A MULTI agency response was called out to a bay in Ullswater with teams rescuing a swimmer from an island on the lake.

Earlier today, October 23 teams from Belfast Coastguard, Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team, Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team, Burgh-by-Sands Coastguard Rescue Team, Arnside & South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team, North West Ambulance Service, Ullswater Steamers and The Outward Bound Trust Ullswater were called out to an overdue swimmer in the Glencoyne Bay area of Ullswater.

A large scale shoreline and waterborne search was carried out in the area, with the swimmer being found and taken into the care of ambulance services after a paddleboarder heard shouts for help on an island in the lake and went to investigate.

A spokesman for the Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue team said: "We were tasked this morning by our Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Belfast Coastguard, after a call had been received reporting an overdue swimmer in the area of Glencoyne Bay Ullswater.

"A multiagency response was initiated to enable a largescale shoreline and waterborne search to be conducted, with emergency services and local vessels involved.

"With a cloud inversion covering the lake with a dense mist, searching was going to prove difficult for the search teams. With one of our full-time officers from the area soon on scene to assist with the efforts, a multiagency plan was initiated. Coastguard Helicopter assets were requested, whilst waterborne searches were conducted by boats from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, Ullswater Steamers and The Outward Bound Trust Ullswater, with land search team assets mustering to commence shoreline searches.

"Thankfully, the welcome news soon arrived that the swimmer had been located on an island in the lake, after a paddleboarder had heard shouts for help and went to investigate.

"The casualty, having got disorientated due to the mist on the lake, had managed to take refuge on one of the small islands. They were then safely brought ashore by the waterborne assets and handed over into the care of North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust for assessment."