Grasmere climb 'hardest day' for guide after hiker injury

Helen Venus, who works for Women's Outdoor Holidays, was assisting two other people through a climb of Helm Crag near Grasmere on Friday, August 16.

A woman in the party was left with a fractured wrist thanks to an accidental slip, and Helen is now hoping to use the events to educate other climbers exploring the fells of Cumbria.

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She said: "Friday was the hardest day that I've ever experienced as a walking guide.

"One of my group slipped on the last ten minutes of the descent of Helm Crag and fractured her wrist - she was in a lot of pain, and couldn't have walked off the hill on her own.

"We made her safe and warm, and stabilised the injury, before we called Mountain Rescue - they arrived very quickly, dealt with her efficiently, and stretchered her off the hill."

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The incident was reported at 12.42pm, with nine team members from Langdale and Ambleside MRT assisting the group for two and a half hours.

Helen has since been praised for her calmness and professionalism in the situation, which ensured the injured woman was in the best possible position before extra help arrived.

"I always use the What3Words description when giving location details, as it is much more accurate than a grid reference - this enabled the Mountain Rescue party to target our location very quickly," she said.

"The Mountain Rescue teams are all made up by volunteers, and rely on public donations to keep this essential service available.

"I shall be making a donation to the Langdale and Ambleside MRT to thank them for coming to our rescue - I just hope that I won't need them again."

Helen also urged potential explorers to register for the EmergencySMS service, which allows rescue teams to communicate with people regardless of connectivity and phone signal.