A walker was airlifted to Carlisle hospital after being found exhausted in deep snow on a Lake District fell.
Ambleside: So, there was this walker who got really worn out while trying to do a circular hike in heavy snow. They ended up needing a helicopter ride to the hospital in Carlisle.
The Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team got a call from the police after some folks spotted the walker at the top of Hartsop above How around 2 PM on January 12, 2025. It turns out the walker had started their trek early in the morning but just couldn’t keep going in those snowy conditions.
When they were found, they were so cold and exhausted that they couldn’t even stand. The rescue team jumped into action, and they even called for a coastguard helicopter because hypothermia was a real concern.
It took the team about an hour and a half to reach the walker because of the deep snow. The helicopter from Caernarfon had a tough time landing due to low clouds, so it had to wait at the Patterdale base for better weather.
While waiting, the team wrapped the cold walker in a special bag with heat packs to keep them warm and put them on a stretcher. They then started the slow trek through the snow to get the walker off the fell.
Luckily, the coastguard crew tried landing again and this time it worked! The walker was flown to Carlisle hospital for more care. The rescue team was super thankful to the coastguard for their help and also to a local shop for providing pizzas after their long day out.
