Coniston Mountain Rescue say 'lull in incidents' is at an end following three hour rescue operation on Claife Heights (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Coniston Mountain Rescue say 'lull in incidents' is at an end following three hour rescue operation on Claife Heights

12:00pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in News

MOUNTAIN rescuers had to accompany an injured walker to hospital after being told an ambulance was unable to attend for an hour.

Coniston team members later said their ‘quiet start to the new year’ had come to an end, following the three-hour rescue operation at Claife Heights yesterday.

Twelve volunteers attended the scene at around 1.10pm, after reports that a woman had slipped on wet grass and fractured her ankle.

It is thought the woman was walking with a group near the Three Dubs Tarn when she fell.

Two landrovers were taken out and she was given pain relief as her ankle was splinted.

Two team members then took her to Furness General Hospital.

A spokesman for the team said: “Unfortunately the ETA for the arrival of the ambulance was an hour and it was therefore decided to transport the lady to Furness General Hospital ourselves.

“Two team members were deployed with this task whilst the Base informed A&E of the situation.”

They added: “We have had a very quiet start to the new year, so it was just a matter of time before the lull in the incidents came to an end.”