Stranded runners search resumes

[RonDon]

So very well said. Stand up the UK! That is where the back Bone has always come from.

[Mikey Harper]

There are a lot of 'facts' floating around. I will repeat what I have heard from someone who I believe to be reliable regarding the one of the mountain rescue teams, who we all know are volunteers. On the Saturday they were willing to go out and rescue known casualties who needed their help, but not just go searching for all the competitors. I don't think many people would argue against that approach. On Sunday the conditions were fairly normal, apart from swollen streams.

They, like us, enjoy being in the fells and are there to rescue like minded people who undertake what can be dangerous activities. We're all responsible for our own actions and should at least take the basic precautions to ensure that we're not putting ourselves at undue risk. For us this certainly includes having appropriate equipment and knowing the forecast and reading the conditions.

As for flying related accidents, I know from first hand experience that they are very willing to attend paragliding accidents but do so in a little fear that they are sometimes serious and sometimes people they know. As for my first hand experience, Jocky was one of the first there and the x-ray showed that it wasn't as serious as I or the doctor with them thought.

As for whether the event should have taken place, I'm undecided, I wasn't there and I don't know what the route was.

[Kay]

My Two Penny Worth

I have competed in this event in the past...Its not meant to be easy...ALL Competitors have a strict Kit List which includes Light weight Tent or Bivvy for over night stop. Provisions for such a stop over. Maps Compass (and knowing how to use one) Wet weather gear, dry Gear etc etc.

I was also a member of or Local Search and Rescue Team for over 4 Years.
Yes all volunteers, and all like minded people. The incident that occured over the weekend is just what I joined for...To help out when needed.

The incidents which did really Tick Us Off where going looking for folk who set off across the Moors in Flip Flops using the World Atlas in the Back of their diary.......It Happens

So. Yes in my view it is a shame what happened at the weekend, but all this talk of Irresponsibility and Cost gets right up my nose..
Plus TV Coverage !!! I think take that with a pinch of salt They love a Really Good Disaster....How about the positive..
Ar'nt we Very Lucky to have such excellent Search & Rescue Free of charge to Joe Bloggs who are there when you need them.
Is/nt it great to see so many Enthusiastic People wanting to set real challanges for them selves..whilst enjoying some of our fantastic Wild Country Side......We Dont All Want To Sign Up To
Celebrity Come Bloody Dancing you know

[crook_101]

Hi Kay,

I agree with you 100%, esp about the media circus - nothing like a hyped up story for additional sales / viewing. I know about this!! Shock, horror, lost, missing, tragedy, disaster, Police advised against, blah blah blah etc etc, these are all excellent media buzz words that promote sales / increase viewing figures / hits on news websites than the usual local news fare of Mrs Smith's cat is stuck in a tree......having said that, given the nanny state at the minute, Mrs Smith would probably have to go through post traumatic stress counselling, the local H & S brigade would have the tree felled as a possible risk to life, Mrs Smith would then have to attend tree loss counselling, Tiddles would have to attend a height awareness course for special access to a wooden environment Parts I, II & III, Tiddles would also have to complete risk assessment forms(triplicate) before utilising the cat flap (also now marked up with "Danger Area" signage) and complete a disclaimer prior to accessing any further trees indicating the Tiddles was climbing under his own volition, was not pressured into it and had not taken alcohol within the previous 24 hours and have to take with him emergency descent equipment, a GPS tracker, altimeter and a signed agreement that he would not disturb any bird life Rant over, thank you, I feel better now, please can you fasten my nice tight white jacket as I cannot reach the buckles at the back and return me to my nice white padded room until the voices in my head stop........

