Dow Crag 18th March 2015 16:36hrs 9/2015

It was a relatively calm, mild afternoon with hazy sunshine embracing the fells, clearing more on the tops as time went on.

The team was tasked with assisting a female climber who had been descending with friends from the ridge of Dow Crag, into the gully between Easy Gully and South Rake. A large rock she was on suddenly collapsed and she slipped about 12 feet injuring her ankle.

Fortunately two team members who were already on Coniston Old Man, were able to make their way to the casualty and were on scene before the team arrived. Whilst one went down to assess her the other examined the evacuation possibilities as the lady could not put weight on her ankle at all. On arrival at the top of the gully the team discussed the options of evacuation using the rope and climbing equipment which had been carried to the crag. A stretcher carry would prove to be the most difficult due to the steep and rocky location. However the RAF were able to attend this incident and it was agreed that winching was the safest method. She was therefore winched in to the helicopter which then took her to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.

In total 16 Team Members responded to this call out which took 3½ hours.