The speed flier crashed near Sty Head after attempting a descent from Windy Gap

A man was airlifted from a Lake District fell after suffering serious injuries in a speed-flying accident.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out yesterday after initial information that a man injured his hip in a fall.

Fourteen team members were involved in the incident at 12.30pm and made their way to Sty Head, between Great Gable and Great End.

A team spokesperson said: “This turned out to be a 26-year-old man who had attempted to speed fly down from Windy Gap, using a rig similar to a paraglider.

“He was caught by a cross wind, the canopy collapsed, and he fell between 10 and 15m to the ground, suffering back and pelvic injuries.

“The incident was attended by the Great North Air Ambulance, and the team assisted the paramedic to splint the casualty with a spinal splint, and then transport him to the aircraft.

“Because of the nature of his injuries, he was flown directly to the Royal Victoria Infirmary at Newcastle for treatment.”

Speed flying is a hybrid sport that has elements of parachuting and paragliding, but involves a rapid descent from heights using a paraglider-type wing.

The rescue was the 84th of the year for the Keswick team.