Cheviot walkers rescued by mountain rescue teams after getting lost in fog

The pair, in their 20s, were out walking in the Cheviots when they became disoriented and lost when hill fog came in late on Wednesday afternoon.

“They absolutely did the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for the police then mountain rescue,” said Iain Nixon, team leader for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.

“The pair were unable to relocate their position in poor visibility and faced the real prospect of being benighted; with the windchill at -8C and light fading, their best option was to call for help.”

Volunteers from Northumberland Mountain Park Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were immediately placed on stand-by while a hasty team of local volunteers deployed onto the hill to try and locate the pair.

“Conditions were poor as we set off and it was bitterly cold,” said Karl Wait, a mountain rescue member from Wooler.

“We roughly knew their location using What3Words and our phonefind system, but it still took some time to get to them. By the time we’d arrived, they were wet and cold but very glad to see us!”

The pair were assessed by a team medic, given some warmer clothing and escorted off the hill, back to the valley floor where a police 4x4 was able to transport them back to their car.

“As we’ve previously mentioned on social media, we are expecting a surge in walkers, climbers and mountain bikers to our National Park this Easter,” said Keith Briggs, team leader of North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team.

"All we ask is that people follow the adventure smart guidance and consider three key elements before taking part in any outdoor activities; check the weather, have the right equipment and have the right skills for your level of activity.”

The incident involved seven team members for 3 hours 50 minutes with a further 23 on standby.

For more information about the #beadventure smart campaign, please visit www.adventuresmart.uk.

The British Mountaineering Council also has some useful information for those heading to a climbing crag for the first time this year, see www.thebmc.co.uk/first-climb-think-twice-outdoor-climbing

The dramatic events of the pandemic are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on your support through buying our newspaper. If you can, please pick up a copy of the Northumberland Gazette when you are at the shops. Thank you.