Two hikers from Dronfield had to be rescued on Friday, 3 February, by South Yorkshire Police’s Air Operations Unit after they found themselves in difficulty and stranded near Kinder Downfall waterfall in the Kinder Scout area of the Derbyshire Peak District.

South Yorkshire Police received a phone call shortly after 6pm on Friday from a friend of the couple who informed the operator that the pair were not injured but unable to make their way from the peak because of the conditions.

Sergeant Helen Scothern, head of South Yorkshire Police’s Air Operations Unit said: “The North Midlands Air Support Unit that usually covers the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area was occupied with another task and we offered to assist.

“Using the thermal imaging camera system on the helicopter we were able to locate the couple and thankfully conditions allowed us to land. We then flew the walkers back to our base where they were checked over by paramedics.

“The couple were suffering from being exposed to the severe cold but thankfully we were able to reach them and locate them before the consequences, and the weather, became more severe.”