Rescue Dog Isla Was Praised For Finding A Couple In Scafell Pike Gully

Finding a pair of lost walkers would have been ‘doubtful’ without the efforts of a talented mountain rescue dog.

Keswick Mountain Rescue were called out at about 17:30 GMT on New Year’s Day to find a couple who had got lost while diving Scafell Pike.

The team’s dog Isla found the walkers in a “steep-sided gully away from the paths,” a spokesman said. It was an “excellent and impressive find”, he added.

The spokesman said the couple and their dog had made it to the top of Scafell Pike from Seathwaite “in good time” but “got a bit confused” as they descended and ended up in Wasdale.

They tried to fix their mistake but got lost near Sty Head Pass, and one of the parties suffered a panic attack on the steep ground. They were well prepared with clothing and head torches but called 999 to ask for the rescue team.

“The team searched the area on the Borrowdale side of Sty Head Tarn with no luck, so proceeded to the stretcher box on Sty Head Pass from where a plan was being formulated to split up and search different paths,” the spokesman said.

“Suddenly search dog Isla bolted off away, down a steep gully away from the main paths,” he said, adding: “We gave chase only to find Isla barking as she had successfully located the couple, an excellent and impressive find.

“It is doubtful if we alone without Isla would have found the couple as they were hidden in a steep-sided gully away from the paths.” The couple were then walked back to Seathwaite after the rescue, which involved nine team members and lasted almost four hours.