Lake District rescues are no longer just for climbers

Times & Star reports that the volunteer Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (LAMRT) in England’s Lake District says it is being stretched in all directions — less by a sharp jump in callout numbers than by their variety. So far in 2026 the team has logged 127 rescues versus 120 at the same point last year. Team leader Olly Benson stresses they are not dramatically busier than last year, yet the sense of load is stronger: “Long gone are the days of just rescuing mountaineers.” Callouts now include adventure racers, open-water swimmers, paragliders and people new to the fells.

Benson says concurrent or multiple rescues in a day — once rare — are becoming more common, pressuring both team members and their families. Chair Ashley Smith adds that summer heat lengthens jobs: hauling a stretcher near 30 °C means a slower climb and descent, leaving volunteers more drained and less likely to turn out the next day. The team has about 45 members and is based in Ambleside. Mountain Rescue England and Wales has noted that rescues involving 18–24-year-olds nearly doubled from 2019 to 2024. To adapt, LAMRT is recruiting beyond fell roles into back-office work such as finance and HR, with a recruitment day at the Ambleside base.