A group of young men who took magic mushrooms while hiking in the Lake District over Easter weekend had to be rescued by almost a dozen mountain experts.
A number of hikers noticed the group were in trouble on Saturday afternoon and called the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT).
Eleven team members located the group and helped walk them down from a peak in the Stonycroft and Newlands area of the popular hiking district.
The incident took two hours to resolve, with the hikers being offered advice on the effects of the LSD-style illegal drug.
Two men in the group were “feeling unwell”, including the driver of the party, the rescue team said in a statement on Facebook.
“The casualties were walked down and given advice by the team medic regarding the timing of their onward travel.”
A number of people who commented on the post were shocked by the incident and praised the rescue efforts.
Later that evening, just before 10.30pm, eleven rescue team members helped four other hikers climbing down the Styhead Tarn path towards Seathwaite.
“One was reported to have had an ankle injury and another a panic attack,” KMRT said.
“The team deployed but after a short walk from Seathwaite farm, the walkers were found after making good progress down the hill.
“They were walked back to their car at Seathwaite.”
Magic mushrooms, or Psilocybin, are naturally occurring mushrooms that have hallucinogenic effects when consumed.
The introduction of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 made the possession, cultivation and sale of magical mushrooms illegal in the UK.
Psilocybin is converted by the body to psilocin, and this is the actual compound which produces psychoactive effects. These changes are classically known as a psychedelic “trip”, and can last anywhere between two and six hours.
In 2021 then prime minister Boris Johnson said he would examine the latest advice on the legalisation of psilocybin for therapeutic qualities, with studies claiming the drug can “significantly reduce” depression symptoms.
From July 2023 psychiatrists in Australia will be able to prescribe psilocybin and MDMA as treatments for depression and PTSD.
The Lake District is England’s largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a popular holiday and hiking destination known for its spectacular glacial lakes and rugged mountains.
