A man has died after falling 590ft on Helvellyn.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out at around 8.50pm on Sunday after his wife raised the alarm.
He was staying in the Grasmere area with their black Labrador. She had been tracking her husband’s progress on Helvellyn and noticed his phone hadn’t moved for a few hours.
It was established that the man was probably out on his bicycle with the dog. Police confirmed that his vehicle was still at the holiday property.
The team along with Keswick and Langdale Ambleside teams, were called out to search the various routes up to the location being communicated by the man’s phone; close to the summit of Helvellyn.
Three search dogs and their handlers also joined the search.
A Coastguard helicopter travelled from Prestwick and made numerous attempts to get into the area but due to low cloud and high winds they were unsuccessful.
At about 1am, battling atrocious weather conditions, Patterdale and Keswick team members managed to reach the location identified and found the man’s bike and phone, close to the edge of the summit plateau. However there was no sign of the man or his dog.
At around 1.30pm, with weather conditions deteriorating further, the decision was made to call off the search until first light for the safety of the team members involved. The last party cleared the fell at about 3.30am.
Yesterday, Monday December 30, at 8am, members from Cockermouth, Penrith and Kirkby Stephen and Patterdale rescue teams were briefed on the incident and made their way up to the Helvellyn summit plateau again.
A rope system was set up to enable them to descend the headwall down towards Red Tarn and search the area where the man was suspected to be.
A Coastguard helicopter again attempted to access the area to assist with the search but due to conditions was still unable to help and landed at Patterdale.
In the late morning it was confirmed that the dog had been found alive and well on a ledge on the headwall.
Shortly afterwards rescuers lowered down to the area found the man and confirmed that he had died as a result of the injuries sustained in a fall of around 590ft.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team said: “The man’s body was lowered by stretcher to the back of Red Tarn, then carried down to Greenside and transported back to Patterdale base where it was handed over to Cumbria police.
“The whole incident took 20 hours to complete over two days and involved Patterdale, Keswick, Langdale Ambleside, Cockermouth, Penrith and Kirkby Stephen mountain rescue team members, three Lake District Search And Rescue Dogs and two Coastguard helicopters.
“In total 68 MRT rescue personnel were involved over the two days. We would like to send our condolences to the man’s family and friends and our thanks to the various teams and helicopter crews who assisted with the search and subsequent recovery.”
