Rescue team donations top £38k after unpaid bill
Wasdale Mountain Rescue TeamA mountain rescue team has spoken of its astonishment after more than £38,000 was raised after it settled an unpaid hotel bill for two walkers.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT) said it was called to an "avoidable" seven-hour rescue of two young men on Scafell Pike in the Lake District on 29 December.
The Wasdale Head Inn took in the two walkers, who later left the bill unpaid and gave false contact details - behaviour that Richard Warren, of WMRT, said he had not seen in 40 years.
Warren said the donations that had come from all over the world would be a "tremendous help" for the team and said the positive comments have "really made such a difference" among volunteers and hotel staff.
Rescue teams traced the phone number that dialed 999 but Warren said when they rang, the line went dead as soon as it became clear who was calling.
He said while it was "the first time I've seen a situation like this", the team "never judge the people we rescue".
Wasdale Mountain RescueWarren said after £130 was given to the hotel to cover the bill, the rest of the total sum, which has topped £38,000, would go to WMRT.
"We have had calls coming in from countries including America, Canada, Australia, the Isle of Man, France and Spain... it's incredible," Warren said.
"It has helped buoy the feeling with staff that there is a lot of kindness out there."
He added the team was "very grateful".
Wasdale Head InnNigel Burton, who owns the hotel, previously said that despite the experience it would continue to help people who came off the mountain.
"We're really disappointed but there's no point being angry, we've got to move on," he said.
"I think the overwhelming emotion we've got is how really amazed we've been at the scale of the support and generosity of the public."
Warren urged walkers to visit the Adventure Smart UK website which asks people to check weather conditions and ensure they have proper equipment before setting off into the fells.
