Great How 17th February 2014 14:25hrs 5/2014

The fells were covered in mist and it was wet and windy at times.

The Team were asked to search for a man and woman who had become lost in the mist whilst descending from the ridge off Coniston Old Man. We were unable to establish their exact location by mobile phone location locking. They were believed to be somewhere above Levers Water.

Search Sacks, First Aid and a Rope were taken, together with full winter kit. The team split into small groups each with an area to sweep and logistically should all meet on the ridge having searched all the common routes. Two team members were LDSARDA dog handlers and they started the search below Great How Crags. Great How is one area where people do get crag fast after taking the wrong path off the ridge, especially in mist. Whistles were heard by the dog handlers, and team personnel focussed on the Great How area. The couple were located approximately 300 meters up the crag. A rope belay system was set up and the two casualties were lowered down. After a walk round Levers Water they were collected by the land rovers and driven back to the base for hot drinks and food.

14 team members responded to this incident as well as two other SARDA dog handlers in addition to ours. It took 4 ¼ hours.