Injured Hiker Rescued with Satellite SOS in Peak District

Satellite technology assisted a mountain rescue team in the Peak District during the rescue of an injured walker. The Kinder Mountain Rescue Team reported that the individual, accompanied by two other walkers and a dog, sustained an injury described as “an ominous snap of his ankle” on Sunday, while traversing the area between Kinder Downfall and Crowden Clough. After attempting to dial 999 without success due to a lack of phone signal, the walker utilized a satellite SOS feature on his new smartphone to send a text message requesting assistance. According to the mountain rescue team, this incident marks the second occasion in recent months where they have responded to a call initiated through this method, stating that “both casualties would have struggled to get help without it.” The rescue team noted a drawback of the service: “The only downside of this service is that we can’t call back to let them know we are on our way, so it’s a long wait not knowing if we are actually coming or not.” “It was a relief when we finally managed to get the casualty, his two friends and his dog back to our vehicles and could drive them back to our base, before he was taken on to hospital for further treatment,” the team added. The man, who sustained a fracture of two bones in his leg and damage to ankle ligaments, was injured “at the furthest point from any of the Kinder edges,” according to the rescue team. The operation to retrieve him involved 20 volunteers and lasted approximately seven hours.