Mountain Rescue - The Real Thing?

Mountain Rescue - The Real Thing?

As has been mentioned elsewhere, during the 1980’s, building on the bedrock -of the 60’s and 70’s Friary had increasingly ventured into challenges anew in developing the skills and expertise of those who enjoyed outdoor adventure.



Summer Expedition Camps in the West Highlands of Scotland, as well as Venture Scout Award and Queens Scout Award expeditions through Knoydart at Easter in Winter conditions had become the norm. Independent Explorer Belt Expeditions had increasingly been undertaken and in 1988 Mount Kilimanjaro was conquered by a group of our Venture Scouts!

This thirst for adventure was admirable and of course, everyone had been trained in survival, first aid and rescue techniques but no one, thankfully, had ever had to put those skills into practice in a real emergency. So, the question was asked – how would Friary cope if confronted with the real thing?

Hence, in the approach to our early February 1990 Intermediate and Venture Scout winter training weekend at Edale, carefully guarded plans were put in place to mount a truly authentic rescue operation. We took advice from the local Mountain Rescue Team and utilised the Vicar of Edale as enthusiastic participants in the embracing of subterfuge to achieve the objective, if it was to be truly effective, of full commitment by all in a ‘real’ mountain rescue!

On that particular weekend, we had a group of almost thirty based as always at Champion House which is run by the Derbyshire Diocese of the Church of England with the position of Warden being held by the local Vicar, at that time, Adrian Murray-Leslie. On Saturday morning Venture Scouts set off early to set up a challenging orienteering course on Kinder Scout followed somewhat later in staggered intervals by four groups of Intermediates (older scouts). Each group would aim to complete the approximately ten-mile route by visiting each checkpoint in strict order using map and compass skills in conditions of poor visibility. Leaders followed as back up support.

A successful day was had, with most groups reaching all of the checkpoints, and valuable lessons learnt not only in map reading and navigation skills but survival and team building too with all safely returned to Champion House before dusk for hot chocolate, showers and the usual debriefing by the roaring log fire before enjoying evening dinner.

Evening recreational activities were just beginning when the Vicar, resplendent with dog collar, arrived in an obvious state of anxiety asking to see the Leaders. Directed to them by several of the Scouts and Venture Scouts he went on to explain that there was an emergency unfolding on Kinder Scout. An elderly man had been reported missing by his wife, he was diabetic and had been expected back from a walk on the plateau by late afternoon but had not appeared. He went on to explain that the local Mountain Rescue Team were already despatched and were approaching the plateau from Hayfied and had asked that if a team could be raised in Edale then the chances of a successful outcome would be greatly improved.

The immediate response of Alan & Derick was one of serious caution – pointing out that everyone present had already had a full day on the hill and as the weather was deteriorating another ‘expedition’ may be asking too much.
We can do it, cried several voices! And although it was pointed out that snow was now falling, that everyone would have to be geared up with full waterproofs, emergency survival equipment and supplies lest they too should have an accident – the unanimous feeling was that we could do it.

The kitchen team immediately offered to provide hot drinks for flasks and emergency rations for the eighteen or so Ventures, Leaders and older Scouts who it was with careful consideration agreed would provide our mountain rescue team! Two groups were formed with leaders attached to each and individual inspections of equipment and supplies carried out before each team departed at around 20.00 hrs. complete with walkie- talkie radios for communications. They would collect the Mountain Rescue Team stretcher on their way.

Alan and Derick followed up the rear and from the outset observed the most amazing degree of competence, commitment and professionalism of all involved from start to finish!

The two groups , a few hundred metres apart, swept (in lines within visibility of one another) either side of Brian Clough, looking and listening for any signs of someone in distress. With each metre of ascent, it was getting colder and the snow continued to fall making visibility difficult and of course, it was in everybody’s minds that this was not a good place or time for someone to be lost and possibly injured and so finding this person was essential.

Relentless ascent continued as the Clough widened and manpower became more stretched as the systematic search continued with the teams looking out for one another as well as the missing man, it was shaping up to be quite possibly a long night.

Then … eureka! There was what looked like a person lying partly covered in snow over to the right – sure enough, it seemed to be the person we were looking for. Matching the description of middle-aged male, wearing a balaclava and wind-proofs suitable for the hills. Our two ‘senior medic’s’ (Adrian Bremner was studying Physiology at Liverpool Uni. and Rob Bendy studying Physiotherapy at Manchester) were early on the scene. He seemed barely conscious but upon examination had a strong pulse and was breathing normally so the assumption was made that his diabetes had caused dizziness and his eventual collapse. Hot sweet drinks were administered before he was carefully strapped to the stretcher in preparation for evacuation off of the mountain.

The next challenge was lifting the stretcher. It proved too heavy to be lifted by four people and required a team of eight to lift and then carry fully laden and with great care down the mountainside and back to Edale. Even then each team of eight had to be relieved every ten minutes or so such was the challenge of the descent. The snow was still falling albeit lightly by now and it was proving extremely slippery underfoot, however, each team developed its own steady rhythm and both Adrian Bremner and Rob Bendy played a vital role in monitoring the ‘patient’, preventing him from falling into unconsciousness and boosting his morale.

Eventually, the lights of Edale came into view indicating that the end was in sight boosting the morale of everyone and leading to early reflection amongst some that the collective performance being witnessed surpassed all previous achievements! The patient was carried all of the way to Champion House when then, and only then did it become apparent that this had been the best kept of secrets and that the ‘patient; was, in fact, the vicar which had ensured reality and absolute focus upon the serious task in hand from start to finish.