Have a great day.
crook_i have issues with the nanny state - if you own 2 legs stand on them_101

[Chris L]

I just got back last night after taking part in the OMM this weekend.
The conditions were the worst I have ever experienced in 20+ years of being out on the fells with gusts recorded of 120mph and torrential rain. We were blown off our feet at times and couldn’t look into the rain because it was to painful when it hit your face.
We decided to abandon the race about an hour before the organisers called it off and headed back to the start, which was interesting trying to cross streams that were now fast flowing rivers.
We did expect conditions to be bad and have taken part in this event and other similar events before – this one is purposely held at this time of year to test yourself in poor weather conditions. I am a great believer of taking personal responsibility for yourself and making your own decision whether to take part – and I’m pleased we did. It was a good test of endurance, navigation and survival.
I think the organisers were always going to be open to loads of criticism for running the event, which given the forecast was a bad call, mainly from the fact that it brings so much negative publicity to these types of things where people should be allowed to do what they want (like many so called dangerous sports such as paragliding) There’ll always be people who don’t understand the reasons for doing the things we do. Life without risk is or testing yourself is pretty dull. We live in a world now where Health & Safety has gone mad and there are people to blame for everything that goes wrong. It’s a nanny state
The people doing this event are all experienced and all equipped with tents spare clothes, maps survival equipment and the media as always blow these things out of all proportion. There were always going to be a few cases of hypothermia and the odd broken limb; the runners got themselves to safety, and the media saying there were over a 1000 lost on the fells is absolute crap. - Only 13 of 2500 were taken to hospital. There were no fatalities Mountain rescue is a voluntary organisation and they choose to be part of this because they are like minded people. Costs of the so-called rescue are again massively exaggerated. Its people who don’t understand what living is really about who criticise these activities and personal freedom. Anyway that’s my rant about it.
On a funnier note – after we got back to the start we hitched a lift back in one of the few cars to get through the flooded roads through buttermere and the Newlands pass. We’d texted Jan to come and get us when we were coming off the hill and didn’t imagine that when we’d hitched that she’d ever get through but she did and when we got back to Keswick to Steves’ Shop we got a call from Jan saying she was stuck at Seathwaite and was flooded in and was expecting to spend the night there! So after getting dried and changed at Steve Giles house Steve took his car back through the floods to rescue Jan who’d walked out upto waist deep along flooded roads We retrieved her and another 2 competitors and returned back to his house again to warm up. Great job Steve. Good service from the Sick and Wrong yet again. (Going above and beyond paragliding services –now retrieve and rescue)

[Fingers]

Of course this is going to be BIG news and so it should be, its darn more light hearted than hearing all the other mess we have at the mo. Yes its going to get blown up to biblical proportions, I would be surprised if it was not.

When authorities (allegedly) requested the event was cancel, advice was ignored. Your leaving yourself open to having egg on your face, this is the main thing that I can see would really get up peoples noses who are not involved in such behavior. The f%$k you we are doing it, what do you know attitude, then a few hours later,......... erm..............HELP.

I might have it all wrong, but that how it looks to me.

The organisers maybe need to be changed for next year?

[Davehorne]

We live in a world now where Health & Safety has gone mad and there are people to blame for everything that goes wrong. It’s a nanny state

Hear Hear Chris

Our household just fell apart in laughter listening to the news reports, getting more incredulous by the hour

The people whoi are putting our lives in REAL danger are the b(w)ankers and herdge funds. F**K them I say

[Pete Batey]

When authorities (allegedly) requested the event was cancel, advice was ignored. Your leaving yourself open to having egg on your face,
The f%$k you we are doing it, what do you know attitude, then a few hours later,......... erm..............HELP.

There's a element of crying "wolf". Authorities are bound to say don't go so they'll not be sued. They've probably done so many times in the past. The competitors are equiped for and expecting a rough time. You've got to find out for yourself. Have you ever flown when someones said it's turbulent? You still do just to see if you're up to it. It's the challenge that drives many of us.
Pete

[Sad Northerner]

What's all the fuss about??? When I saw the news I only regretted not being there myself. I'm sure Garys flown in worse conditions.


Ali