grough — Lakeland mountain rescuers’ drone exercise ends in unexpected incident

A mountain rescue drone flies during the training exercise in the Lake District. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Richard Warren thinks drones represent the future of mountain rescue.

He’s the chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, and also a member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, which is often called out to people in trouble on England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike.

I met Richard and other volunteer mountain rescuers during an exercise at Hodge Close Quarry near Coniston, a huge hole in the ground, the bottom of which is filled with a 150-deep pool of dark water.

Members of the home team from Coniston were using the day as training in the search for a reported injured person. Also present were people from the Cumbria Ore…