope that they are reflecting really hard on the consequences of their decisions."
A statement from LDSMRA said: "No one sets out on the fells with the intention of having an accident and our thoughts are also with the original caller who became ill whilst camping on the fells.
"However, the simple truth is that the more people who are out walking in the Lakeland fells, the higher the chances that our mountain rescue team will be called out.
"Rescues are much more challenging during the coronavirus pandemic; our team members need to operate in PPE, and many of our volunteers also have full time jobs as key workers in the NHS and other essential services."
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Featured Image Credit: LDSMRA