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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: Steveandsam on 18:41:05, 07/02/21
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So, a mountain rescue volunteer is facing life threatening injuries because of 2 idiotic campers, who deliberately chose to ignore lockdown restrictions... I'm lost for words quite honestly!!
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I've not seen the story but sadly I'm not at all surprised, gross stupidity. I hope they make a large donation to MR
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The article is on Grough News. It does not say whether the eild camper has been fined.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-55970536
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The article is on Grough News. It does not say whether the wild camper has been fined.
BBC (radio)News said they both had
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What were they thinking? One from Leicester, one from Liverpool, travelling to the Lakes, and forcing the Mountain Rescue Team to come into close contact with them and other members of the team. And risk their lives - hope that the injured rescuer makes a good recovery. EDIT - I've just read that the rescuer suffered "life changing injuries". :(
£200 fine does not seem enough. I would like to think that the Lockdown breaching campers will have the decency to offer their sincere apologies, and make a substantial donation - but I'm not holding my breath.
Edit - I also hope that the rescued camper recovers from his chest pains.
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A further point - I do wonder how the press would have covered this incident had it not occurred during the pandemic.
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More about it here:
https://www.itv.com/news/border/2021-02-07/mountain-rescuer-suffers-life-changing-injuries-after-490ft-fall-on-lake-district-call-out
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One of the local ITV News Reporters - Fiona Marley Patterson posted this on her FB page:
"I've now spoken to the camper with chest pains. He says he's had 3 heart attacks in 3.5 years & thought it was happening again. Scared, alone in a tent with the same pain... he says he paused before dialling 999 knowing it meant calling someone out in lockdown but he knows calling for help was the right thing to do. He says he knows he shouldn't have been there but he lives alone and thought a walk in the countryside with one friend would help his depression. He says what happened will haunt him forever, the guilt he feels. He says he deserved the fine & hopes one day to be able to shake the injured rescuer's hand & thank the team: "I'd probably cry with guilt but I'd love to shake his hand and tell him I'll never forget him." He wants to donate to
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team and raise funds in the future because "they're all heroes".
I have absolutely no sympathy for this guy. Leaving aside the argument about whether he was right or wrong to have driven to the Lakes to camp. There's no way that someone with a history of heart attacks should have been camping in the freezing cold conditions we've been experiencing here this weekend.
All of my sympathy and thoughts are with the Mountain Rescue Team member and his family.
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Just a £200 fine, they should be charged with endangering lives as well, they knew the risk but chose to ignore it, no sympathy from me.
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Totally gutted for the volunteer...we all know it’s a desperately unfair world at times...certainly a poor reward for selfless bravery.
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One of the local ITV News Reporters - Fiona Marley Patterson posted this on her FB page:
I have absolutely no sympathy for this guy. Leaving aside the argument about whether he was right or wrong to have driven to the Lakes to camp. There's no way that someone with a history of heart attacks should have been camping in the freezing cold conditions we've been experiencing here this weekend.
All of my sympathy and thoughts are with the Mountain Rescue Team member and his family.
I'll second all of that O0
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I'll second all of that O0
Totally agree with that, sheer irresponsible idiots with no thought for others. My thoughts and best wishes are with the Patterdale Mountain Rescue VOLUNTEER!!! and his family.
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Covid to one side for a moment. A sad story to read at any time.
No one sets out on a walk, if they think they are going to get in serious difficulty, though some show very poor judgement of risk. No one makes a volunteer climb a mountain to rescue someone else either. The MRT do generally show far better judgement of risk though, but no one gets it right all the time.
Covid back in the picture. The two walkers were in breach of current law and fined for that.
My thoughts are with both i'll parties.
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Though I agree in principle with your comments too, BuzyG, I do think that to set out to camp in the current cold weather when you've had three heart attacks is showing a bit more than poor judgement.
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Covid to one side for a moment. A sad story to read at any time.
No one sets out on a walk, if they think they are going to get in serious difficulty, though some show very poor judgement of risk. No one makes a volunteer climb a mountain to rescue someone else either. The MRT do generally show far better judgement of risk though, but no one gets it right all the time.
