Canoeists who tried to camp on Lake District island during Storm Dave saved

The incident in Derwentwater was one of several incidents faced by mountain rescue teams as Storm Dave battered the UK

A trio of unprepared canoeists, who planned to camp on a Lakeland island, ended up in the water during Storm Dave. A major multi-agency operation was sparked when the group’s inflatable canoe capsized in rough conditions on Derwentwater just before 3pm on Saturday afternoon (April 4).

The three involved – none of whom were wearing life jackets – were all safely rescued and required no hospital treatment. One made it to shore, another swam to St Herbert’s Island and the third remained in the water.

The Lake District rescue required the assistance of police, fire, ambulance, mountain rescue, the coastguard and a helicopter. It was one of several incidents that led to Keswick Mountain Rescue Team being scrambled to save walkers and campers in the midst of Storm Dave – which has battered parts of the UK and North West.

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They were also called out to rescue two teenagers whose tent was blown away in high winds, a solo camper and a walker whose camp was destroyed by the gusts. Rescuers say these incidents serve as a stark reminder to ensure you have the correct skills and equipment – especially when severe weather is predicted.

Just hours after the incident on Derwentwater, at around 9.51pm, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were called out to Sprinkling Tarn, near Seathwaite, where two teenagers were wild camping. “Their tent had been destroyed by the high winds of Storm Dave, leaving them cold, wet, and stranded,” KMR reports.

“Due to communication difficulties with the relay centre, two teams were deployed to the area.” With fallen trees blocking the route, rescuers split into two groups and eventually found the teenagers sheltering in a stretcher box on Sty Head, cold but otherwise unharmed.

The team also discovered a solo camper near Sprinkling Tarn who required an escort off the hill. All three people were safely escorted down to Seathwaite and returned to their vehicles following a four and a half hour rescue.

KMR say incidents like this highlight why it is so important to check the weather before heading out. “High-altitude camping in a named storm carries extreme risks, not just for the campers, but for the volunteers who have to navigate blocked roads and dangerous winds to reach them,” they say.

Just three minutes after being alerted to the incident on Sprinkling Tarn, at 9.54pm, rescuers were asked to attend High How’s Wood, in Grange-over-Sands.

“A 54-year-old female who was three days into walking the Cumbria Way thought she would be protected in the woods below Castle Crag in Borrowdale for her wild camp,” the rescuers report. “Unfortunately the gusts of Storm Dave got the better of her sleeping arrangements and destroyed her camp.”

The woman rang 999 and asked for Mountain Rescue to seek advice. She was advised to walk north towards Grange where a team met her and took her to Keswick to find accommodation.

Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team were also in demand during a busy Easter Saturday for rescue teams. They were called to Tarn Crag, at Far Easedale at 9.49pm when a young male suffered a suspected lower leg fracture.

“Winds from Storm ‘Dave’ (amber warning) and heavy rain made things rather difficult for everyone, with the casualty becoming hypothermic and his friend very cold. We were assisted by Kendal MRT with evacuating the pair,” the rescuers wrote on their website.

Writing about the Derwentwater rescue on their website, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said it required the assistance of 16 of its members, along with staff from Greater North Air Ambulance Service, the North West Ambulance Service, Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

“On Saturday, 4 April 2026, during the busy bank holiday weekend, we were requested to assist in a major multi-agency operation following the capsize of an inflatable canoe on Derwentwater,” the wrote.

“The group had been seen the previous day, and it was suspected they had been heading off to camp on one of the islands. By Saturday morning—just before the peak of forecasted Storm Dave—conditions on the lake had become rough and entirely unsuitable for light leisure craft, despite the clear storm warnings in place.

“Three individuals were involved in the incident, none of whom were wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs). One made it to shore, another reached St Herbert’s Island, and a third remained in the water. A large-scale response was initiated, including Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team, Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team, and the HM Coastguard Helicopter, alongside Cumbria Police, Fire and Rescue, NWAS, and the Great North Air Ambulance.

“We were also grateful for the essential support from both the Keswick Launch and Derwent Water Marina, whose assistance was vital in navigating the choppy conditions. All three individuals were safely rescued and assessed by the air ambulance medical team, requiring no hospital treatment.

“This incident serves as a stark reminder to always wear a buoyancy aid, check weather forecasts, and ensure you have the correct skills and equipment for the conditions, especially when severe weather is predicted.”