Incident report

A potential all-night, multi-team rescue was averted when the person reported missing made contact to say he was just delayed.
A multi team search of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow moors was initiated at 21.30 hrs on Wednesday 16th May following the report of a 75 year old solo walker being overdue at his destination.
The walker was known to be starting the Pennine Way and had left Edale Youth Hostel around 9.00 am that morning.  The alarm was raised when, by the time darkness was falling, he had still not arrived at his reserved accommodation at Crowden in Longdendale.  The weather throughout the day had been relatively mild but heavy rain had been falling continuously which can cause parts of the moors to become water-logged and potentially dangerous.  The walker was thought to be experienced but the continuous low cloud would have challenged anyone’s navigation.
The four mountain rescue team “Kinder Search Plan” was initiated but very shortly following activation information was received that the man was safe and well but had simply been delayed because of the weather.  Glossop M.R.T. sent a vehicle to meet the walker as he came off the moor and gave him a short lift to his B.& B..  Buxton M.R.T. vehicles returned to base without anyone getting muddy boots.