The caver was rescued from The Allotment, on the eastern slopes of Ingleborough

A caver was rescued from a Yorkshire Dales pothole after injuring himself when he fell 16ft underground.

The 59-year-old man managed to climb three pitches to reach the entrance of Rift Pot despite his injuries.

The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation was called out about 5.05pm yesterday after the caver fell about 5m and suffered a hip injury near The Bridge in the cave, on the eastern slopes of Ingleborough.

A team spokesperson said: “After giving him pain relief, the team ‘sledged’ him over snow and grass to a CRO vehicle, for transport back to Clapham.

“He was then transferred to a road ambulance, to go to hospital.”

The rescue was the team’s seventh of the year.