Overview
- On Jan. 10, 16-year-old Caelan Blades and 15-year-old Rowan Kay used crampons and ice axes to guide five stranded adults off Striding Edge on Helvellyn.
- The adults wore jeans and trainers, lacked gloves and crampons, spoke little English, and one carried a small dog while experiencing a panic attack.
- A coastguard helicopter and an air ambulance were tackling a separate incident on nearby Swirral Edge at the time, and a man in his seventies was later reported to have died after collapsing on the mountain.
- The teens cut steps and led a zig-zag descent to Red Tarn in about 30 minutes before warning three more poorly equipped groups as daylight waned.
- Patterdale Mountain Rescue invited the pair to its base and highlighted 24/7 coverage and the need for proper winter kit on Helvellyn.