RAYNET assist in Lake District marathon

The media was full of reports of the near disaster in the Lake District last weekend, when competitors in the Original Mountain Marathon encountered extreme weather conditions.

It was not widely reported that RAYNET were providing communications and that, without their efforts, things could have been much worse.

The Central Lancashire RAYNET group coordinated the radio safety cover, assisted by others including Manchester Scouts RAYNET.

Fred Charnley, G4RPW, reports: “On pre-visits to the area, it was clear that mobile phone coverage was very poor to nonexistent; in particular between the Event Centre and the Overnight Camp. Several radio points identified on the map were set up to assist competitors in case of urgent medical attention and or evacuation by Mountain Rescue being required. A Control Centre was set up adjacent to the Event Centre, which was equipped with a landline phone. Personnel manning this were authorised to contact Mountain Rescue via the Police if assistance was required.

“The Police declared a Major Incident and, with the organisers, decided to abandon the race. The Police requested that we contact each radio-equipped checkpoint and request the officials to tell competitors that the race was abandoned and to make their way down to low level, find a sheltered area and camp for the night. If they met any other teams on their way down they were to advise them to do the same. At this point we switched into RAYNET mode.

Source: RSGB