A man died after falling from Helvellyn yesterday.

Michael Hollinshead, 62, of Egerton, Bolton, Greater Manchester, was blown into Brown Cove, beneath Swirral Edge.  Mr Hollinshead fell 300m (985 ft) and sustained multiple injuries.

Brown Cove, with Helvellyn's summit centre and Catstycam to the left 

Reports indicate he may have been having trouble with his crampons and was trying to adjust them when the accident happened.

A police spokesman said: “Due to adverse weather conditions, Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team attended the scene and moved the casualty by stretcher further down the valley where he was transferred to an RAF helicopter and airlifted to Furness General Hospital [in Barrow].

“On arrival at the hospital the casualty was pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained from the fall.

“Coroner Ian Smith has been informed.”

High winds had been forecast for Helvellyn’s summit yesterday, and the fell-top report said that cornices were still evident on east-facing slopes. The Weatherline, which uses Craig Palmer’s and Jon Bennett’s daily reports from the 950m (3,117ft) summit, said: “The combination of high winds and ice makes the summit area treacherous.”

Last weekend, walkers and climbers were warned to stay away from the mountain because of the high avalanche risk on its eastern slopes.

Winds are forecast to subside tomorrow with some brighter weather on Friday and Saturday, with fell-top temperatures continuing to be below freezing.