Boy wanders off on Kinder Scout prompting rescue mission

A family has been reunited after a 16-year-old boy went missing in cold and windy conditions on Kinder Scout late on Friday afternoon.

The group were on a half-term hike to the Kinder Downfall waterfall from Hayfield when their son – who had been walking ahead despite not knowing the route – went missing at around 4:40pm. 

Seventeen members of the mountain rescue teams (MRT) from Kinder and Buxton, as well as the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs, raced to the plateau to begin the hunt. 

“We began searching the escape routes off Kinder and sent a party to the Downfall to meet up with the mum who was now beginning to get very cold,” said a statement from Kinder MRT.  

“Fortunately, she had met another group of walkers who escorted her along the edge path towards us. It wasn’t long before we managed to meet up with the group. 

“After a couple of hours of searching, and not long after we met up with the mum, we heard from our team member at Bowden Bridge.  

“The son had managed to make his own way down and back to the car. 

“We brought the walking group and the mum back down in our vehicles to reunite her with her son.” 

The rescuers also praised the walkers who helped the boy’s “distressed” mother during the 3.5-hour operation, saying: “It’s great to see people taking the time to help others on the hills.” 

This was Kinder MRT’s 22nd call-out of 2025, racking up a total of 1,686 hours volunteer hours.