The man fell from Swirral Edge, right, on Helvellyn. Photo: Mike Blakey

The man fell from Swirral Edge, right, on Helvellyn. Photo: Mike Blakey

A severely injured man was airlifted from England’s third-highest mountain after falling 650ft.

The 32-year-old, from the South of England, fell from Swirral Edge on Helvellyn into Brown Cove, suffering multiple injuries.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out and the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s helicopter was scrambled at 1.50pm on Saturday from its base near Penrith.

The Prestwick Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 helicopter also flew to the scene.

A Patterdale MRT spokesperson said the walker was attempting to descend Swirral Edge from Helvellyn’s summit when he slipped and fell 200m.

The spokesperson said: “Several team members were flown into Brown Cove while the remainder of the team used the fully equipped off-road Land Rovers to get as close as possible before making their way on foot.”

The man was treated on the mountain for serious head, spinal, neck and chest injuries, with the Patterdale team doctor, GNAAS paramedics and the winchman-paramedic from the Coastguard aircraft all joining the operation, along with members of the rescue team.

The injured man was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne by the Coastguard helicopter. His condition on arrival was described as critical.

The Patterdale team spokesperson added it was the third person to have fallen from Helvellyn this year. “The rescue team would like to stress that while many of the Lakeland fells are without snow, Helvellyn remains covered in hard icy snow on many of its ascents and descents,” the spokesperson said. “Walkers and climbers should be adequately equipped for full winter conditions on Helvellyn.”

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