Rescue Volunteer with ‘life limiting injuries’ rescuing Covidiots.

[RainingBatsAndFrogs]

Fingers crossed for this mountain rescue team member who was trying to rescue one of a couple of campers who broke lockdown in the fells.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-cumbria-55978537

I know a rescue like this can happen at any time, but these 2 men put themselves at risk in a way that meant volunteers would be increasing the usual hazards of turning out on the fells in the dark, in winter temperatures, by needing to work closely, share vehicles etc, at risk of COVID infection. And mix with these 2 clowns coming from different areas.

I hope their shame weighs more heavily than the pathetic £200 fine.

Maybe there should be insurance policies or those rescued should have to pay.

Is this tough terrain with a snow forecast? I don't care how fit the person is, they need insurance, just like driving a car.

There isn't an easy distinction between "well equipped, doing an activity well within their capabilities, unforeseeable accident" and "unprepared, recklessly attempting things beyond their abilities" - there's a continuum. And some of the people in the rescue services would privately admit to pushing themselves beyond their knowledge and capabilities in their young adventurous days.

Insurance is equally difficult - where to draw the line? Arguably the person taking his children up a mountain on an apparently fine spring day, their only hill walking trip in the year, is more likely to need the services of fell rescue than the man going up regularly - yet it's the latter who would end up paying "hill walking insurance" if it were required.

No one isforcingthem out. The fact this person had an accident is actually completely divorced from why he'd joined up and gone out.

Not at all true. The guy having chest pains chose to call for help. He was in a position where the conditions were so severe that he and his pal couldn't get him out on their own and they chose to put other people at the same risk. If they hadn't called for help the volunteers wouldn't have had to chose to go out that night.
If you can argue that no one forces the volunteers out you can argue that no one forced the campers to do any of the long train of actions that lead to that poor man's accident.

[quote Fieldofyellowflowers]@LunaHeather

While I wish that we could make idiots who do stupid stuff like this pay for their rescue, it may discourage people who end up in tricky situations through no fault of their own calling for help.[/quote]
There was a young lad a few years ago who did something twattish and had to be rescued (none of his rescuers came to harm), and who was so remorseful about what his silly choices had led to, and so in awe of what our voluntary rescue services do, that he found out what his rescue cost and set off to fund raise to repay it.

His mistake was from youth and inexperience, but even he knew he'd been a twat. But had the balls to face it, and set out to make amends

This current news story has made me so angry. There are no excuses for those two, and it being a breach of covid rules just put the tin lid on it. They shouldn't have been there at all, in those conditions, and to have done it during a 'stay at home' order is beyond appalling

Why am I not surprised that people are saying 'but the volunteers chose to do it'?

But hey, as long some idiots got to go camping because lockdown isn't much fun for them and if the threads on here are anything to go by everyone should do whatever they want if they don't fancy following the rules because they've 'already assessed their personal risk'

I think it is time that all mountain rescue services were stopped until lockdown is ended. Big publicity push to the effect that if you hit a problem in certain areas, no-one will come to help. So stay out or go in at entirely your own risk.

somebody may not walk again because someone was stupid enough to go on the fells in the current weather. Insane even in non-covid times.

choices need to have consequences.

"I think it is time that all mountain rescue services were stopped until lockdown is ended"

You can't just remove the emergency services, however they are funded. That's insane.

People just need to take responsibility for themselves and stop pretending that they're above the restrictions. That's all.

@DavidsSchitt

"No one forces these volunteers out; they choose to do it."

Oh get to fuck will you

I live with one such volunteer and he risks his life over and over to help people genuinely caught unawares. Has done for years.

And now he's faced with spending hours in close proximity to other people rather than being able to keep a social distance just because some entitled prick with a heart condition decides to camp in the freezing cold, or to venture out on a paddle board or take up sea swimming in winter, or mountain climbing in the fog.

Utter selfish pricks.

I don't care whether they are called covidiots or not. I do care that rather than show concern for a man who needlessly was seriously hurt trying to save a life, you lot are more concerned that you are "cringing".

Get a fucking grip

Your post subs you my thoughts perfectly. Your partner is a hero! Thank goodness for their heroic acts of kindness. It’s just a pitty some clowns can’t see how selfish their actions are

sums up my I mean

I seen a post in FB before ‘saying yes but even if it wasn’t for covid, he’d still be up there and have needed help’ as if that makes ok

I've also seen this. Clearly it doesn't make it OK. But I'm not sure it's necessarily true either. Where I live there seem to be far more people trying to travel in the area to hike/camp etc in the winter than usual. I suspect that since their usual preferred activities are closed some are deciding it's a good idea to try climbing/hiking/camping in the snow despite having no experience and not really looking in to the risks. Just this week the local news has reported several road accidents caused by people travelling hundreds of miles to 'look at the snow'.

Whereas people I know locally who are experienced hikers/drive snow ready vehicles etc are staying in this year.

I'd never advocate refusing to go out on a rescue (family members are in volunteer rescue services). I support the rescue services in saying that there can be no question of charging people in case it ever deters someone from calling for help when they need it.