Covid back in the picture. The two walkers were in breach of current law and fined for that.
My thoughts are with both i'll parties.
Indeed. Accidents happen to the most experienced from time to time. Desperately unlucky.
And the camper with chest pains? He made a stupid mistake, yes, both in camping high during bad weather with a heart condition, and in doing so during a deadly global pandemic, but it sounds as if he is genuinely sorry, and the guilt will live with him for the rest of his life. As will his heart condition, so yes, I do have some sympathy for him as well as for his badly injured rescuer.
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Covid to one side for a moment. A sad story to read at any time.
No one sets out on a walk, if they think they are going to get in serious difficulty, though some show very poor judgement of risk. No one makes a volunteer climb a mountain to rescue someone else either. The MRT do generally show far better judgement of risk though, but no one gets it right all the time.
Covid back in the picture. The two walkers were in breach of current law and fined for that.
My thoughts are with both i'll parties.
The MRT reps have already said it, a totally needless rescue. Volunteer SAR will always have a selfless streak and this can get you into trouble, however I do question whether 'show far better judgement of risk' with respect to the volunteer is the correct phrasing here.
The fact is that ordinarily that rescuer would have shown that better judgement by being at home (where they were). However instead they answered the callout despite knowing they'd likely be out on the fells at 2am, moving by head torch and dealing with sleep deprivation whilst moving in steep terrain - because they wanted to help someone who had chest pains who shouldn't have been there. You accept through years of experience that you can mitigate the risk but no callout is risk-free - and these campers choosing to do what they did has caused multiple dozens of people to incur these risks. The fact that the initial injured party has had three heart attacks in 3.5 years yet still decided to climb fells in winter and camp up there absolutely beggars belief, particularly considering cold conditions will have caused his heart to be working overtime. Considering this dubious decision making it does make me wonder whether he had his medication with him, or was he drinking prior to the incident. This speculating is useless on here but I'm sure the debrief will be going into these types of questions.
For those who say 'if you take Covid out of the picture' then they would have been there anyway and it would have gone the same way - I disagree. MR responses have altered significantly during Covid and often vehicles are dispatched with minimal team members, the overall response is scaled back and some people on the teams (in particular healthcare professionals) have been exposed to Covid and need to isolate - putting greater strain on those team members who do turn out as well as sometimes heavily loading those with equipment. For example carrying a stretcher, oxygen bag and your personal winter rucksack + rope at the same time represents a good 70-90lbs.
(https://i1.wp.com/www.lakelandwalkingtales.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/P1010544.jpg?resize=474%2C356)
This photo is looking down the eastern side of Red Screes to the Kirkstone Pass. Definitely the kind of terrain that at 2-3am, laden, is obviously going to be challenging.
There is also the 'cause and effect' discussion around Covid working the other way - perhaps the two campers would have called the rescue team earlier rather than being indecisive due to lockdown rule breaking? Perhaps this could have influenced the conditions on the ground so that the accident may have been avoided? Considering this rescue involved something near 100 people (3 rescue teams, 1 helicopter, 1 road ambulance, police, hospital staff and significant covid transmission risk doing stretcher carries - my overall feeling is how needless this was.
As to the initial injured party in question, I wish him a full recovery and hope he takes some time to contemplate his decisions. There was mention of dealing with depression and I hope he gets over this, enjoys his life and lives it to the full as a testament to the opportunity he now has, in part thanks to the rescuer who is now severely limited in his own enjoyment of life.
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This photo is looking down the eastern side of Red Screes to the Kirkstone Pass. Definitely the kind of terrain that at 2-3am, laden, is obviously going to be challenging.
..especially in icy conditions.
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Just been on the GoFundMe site to make a donation to help the MR team member that was injured, just hope others follow.
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Here is the link to the GoFundMe campaign.
Link deleted - the site is probably genuine, but, as April says, better to donate directly to Patterdale Mountain Rescue.
Edit - John Gale does appear to be a real person, and has been involved in fundraising in Hebden Bridge before.
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Just been on the GoFundMe site to make a donation to help the MR team member that was injured, just hope others follow.
Thanks for the heads up! O0
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I don't know what they were thinking especially during the winter. The amount of the fine is pathetic.
