Two hiking friends separately rescued hours apart

Two friends who drove together into the countryside for separate hikes had to be rescued within hours of each other after both getting stranded.

Penrith Mountain Rescue said volunteers were called on the afternoon of 28 October to find a man who got lost in heavy fog on the High Street Ridge in the Lake District.

A rescue party found and escorted the walker back to his car, where it was revealed his friend had also gone missing, with the second man telling rescuers over the phone he did not know where he was.

With the help of 25 team members, as well as an additional eight from Keswick Mountain Rescue and a HM Coastguard helicopter, the man was found near the Kidsty Pike ridge.

Initially, six team members were sent to find the first hiker, who had managed to make it to the marker at the summit of the Mardale III Bell fell but was unsure of the route back down - with it being 16:00 GMT and getting dark.

However, more rescuers were recruited for the second, with concern he could be at risk of hypothermia due to the amount of time he had spent on the fell.

The helicopter was requested because it was difficult to narrow down where he was and it was anticipated a large area of ground would need to be searched.

However, discussions over the phone revealed he was to the west or southwest of Haweswater resevoir, around the Kidsty Pike fell.

After being winched off the cliffs by the helicopter, he was checked over by a team doctor and found to be safe and healthy.

The two friends were reunited and departed for their car journey home shortly before midnight.

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