I only found out about the Lowland Search and Rescue a few years ago because DH has a colleague in it who brought his dog to work as part of a presentation. They explain it as "From Hill to High Water" as they cover everything between where Mountain Rescue stops and RNLI/Coastguard starts. In some areas, they and their dogs are amazing in locating people who are experiencing delirium or living with dementia and go missing from their own homes/care homes or hospitals.

www.lowlandrescue.org/

Thanks @TableFlowerss they're all so great, never hold back and always ready to respond.

It's just a shame that people have no idea what it's really like.

4 RNLI crew in a boat for hours searching, the coastguard at the shore, an ambulance waiting, helicopter out....all of them unable to distance from each other so risking covid on top of hazardous sea conditions, sinking mud and sub-zero temps. Simply because someone thinks they'll take up kayaking. Insane.

Same for mountain rescue.

They'd never not respond, a lot of the people they go to are unwell and in real need of help (suicidal) and even if it is a "covidiot" they still don't want them to perish!

The even sadder thing is that a lot of them do emergency services roles as their day job, police, paramedics, prison officers are all on the crew locally so all day long they've more chance of contracting covid, never mind in their "free" time

Whereas people I know locally who are experienced hikers/drive snow ready vehicles etc are staying in this year.
That's my experience too. I'd love to get out in the fells, but it's not appropriate due to national restrictions. Hiking and mountaineering boards/groups are full of people advising staying locally, telling people to walk well within their capabilities if and when they go out.

But someone I know travelled out of area to go hiking in the snow with a baby. Their photos showed they were highly unlikely to be carrying anywhere near enough provisions, but at least they got some likes on social media. 🙄

@Redbrickwall

Please don’t use the term covidiot’. It makes you look an idiot

I agree with this sentiment entirely, loathe this expression.

@Miljea

A discussion stands or falls on the language used to put one's point.

Well done you for your contributions to the mountain rescue; but- what if the 60 year old who fell had a pre-existing condition?

No one is forcing them out. The fact this person had an accident is actually completely divorced from why he'd joined up and gone out. It is not the fell-Walker who developed chest pain's fault he had this accident.

Idiots would suffice, they’d be fucking idiots even if there was no pandemic

I think it is time that all mountain rescue services were stopped until lockdown is ended

Mountain rescue don't just go out for people who got out of their depth and are in trouble. They also go out to suicidal people too. Total nonsense to stop this service because of lockdown.

Please don’t use the term covidiot’. It makes you look an idiot

In this instance the term "pandemicunts" is preferable

Pandemicunts!!!!

👏 👏 👏

When people advocate for the standing down of mountain rescue it generally suggests to me that they don't live in these communities. I understand though why it is given as a suggestion.

Mountain Rescue can't and won't stand down. They help community nurses in bad weather, they assist with car accidents on the mountain pass roads ( that yes for rural communities are main roads), they rescue farm animals in distress, they help locate missing people. They know the terrain and are called upon in any situation where they can help. They won't stand down because they themselves live in those communities and know that they will always have a use. However, at the moment they have told us how much more difficult every call out is, they have asked us to think twice. People traveling from half way across the country to wild camp on a mountain in predicted terrible weather is not currently a situation they need to be going out for. That's not the same as having a slip on a fell, it's a huge lack of judgement.

Yep mountain rescue can't stand down. They do plenty of other important work besides plucking trapped people off mountains. Plus the volunteers would refuse to stand down anyway.

@Redbrickwall

Please don’t use the term covidiot’. It makes you look an idiot

I don’t think I’ll be the only reader or poster here to think that there is something severely lacking in the mentality of someone who, upon reading of a human severely injured during the rescue of another (feckless) human, thinks that the priority in the re-telling is semantic. I wonder what type of person you are?

@Shelovesamystery

The 2 men were in the wrong but anyone who uses the term "covidiot" makes my skin crawl.

This Along with "make them work on a covid ward " bloody hate that crappy trite phrase

Along with "make them work on a covid ward " bloody hate that crappy trite phrase

Same. I see it all the time. I am sure people forced to work in a Covid ward would be delivering A++ care. I am also certain the patients and their relatives would be happy knowing they were being cared for as a form of punishment.

As people are not supposed to be walking in the mountains the rescue services should be stopped. They were idiots and £200 fines are a joke. Minimum of £1000 should be imposed on people who break lockdown restrictions. I feel sorry for the rescuer but I am reminded of a conversation between two friends years ago who both enjoyed Dartmoor walking. One joined the rescue volunteers and wanted the other to join also and he said he had better things to do then rescue people who were totally unprepared, unfit and untrained for moor conditions. Harsh but he had a point. These are awful weather conditions so choosing to go out and rescue people means you are also taking a risk.

@Cornishclio

As people are not supposed to be walking in the mountains the rescue services should be stopped. They were idiots and £200 fines are a joke. Minimum of £1000 should be imposed on people who break lockdown restrictions. I feel sorry for the rescuer but I am reminded of a conversation between two friends years ago who both enjoyed Dartmoor walking. One joined the rescue volunteers and wanted the other to join also and he said he had better things to do then rescue people who were totally unprepared, unfit and untrained for moor conditions. Harsh but he had a point. These are awful weather conditions so choosing to go out and rescue people means you are also taking a risk.

As has been pointed out a few times now, mountain rescue do a lot more than rescue tourists out of their depth.