A group of walkers who were under prepared for the wintry conditions were rescued by mountain rescue volunteers today.
The five walkers had contacted Cumbria police via an iPhone satellite emergency message to say they were close to hypothermia while out today, Sunday January 5.
They had set off for the Lake District at midnight from North Yorkshire, arrived at Seathwaite and set off a walk on Scafell Pike at 4am.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out at around 9.25am.
The team said: “An exact location was obtained, although this was in a remote area in Upper Eskdale.
“Further information received via another message indicated that one person was also ill, and another had injured his ankle. They had misnavigated off Scafell Pike summit, attempting to return to Seathwaite.”
The group had found themselves in Upper Eskdale; cold, wet and concerned for their safety.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said: “They were not equipped properly for full winter conditions on the high fells, and were also inexperienced.
“At times they were waist deep in snow. To their credit, they fully acknowledged their misjudgement in this attempt and were humble and thankful for the help, fully aware this could have ended with a much worse outcome.”
The team called out the Coastguard helicopter and Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team sent out an advance party of two to find the walkers.
The team said: “Thankfully the advance party had not travelled too far when they met up with the party of five walking out.
“All were safe and able to complete the journey to the road and then to a local hostelry, where they could organise a taxi back to Borrowdale.”
