Two walkers who were trapped for 24 hours in a Lake District gill have been saved by rescue teams.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out by Cumbria police to the pair who were stuck on steep ground inside Piers Gill last Sunday at 1pm.
They had been spotted by a walker on the East side of the gill who heard them calling for help.
While from a distance they appeared unharmed – they had actually suffered injuries from slips and falls.
The gill itself is a ‘canyon’ descent that Mountain Rescue urges people to avoid and is considered one of the biggest gorge’s in the Lake District.
Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team were called for additional crag support as the team said they were aware that it could be a difficult and technical rescue.
The team added that any rope access into the gill is considered inherently hazardous, so helicopter support was also requested via a Coastguard helicopter with winching capability.
The walkers were saved by crew members via a rope rescue, who once on scene, realised the casualties were in a more serious condition that first thought.
Helicopter support was requested for evacuation from the scene and the first walker was flown down the valley, where other team members carried out a more through assessment on them.
The second walker was then received on a stretcher and flown down the valley, where both were then flown to hospital for further assessment and treatment.
A Wasdale Mountain Rescue spokesman said: “We wish both casualties a swift recovery. Thanks to Duddon and Furness MRT and the Rescue 199 crew for their support (twice!) in this callout.”
29 rescue team members were involved and the rescue lasted 10 hours.
