Rescue squad
The brave volunteers risking their lives for injured tourists in the Lake District
Lake District Rescue Sunday, 9pm, More4
Millions of people visit the Lake District every year, attracted by the stunning wilderness. But this area of natural beauty can prove dangerous for some – with more than 600 potentially life-threatening incidents recorded in 2023.
Fortunately, an army of 400 volunteers is on hand, prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice and rescue complete strangers.
In More4’s new four-part series, Lake District Rescue, these brave volunteers – ranging from teachers and electricians to farmers and a nuclear engineer – are kitted out with body cameras to record their busiest summer on record, providing up-close views of the injuries they face and the decisions they must make in high-pressure situations.
This week’s opening episode follows the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team negotiating tough terrain to reach an injured wild swimmer. After a two-mile trek to Eskdale Pools, they find Royal Navy engineer Sean in excruciating pain. But because it’s a busy bank holiday, the team is unsure if there’s an air ambulance available to extract him.
‘When it’s hot and sunny, there are more people out, and a lot of them aren’t your classic outdoor people, so the probability of something going wrong is much higher,’ explains team leader John, a heating engineer in his day job. ‘Calling in a helicopter is a big decision. Sean was really suffering but the concern with the injury is what we can’t see. It’s absolutely time-critical.’
SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Other rescues this week include an emergency for the Keswick team, where student Rowan has a head injury and the rescue of a hiker with multiple broken bones from Scafell Pike by the Wasdale team.
‘I joined Mountain Rescue because my wife wanted me out of the house so she could have the TV to herself,’ jokes John. ‘But seriously, I joined because I’m obsessed with the mountains and like to help like-minded people and serve our local community. We’re going out because nobody else will.’
And it’s not just human casualties who benefit from the tireless efforts of the volunteers – we also see the Coniston team save a badly hurt dog called Sky.
‘Sky was losing a lot of blood, and I was anxious she was going into shock,’ says team leader and dog-lover Janice. ‘If it was my dog that needed help, I know how bad I’d be feeling. Mountain Rescue makes me feel I’ve been useful.’