R.I.P. Chris Lewis (Patterdale MTB Rescue)

Tragic. Is his death attributable to his injuries, injuries that should not have happenned because he was hurt during a call out that should never have happenned?

He was wheelchair bound and had constant care. He would have been more susceptible to chest infections and pneumonia as a result.

A huge shame - for a brave man who made exploring outdoors on an MTB safer.

A massive loss  and avoidable in part to the selfishness of others .   Condolances to his family and friends

That's terrible news. Thoughts with his family and friends.

MR themselves chose not to put blame on anyone.

If covid restrictions were not in place, would the same outcome have been acceptable to people?

My thoughts and attitude are conflicted between stevedoc and robertajobb

Crystallising it out though... he died needlessly due to the massively selfish attitudes of others. They did the wrong thing. It went wrong for them. They called for help and it came.

TBH I'm struggling with this.

First and foremost I'm so sorry he was hurt in the first place and now sadly died.

I can't blame the folk that needed rescuing though, unless covid meant the MR team approached the incident differently to normal and that increased the likelihood of an accident or covid meant the treatment he received was lessened. Otherwise they were doing something most of us would have done yesterday or next week and he was the sort of upstanding guy that would be prepared to help then too. If you blame them, then the only logical conclusion to that way of thinking is that none of us should ever venture into the hills as someone else will put their life on the line if we need help. And that's the last thing any of the MR guys I know would want.

This is where my inflict lies. It was different times but a situation that could have occurred at any time. However, it should never have happened.

I'm on the cave rescue call out list. I've never been called upon but should I be needed and able I'd be there at the drop of a hat, whatever, wherever, whoever.

I think I have just resolved my position. convert, thank you.

if id been taken on as mountain rescue, then tats cool, whatever. Theres a lot worse ways to live and die

Crystallising it out though… he died needlessly due to the massively selfish attitudes of others. They did the wrong thing. It went wrong for them. They called for help and it came.

No need for blame here, it was just an unfortunate chain of events. The covid part is a red herring,it could have happened on any rescue.

A brave and selfless man lost too soon, but blame seems irrelevant.

Anyone who walks, climbs or rides could end up needing MR, and an accident and injury to the team could happen in any rescue. Whether you get caught in bad weather with insufficient kit or balls up a gap jump, someone somewhere will want to judge you for needing help.

If MR can resist that temptation, no reason for any of us to go there.

I've a friend who owes his life to Patterdale MRT. The story was on STW news before the big hack and BBC999.
I'm genuinely grateful to all MRT, and this tragic incident reminds us all what they have to risk.
Time to put another £20 in the next MRT box I see.

For what it's worth, being a mountain rescue volunteer myself, I agree with convert saying:

I can’t blame the folk that needed rescuing though, unless covid meant the MR team approached the incident differently to normal and that increased the likelihood of an accident or covid meant the treatment he received was lessened.

People always want to put blame on the casualties but most of the time they are just unlucky. This time is was one of the rescuers that was unlucky and it's very sad.

Such a sad loss. I always take my hat off to anyone who steps up to do a job such as this. They really are next level people.

Unfortunately my view differs from others in that he shouldn't have been up there in the first place. Therefore this is an avoidable accident and the blame lies at the door of those who took the decision to go up there when they really shouldn't have. If the COVID restrictions wernt in place it wouldn't have been acceptable but at least i could have understood it. Instead someone said. You know what, my enjoyment is worth more than everyone elses.

Very sad, but blaming the people who needed the MRT in the first place makes those of us who "followed the rules" feel better but doesn't really make sense.  If he had caught covid from the casualties or one of the other team members then I could understand the temptation to blame them but (my understanding is) he slipped - a risk that exists with every rescue before covid and since.  Unless manning, or equipment or wearing a mask etc contributed to that I don't think there's a logical chain that said covid contributed to the accident.  Now I think if you were the casualties on any MRT job that goes wrong like this you probably feel guilty for the rest of your life, and I'd hope that knowing they were breaking the law to be there makes them feel even more remorse, but given the nature of this forum every single one of us contributes to the risk of a rescuer ending up as a casualty themselves.  Sadly the media story is about the covid law breakers rather than asking "who looks after the rescuers" - as far as I am aware if an MRT member is maimed/killed on duty there is no special state support for them - and I wonder if that should be the case.  In my view they are delegated to do the job by the police and so the family etc should have the same financial safeguards as a police officer killed on duty (perhaps they do and I've missed it).

I agree with Polly.

I hope like everybody else on the forum, I make sure I am as self sufficient as possible when I do any outdoor activity and try and plan activities as carefuly as possible. I would also include the Lifeboat crew and Coast Guard volunteers who are also exposed to risks.

 Sadly the media story is about the covid law breakers rather than asking “who looks after the rescuers” – as far as I am aware if an MRT member is maimed/killed on duty there is no special state support for them – and I wonder if that should be the case.  In my view they are delegated to do the job by the police and so the family etc should have the same financial safeguards as a police officer killed on duty (perhaps they do and I’ve missed it).

In Scotland we have MRT specific insurance as well as Police Scotland insurance, they both cover different areas but, between them, there will be cover for this type of scenario. It is based on exactly what you describe, we are carrying out a statutory duty for the police and therefore access their cover. The insurance position in England may vary but is likely to be similar. In both cases there are also benevolent funds available as well.

As is nearly always the case in life, compensation doesn't really touch the sides of the true cost of an incident like this.

In Scotland we have MRT specific insurance as well as Police Scotland insurance, they both cover different areas but, between them, there will be cover for this type of scenario. It is based on exactly what you describe, we are carrying out a statutory duty for the police and therefore access their cover. The insurance position in England may vary but is likely to be similar. In both cases there are also benevolent funds available as well.

I wonder if that's quite what I suggested though.  I'm basing this on a mate who quit a team (probably about 10 years ago now?) when he changed job to one that had minimal sick pay arrangements.  Had he been a serving cop and broken an ankle he'd have been on full pay (or near it) whilst recovering.  With the MRT he'd get nothing and be on SSP with his employer.  If the injury was long-lasting as a cop he'd get "pensioned off" with an "OK" deal (its not a gravy train, but its better than most "civi's" would get even if they had good employers) but as an MRT member he'd get a small lump sum payment.

As is nearly always the case in life, compensation doesn’t really touch the sides of the true cost of an incident like this.

Of course, but

as far as I am aware if an MRT member is maimed/killed on duty there is no special state support for them – and I wonder if that should be the case.  In my view they are delegated to do the job by the police and so the family etc should have the same financial safeguards as a police officer killed on duty (perhaps they do and I’ve missed it).

Totally agree that they should have full state support.