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The men will have to live with the consequences of their actions forever, I am pleased I'm not in their shoes. But like most people I have been sticking to local so I would never be in them. This shouldn't have happened.
The go fund me page has been set up by John Gale of Hebden Bridge. Who is he?
This is Patterdale Mountain rescues take on that
"We strongly encourage you to be cautious about donating to independently established funding sites, none of which we have authorised, as it is not uncommon for these to be set up with fraudulent intent.”
Injured Rescuer - Red Screes Appeal - Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (https://www.mountainrescue.org.uk/support-us/)
I will be donating directly to the Patterdale MRT
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Thanks for posting that link, April O0
Truly terrible story. Just hoping the MRT rescuer makes as full a recovery as possible.
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The go fund me page has been set up by John Gale of Hebden Bridge. Who is he?
Valid comment about being cautious, April. Best to donate directly to Patterdale MRT.
I did a little digging, and John Gale does appear to be a real person, and has been involved in fundraising in Hebden Bridge in the past.
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Valid comment about being cautious, April. Best to donate directly to Patterdale MRT.
I did a little digging, and John Gale does appear to be a real person, and has been involved in fundraising in Hebden Bridge in the past.
Yeah I was going to say, he's been involved in fund raising for community projects in the past and appears to be legitimate - you certainly don't put in the graft to run community projects for the financial gain (an understatement). But overall yes, the direct donation to the Patterdale team seems to be the best choice - and their statement seems to imply they're wanting to create a charitable vehicle (his own charity) to help the rescuer with longer term charity.
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I did a little digging, and John Gale does appear to be a real person, and has been involved in fundraising in Hebden Bridge in the past.
Yes I googled his name and brought that up too but that was in 2010 and 2011. We still don't know if it is him or if it is all legit. He gives no other details about himself or how he is connected to Patterdale MRT or the injured team member. How he will be passing this money on? I hope it is genuine because the total on the go fund me page is over £15,000 at present.
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I certainly hope so as I made a donation! :o I will be keeping an eye on what happens.
But as you say, best to donate directly to Patterdale MRT.
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https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19076430.thousands-raised-injured-patterdale-mountain-rescue-volunteer/
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https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19076430.thousands-raised-injured-patterdale-mountain-rescue-volunteer/ (https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19076430.thousands-raised-injured-patterdale-mountain-rescue-volunteer/)
Thank you for the link Richard O0 I am pleased it is genuine and not fraudulent. Sorry to seem so cynical and mistrusting but I deal with so many liars and dishonest people in the course of my job :(
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Just been on YouTube and was shocked to see a video of someone name
Joe Garth wild camp on Bamford Edge this month, when will people ever learn. Didn't watch it all, just too angry because of recent events.
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Just a quick heads up - leader of Patterdale MRT is on BBC Breakfast at 8.10 this morning discussing the incident.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-56081225
'The campers, who called for help after one of them started suffering chest pains, have been widely condemned online, but Martin Cotterell from the team said volunteers "are not there to judge".'
This struck me. I should perhaps take a leaf from his book, although it is hard not to judge.
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Thanks for the heads up pdstsp. I watched it and was very moved by the volunteers' responses. They are wonderful, selfless people. It is very difficult not to judge those 2 campers, as you say Richard.
The fund set up by the LD Search and Mountain Recue Association is at £97,850 already.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
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Impressive total that, April. The John Gale fund is over £20K too.
Edit - LD fund over £150K now :)
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There's some really thoughtless and stupid people rearing their heads during this pandemic. Everyone is fed up of the lockdowns, restrictions, pubs being closed etc etc. All it takes is some self discipline and common sense then these type of things along with others like illegal gatherings, raves and so on, wouldn't be happening.My sympathies are with the injured mountain rescue member, the campers are sorry but sorry doesn't alter the fact that they were breaking the law and shouldn't have been there. They deserve all the guilt they feel and more.
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The fund is near to £200,000 now.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
I saw this article in The Guardian about him, very sobering reading. It seems Chris has been paralysed from the neck down.
