However, since going public with their experience, they had raised £2,000 in about 24 hours for the charity.
“We are bowled over by the generosity of [people’s] support,” the spokesman said.
Although the Wasdale Head Inn had already told them it would take the hit for the loss, the mountain rescue team said it wanted to reimburse them.
Any extra money will go towards the running of the service, which is made up of volunteers.
Burton said the bad experience would not deter them from helping anyone who comes into the pub and hotel in need of assistance.
He said: “Given this is the first time it’s happened in 45 years I suppose on one hand you can learn from it, on the other hand it’s a life lesson for us too – and not one to worry about really.”