Call Out Date: Monday, September 26, 2016
Call Out Time: 6:20 pm
Stood Down Time: 3:26 pm
Team / Agency: Kirkby Stephen MRT
Full dogs / Local Dogs: Full Dog Team
Search Dogs Involved: Rona, Beck, Corrie, Bute, Meg, Fern, Cuillin
Call Out Details:
A 40 year old man, acting as a beater for a grouse shoot, became lost when thick mist came in on the Pennines. He was completely disoriented, and was unable to explain where he thought he was to call handlers. He was not particularly well equipped, and other members of the shoot became alarmed when he failed to turn up. The weather was damp and cool. Kirkby Stephen team organised a search, calling on surrounding Lakes and Pennine teams, search dogs and a Coastguard helicopter to assist in the search. Visibility was less than 10 metres in places, and very tricky ground conditions, with thick vegetation, shakeholes and deep peat groughs made the search exceptionally difficult. Seven Lakes dogs attended overnight, and stood down around 0400, with some returning for another shift from 1100 on the following day, and yet others - Isla, Ted and Dottie - due to attend from 1600.
Call Out Conclusion:
More and more teams were mobilised into the area during the second day from as far afield as Cleveland, Duddon and RAF Leeming, but still no sightings were made until at last, the missing man was located not far from the top of Helbeck Fell at 14.15. He was unhurt, but confused, and was ferried down from the fell to Kirkby Stephen base for a check over.
