Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team has issued a public appeal for two rescued walkers to pay an outstanding hotel bill and return borrowed head torches. The team rescued the pair from Scafell Pike in treacherous conditions on the night of 29-30 December, in what they described as a “totally avoidable” incident.
After the seven-hour rescue, the bar manager of the Wasdale Head Inn offered the men snacks and a discounted room. More than three weeks later, the £130 bill remains unpaid, and the telephone number provided was incorrect. The rescue team also noted that two head torches lent to the walkers have not been returned, and a hospital crutch used by one of the men was left in the team’s vehicle.
In a statement, the team said: “We avoid judging those we rescue, but we struggle to understand when the rescued take advantage of hospitality.” The walkers had agreed to pay but claimed their money was in a tent high on the fell. They also asked for a further room reduction, pushed for breakfast, and requested transport out of the valley.
The team felt obliged to cover the hotel bill, though the inn was willing to absorb the cost. Following the appeal, donations exceeded the amount needed, with surplus funds directed to the team’s operational costs, which exceed £100,000 annually.
