The man fell 100m down Helvellyn's head wall towards Red Tarn

A man was airlifted from England’s third highest mountain after falling more than 300ft and injuring himself.

The 27-year-old from Cheshire fell 100m from the face of Helvellyn towards Red Tarn today.

He suffered a broken ankle and dislocated shoulder in the incident this afternoon.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out to help the man, one of three rescues in which its members were involved today.

A team spokesperson said: “The man was treated for his injuries, splinted, placed into a stretcher and then lowered down the snow slope to a waiting air ambulance.

“The team was also assisted by members of RAF mountain rescue team who were training in the area.”

Earlier, two Patterdale MRT members who were climbing on Helvellyn helped Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, which had been called to the western side of the mountain to help a 15-year-old boy and his father who were injured.

A Keswick team spokesperson said the boy slipped 100m down a rock-strewn snow slope. “His father also slipped whilst trying to reach his son.”

The Great North Air Ambulance Pride of Cumbria took part in the rescue. Photo: GNAA

The boy suffered a broken thigh bone and both sustained multiple cuts and bruises in the incident and the man also injured his ankle.

The spokesperson said: “There were two RAF mountain rescue teams in the area, who went to assist, and an air ambulance was tasked.

“Because of the nature of the incidents and number of casualties, a Royal Navy Sea King with winching capability was also tasked from Prestwick. The rescue involved four mountain rescue teams, three paramedics, two doctors and two helicopters.

The rescue operation took almost four hours and involved 22 Keswick MRT volunteers.

While the two rescues were underway, Patterdale MRT was also called to help a 47-year-old walker from Oxfordshire who had fallen on an icy slope on St Sunday Crag and broken his ankle.

Team members were diverted from the Red Tarn rescue and Penrith MRT members were also called to help.

A Patterdale team spokesperson said: “Team members reached the casualty, splinted his leg and then transferred him into a stretcher for winching into the Sea King which had returned from dropping off the first two casualties at hospital.”

The spokesperson said all the casualties in today’s incidents were well equipped.