May 2, 2024
Penrith Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was contacted by Cumbria Police at 17:43 on Sunday, 31st December following a call to them by the concerned friends of a fell runner who had not met up with them at the agreed time in Dufton village. A full Team call-out was initiated, and support was requested from the neighbouring Kirkby Stephen and Kendal MRTs as well as the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs. The missing runner had planned a long route along part of the Pennine Way over Cross Fell, so search teams were deployed from various access points to the fell. These groups covered the mainly snow-covered route and surrounding areas in deteriorating weather conditions. After midnight, the rain and snow from early afternoon returned to the fells where the teams were searching. The search was paused at 03:00, with a plan being made to resume at first light and to call on further resources from across the Lake District Search and Rescue region and other agencies. Almost 50 rescue volunteers resumed the search at 08:00 on Monday, 1st January and deployed onto the fells, now covering large areas away from the paths and tracks with the benefits of daylight and improving weather. Unfortunately, the Team received a call from North West Ambulance Service later in the morning, confirming that a body had been found by members of the public as well as notification by the Police Helicopter. The Great North Air Ambulance immediately flew to the scene. Members of Penrith MRT, assisted by a Cockermouth MRT colleague, attended the scene and recovered the body from the Fell. “Everyone involved in this search wishes to pass our condolences to the family and friends of the runner Edward Catmur,” said Peter King, Penrith MRT Team Leader. “Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time. As well as the 26 members of Penrith MRT who spent their New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day on the high fells, I would like to thank MR volunteers in the Kirkby Stephen, Kendal, Patterdale, Wasdale, Cockermouth, Duddon & Furness, Keswick and Langdale Ambleside teams for their help as well as nine search dogs and their handlers from across the Lake District and elsewhere in northern England. I would also like to acknowledge the work done by Cumbria Police, Police Helicopter, North West Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard Rescue 199 helicopter and the Great North Air Ambulance.”
