Four stoned climbers had to be rescued Saturday evening from England's tallest mountain after claiming they could not walk after using cannabis.
The rescue sparked a strong reaction on social media after the climbers contacted Cumbria police about 6:30 p.m. after they ran into trouble on the mountain, The Guardian reported. The mountain's peak stands 3,210 feet.
"Persons phoning Cumbria Police because they are stuck on a mountain, after taking cannabis," a post on Cumbria Police's Facebook stated, which was shared nearly 800 times. "Now having to deploy (Mountain) Rescue, Air support and Ambulance to rescue them. Words fail us. …"
"Mountain safety is your responsibility," Cumbria Supt. Justin Bibby told The Guardian. "Carry the right equipment and food, and know how to use it. Our priority is your safety. The Wasdale mountain rescue team had a particularly busy day yesterday dealing with this and other incidents.
"They are volunteers, they do an amazing job and they are always there to assist those who get into difficulty. Taking alcohol or any other substance that could impair your judgment significantly increases your risk of getting into trouble. It has no place on a mountain," he continued.
The rescue team was able to bring the climbers down safely by 9:45 p.m., The Telegraph reported. The Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, the umbrella group for mountain rescue teams in Cumbria, told the publication that such emergency calls were "becoming a joke."
Many on social media were outraged that the climbers had to be rescued.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.