9 Apr 2008 : Derby Mountain Rescue Team called out to stranded race competitors

Derby Mountain Rescue Team were called to the aid of a struggling team taking part in the annual 4 Inns Walk on Saturday (5th April). The team of 3 had got into difficulty when one of their members lost her shoe in the treacherous peat bogs of Black Hill, preventing the team from being able to continue over the hazardous terrain. The situation was made more difficult as heavy snowfall forced the team to take cover in their emergency shelter and call for mountain rescue support.

The Derby rescue team, who were providing cover for the event, were immediately able to dispatch a small party of rescue team members with a replacement set of footwear onto the hill to search for the stranded competitors as visibility deteriorated. The trio were found safe and well and escorted off the hill to a waiting vehicle. Unfortunately, the conditions were such that one of the replacement shoes was also lost in the mud on the return journey and a plastic equipment bag had to be converted into an improvised replacement to enable the woman to be able continue to the roadside.

The 4 Inns Walk is of particular significance to Derby Mountain Rescue, as it was the tragic death of 3 Rover Scouts taking part in 1964 that led to the foundation of the team. The team has provided rescue support for the event ever since. The walk takes place over 45 miles of the most difficult terrain in the Peak District and is open to 3 or 4 person teams of Scouts, hill walkers and fell runners. 90 teams took part in Saturday’s event.