Search called off after walker found safe at Honister Slate Mine

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team was called out on Saturday 26 September 2026 after a walker who was not feeling well could not be located.

North West Ambulance Service asked the team for help after the man's wife reported that he was unwell and could not be found.

The team said the incident happened at 2.15pm and described it as "a pleasant early autumn afternoon".

After trying several ways to reach him, the team located the man and confirmed he was safe at Honister Slate Mine. The team said poor mobile signal in the area had made contact difficult.

Nine team members took part in the response, which lasted one hour and 35 minutes, according to the team.

Honister Slate Mine

Honister Slate Mine, in Cumbria, is a working slate mine that has quarried Westmorland green slate since the late 17th century. It is also a tourist attraction in the Lake District National Park. (Wikipedia)

The team

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team covers the Lake District and recorded 71 call-outs in 2025, according to the Mountain Rescue England and Wales annual review. The team was founded in 1947 and has more than 30 active volunteers, according to its website. (Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Coniston MRT)

Staying safe

Mountain Rescue England and Wales advises walkers to fully charge their phones before setting off and to register for emergencySMS, since signal in hill areas can be unreliable. In an emergency, it says to dial 999 or 112 and ask for the police, then mountain rescue. (mountain.rescue.org.uk)

Read Coniston MRT’s original post on its website.

Sources

1. Coniston/Honister Coniston MRT
2. Honister Slate Mine Wikipedia
3. MREW Annual Review 2026, incident figures January to December 2025 Mountain Rescue England and Wales
4. Coniston MRT website Coniston MRT
5. In an emergency in the hills, dial 999 or 112, ask for the police, then mountain rescue. mountain.rescue.org.uk
6. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can register to contact 999 by text by sending the word register to 999 and following the instructions sent. mountain.rescue.org.uk