Mountain rescuer who fell helping lockdown breakers may never walk again | Lake District | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/16/mountain-rescuer-lake-district-fall-may-never-walk-again-chris-lewis)
The two campers do deserve all the guilt they feel and more, I totally agree Richard.
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The fund is near to £200,000 now.
That is very heartening to read, April.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
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Update: apparently the Chris Lewis Support Fund has raised £372,679 so far (Weds 17 Feb).
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
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The response to the appeal is fantastic. Not far off £400k now.
I’m sure all he wants is a full recovery, and let’s all hope for that, but otherwise this will hopefully make his recuperation easier.
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Now at £465,000.
I’m sure all he wants is a full recovery, and let’s all hope for that, but otherwise this will hopefully make his recuperation easier.
I'm sure he does too but he has such a severe injury to his spinal cord, he may never walk or be able to use his hands. This money will help to buy the equipment and care he needs, it is an absolutely horrible thing to have happened to him, an avoidable accident.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
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I agree April. It's great that people are supporting but awful that it's needed.
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Now at £465,000.
I'm sure he does too but he has such a severe injury to his spinal cord, he may never walk or be able to use his hands. This money will help to buy the equipment and care he needs, it is an absolutely horrible thing to have happened to him, an avoidable accident.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
There’s no harm in being positive, and remarkable recoveries do happen, but yes, it’s most likely going to fund rehabilitation and long-term care.
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I saw an article and the interviews with the team members was both uplifting and very sad. One team member had been speaking to the injured party and said he was already planning where they could go in his wheelchair. As active walkers, I’m sure we can all relate in a small way to the loss he must feel. Even a small injury which puts you out for a week or two is frustrating.
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The fund is now at £578,249.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
The local news had a report about it tonight.
Also there was a section about the fell top assessors
I will post a link when it is available on iplayer - edited to add - here it is:
BBC iPlayer - Look North (North East and Cumbria) - Evening News: 17/02/2021 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000sfg6/look-north-north-east-and-cumbria-evening-news-17022021)
@ 8:47 for the report about Chris Lewis
@ 21:37 for the fell top assessors bit
The fund is now at almost £593,000
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The fund is now at £578,249.
Chris Lewis Support Fund - Seriously Injured Patterdale Mountain Rescue Volunteer - JustGiving (https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Chris-Lewis-Support-Fund-LDSAMRA-Patterdale-MRT)
Update at 07.25, Friday 19 Feb:
Fund now £738,523 - nearly three-quarters of a million and rising! What a great achievement.
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Long may it continue
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Fund now £738,523 - nearly three-quarters of a million and rising! What a great achievement.
And now at £764,000. The severity of his injuries have made people donate so much I think.
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And now at £764,000. The severity of his injuries have made people donate so much I think.
£838,617 now.
There has also been an update by John Gale, whose fund stands at £26,676
Hello folks.Just a quick update to say thankyou for such a wonderful response to the fundraiser. As a result of the initial response we were able to gain national press and exceed the original goal by an incredible margin. The funds will remain in place with Gofundme until they can be sent directly to the recipient, as planned.Thanks again,John
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Hi Folks,
Just a final reminder to say thankyou so much for such an incredible response to the fundraiser. We have received confirmation from the solicitors that they have received the funds from GoFundMe, and Ken at Patterdale MRT has written to us on behalf of Chris and his family to express their gratitude and admiration for your generosity. You can also see mention of this via the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Facebook page.
If anyone has any further questions I can be reached via this email. In the meantime we cross our fingers and wish Chris the best possible outcome during the coming years.
Take Care out there folks.
All the very best x
John Gale, Organiser
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Hello folks,
I just happened on this thread and had a read through the comments.
I'm John Gale, the chap involved in raising money for MRT's injured volunteer. Just wanted to say thanks for the comments and the measured responses. I am that same chap from the search engines and it's refreshing to see a measured response.
Does anyone know how Chris is doing these days?
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Well done John. O0
And welcome to the forum. :)
No idea how Chris is doing - do give us an update if you learn more.
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Welcome to the forum John. So you are indeed real. :)
Great outcome on your charity work. Makes a difference. O0
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Yes, welcome to the forum John, and well done - I think many on here contributed to either your appeal or directly - it was a story which resonated.