Peel Fell, Kielder

Incident Type: Rescue

On Thursday afternoon, two experienced, well-equipped walkers and their dog had made their way from the Kielder Stone onto Peel Fell when one of them developed a serious medical issue on the eastern side of the summit plateau and was unable to continue.

The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust activated ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team. With the likelihood of a medical emergency, both Teams were quickly mobilised and blue lights were authorised.

Alongside responding NEAS crews and Northumbria Police officers, a request was made for a Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter. Rescue 912 from Humberside was duly tasked.

Team 4×4 vehicles were used to shuttle personnel and equipment to the forward RVP. By late afternoon, the first hill party deployed onto the south-western flank of Peel Fell carrying vital medical equipment. Two further hill parties followed shortly after with the stretcher and additional supplies.

The first team members reached the casualty and their walking companion at around 17.45hrs, with the others arriving shortly after. As the first hill party arrived on scene, Rescue 912 attempted to reach the location but was unable to due to low cloud.

Following an initial assessment by a Mountain Rescue paramedic, the casualty was placed onto a stretcher for the evacuation. With steep, rough, and treacherous ground between the forward RVP and the casualty’s location, a different route off Peel Fell to below the cloud base had to be found.

After more than a kilometre of a physically demanding stretcher evacuation over challenging terrain in the dark, the party finally emerged below the cloud. Rescue 912 quickly returned, and at around 20.50hrs with some skilful flying, a winch of the stretcher and casualty was successfully completed. The casualty was then flown to hospital for further care.

Team members then escorted the casualty’s companion and their dog safely off the hill. By 22.45hrs, all vehicles and personnel were back at the RVP. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was also contacted due to the incident’s proximity to their operational boundary and in case additional resources were needed for a protracted evacuation.

A huge thank you to all responding agencies with exceptional multi-agency working bringing the incident to a successful conclusion in challenging conditions.

The incident involved 15 Team members for 9 hours 38 minutes.