Coniston Old Man, 1st January 12:39hrs 1/2017

The weather was clear, sunny and dry after heavy overnight rain had cleared. There was a brisk North Easterly wind blowing making it very cold on the tops, especially out of the sun. The fells were busy with many people taking the advantage of excellent visibility.

Coniston MRT was contacted by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) regarding a male walker who had slipped and sustained a leg injury while ascending The Old Man of Coniston.

Having confirmed the casualty’s approximate position, one vehicle left to get treatment and shelter to him as soon as possible, to reduce the potential for hypothermia becoming a problem. Conscious that it was a potentially long carry out with significant obstacles, and with limited numbers responding initially, Duddon & Furness MRT was contacted to boost numbers on the hill and make for a safer and quicker evacuation.

The man was treated for a leg injury which had exacerbated an underlying medical history, and was then stretchered down to the various Team vehicles at Bursting Stone Quarry, for transport to the Coniston Team’s HQ, where he was examined further before being handed over to an NWAS Land Ambulance crew for further diagnosis & treatment at Furness General Hospital, Barrow in Furness.

The incident took 3 1/4 hours and involved 16 members of Coniston MRT and 14 members of Duddon & Furness MRT