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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Floods strand hundreds of runners | Floods strand hundreds of runners |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Several hundred people taking part in a run in the Lake District near Keswick have been stranded by flooding and torrential rain. | Several hundred people taking part in a run in the Lake District near Keswick have been stranded by flooding and torrential rain. |
| The runners are thought to have been taking part in the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) run when they were overcome by the weather. | The runners are thought to have been taking part in the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) run when they were overcome by the weather. |
| Honister Slate Mine manager Mark Weir said he was sheltering 300 of them and some were suffering from hypothermia. | Honister Slate Mine manager Mark Weir said he was sheltering 300 of them and some were suffering from hypothermia. |
| Mountain rescue teams are out on the hills looking for missing runners. | |
| About 12 people have been taking to hospital with hypothermia and minor injuries, said a spokesman for Northwest Ambulance Service. | |
| One is being treated in Cumberland Infirmary Hospital in Carlisle. | |
| A hospital spokeswoman said the smaller Penrith Hospital is also on standby to assist with any runners. | A hospital spokeswoman said the smaller Penrith Hospital is also on standby to assist with any runners. |
| Mr Weir said he believed that between 1,500 and 2,000 people had been taking part in the race. | Mr Weir said he believed that between 1,500 and 2,000 people had been taking part in the race. |
| Refuge points | Refuge points |
| Organisers had "little choice" but to abandon the race after the weather deteriorated, according to the event's official website. | Organisers had "little choice" but to abandon the race after the weather deteriorated, according to the event's official website. |
| "Race director Jen Longbottom made the decision just before midday after several hours of torrential rain had resulted in extreme conditions on the mountain and severe flooding," it stated. | "Race director Jen Longbottom made the decision just before midday after several hours of torrential rain had resulted in extreme conditions on the mountain and severe flooding," it stated. |
| However, the website said abandoning the marathon was "easier said than done" because thousands of competitors were scattered across the hills and communication was difficult. | However, the website said abandoning the marathon was "easier said than done" because thousands of competitors were scattered across the hills and communication was difficult. |
| Honister Slate Mine is at the top of one of England's steepest mountain passes in the Borrowdale Valley, rising to some 2,000ft in height (610m). | Honister Slate Mine is at the top of one of England's steepest mountain passes in the Borrowdale Valley, rising to some 2,000ft in height (610m). |
| Mr Weir said he had set up three refuge points - one at the mine itself, a second at a cattle shed at Gatesgarth, and a third further down the mountain in the town of Cockermouth. | Mr Weir said he had set up three refuge points - one at the mine itself, a second at a cattle shed at Gatesgarth, and a third further down the mountain in the town of Cockermouth. |
| Speaking to BBC News he urged anyone with a van or bus to contact him at the mine to help ferry people down the mountainside. | Speaking to BBC News he urged anyone with a van or bus to contact him at the mine to help ferry people down the mountainside. |
| However, he added that the job was being made more difficult by the weather conditions which had led to the closure of some of the roads in the area. | However, he added that the job was being made more difficult by the weather conditions which had led to the closure of some of the roads in the area. |
| He said the race should never have gone ahead in such conditions. | He said the race should never have gone ahead in such conditions. |
| The weather was very bad; gale force winds and torrential rain Shane Ohly, run participant | The weather was very bad; gale force winds and torrential rain Shane Ohly, run participant |
| "Now we've got several hundred, into the thousand, stranded, cold, tired, some hypothermic," he said. | "Now we've got several hundred, into the thousand, stranded, cold, tired, some hypothermic," he said. |
| "We've overwhelmed the emergency services - the poor mountain rescue are out trying to find people on the side of the mountain, in the dark. It's just a bizarre day." | "We've overwhelmed the emergency services - the poor mountain rescue are out trying to find people on the side of the mountain, in the dark. It's just a bizarre day." |
| Shane Ohly, who completed the run, said: "The weather was very bad; gale force winds and torrential rain. However, the event is for experienced fell runners and everyone should have been able to cope. | Shane Ohly, who completed the run, said: "The weather was very bad; gale force winds and torrential rain. However, the event is for experienced fell runners and everyone should have been able to cope. |
| 'Too dangerous' | 'Too dangerous' |
| "We heard that the road through Borrowdale was under 7ft of water and that the road at the end of the Honiston pass was about to be submerged at the only passable ford. | "We heard that the road through Borrowdale was under 7ft of water and that the road at the end of the Honiston pass was about to be submerged at the only passable ford. |
| "The Original Mountain Marathon is one of the best organised events of its type and I am sure the organisers will be doing everything they can," he said. | "The Original Mountain Marathon is one of the best organised events of its type and I am sure the organisers will be doing everything they can," he said. |
| We had difficulty getting down due to streams becoming fast torrents of water and 'waterfalls' springing out of nowhere Lewis Peattie, run participant | We had difficulty getting down due to streams becoming fast torrents of water and 'waterfalls' springing out of nowhere Lewis Peattie, run participant |
| Another run participant, Lewis Peattie, said he and his teammate were lucky to get out when they did. | Another run participant, Lewis Peattie, said he and his teammate were lucky to get out when they did. |
| "We had difficulty getting down due to streams becoming fast torrents of water and 'waterfalls' springing out of nowhere," he said. | "We had difficulty getting down due to streams becoming fast torrents of water and 'waterfalls' springing out of nowhere," he said. |
| Will Creek, who was due to take part in the race, told the BBC that he had pulled out because of the bad weather conditions. | Will Creek, who was due to take part in the race, told the BBC that he had pulled out because of the bad weather conditions. |
| "I looked at the weather forecast and took the view it was too treacherous for my wife and I to take part. I just thought it was too dangerous," he said. | "I looked at the weather forecast and took the view it was too treacherous for my wife and I to take part. I just thought it was too dangerous," he said. |
| No-one from OMM has so far been available for comment but their website describes the run as being founded in 1968 and it being the "originator of the two-day mountain marathon type event". | No-one from OMM has so far been available for comment but their website describes the run as being founded in 1968 and it being the "originator of the two-day mountain marathon type event". |
| It involves teams of two, carrying all clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bag, and their food for 36 hours, during the run. They must also navigate their own route and camp out overnight. | It involves teams of two, carrying all clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bag, and their food for 36 hours, during the run. They must also navigate their own route and camp out overnight. |
| The website goes on to say that the OMM is "the premier UK event to test teamwork, self-reliance, endurance, outdoor and navigational skills. The reputation of the event is worldwide and every year we have entrants from between 12-14 countries." | The website goes on to say that the OMM is "the premier UK event to test teamwork, self-reliance, endurance, outdoor and navigational skills. The reputation of the event is worldwide and every year we have entrants from between 12-14 countries." |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your story using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your story using the form below. |
| You can also send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |