The walker suffered heart problems while walking on Blencathra

Quick thinking by a walkers’ companions helped avert a tragedy after he suffered heart problems on a Lake District mountain.

Keswick MRT was alerted about 1.50pm on Saturday when the 66-year-old man was taken ill on Blease Fell on Blencathra.

The team spokesperson said: “Fortunately, his companions realised that this was a cardiac event, and phoned for assistance immediately.”

Keswick MRT members were mobilised and the Great North Air Ambulance flew to the mountain from its base near Penrith. Members of RAF Leeming MRT who were in the area also offered to help.

The spokesperson said: “Fortunately, Helimed 58 was able to land close to the casualty, and the team was swiftly on scene as well, when the casualty suffered a cardiac arrest.

“The air ambulance medical team used a defibrillator to restart his heart, and the team then stretchered him quickly to the aircraft. He was then flown to the Cumberland Infirmary for specialist treatment.

“The team stood by until Helimed was airborne, and then stood down. Had the gentleman’s companions not been as alert to his condition, the consequences could have been much more serious.”

The incident lasted just over three hours and involved 16 Keswick MRT members and three from the RAF team. It was one of three the Keswick team dealt with on Saturday.

Volunteers were called out to help three men who got into difficulties in a lake during a mountain festival.

Belfast Coastguard alerted the Keswick team about 8.45pm after reports three people had fallen from a rowing boat on Derwent Water.

A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “This took place during the evening music event at the mountain festival so there were many people in the area.

“The team boat launched, and searched the area round Derwent Isle and St Herbert’s Island. Another team member took a canoe to search other areas close to shore. The boat crew eventually came across three lads who were landing a rowing boat down by the Keswick campsite, and they turned out to be the persons who had been in distress.

“They had managed to get ashore on one of the islands, and then get back into the boat to make their way to shore. The Coastguard asked the team to ensure that there were no other persons in the water in that area, and after 40 minutes, the incident was closed.”

The incident involved 15 volunteers from the team.

The team was also in action when a mountain biker injured herself on a route in Whinlatter Forest.

She came off on a jump and landed heavily, aggravating an injury she had suffered some weeks before.

The Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “The team set off with two vehicles full of personnel, and others went direct.

“The casualty was in considerable pain, and the team doctor administered some powerful analgesia before she was packaged in a vacuum mattress. She was then carried up to a waiting ambulance, where she was assessed by the crew, and then transferred to the Cumberland Infirmary for treatment.”

Thirteen team members took part in the rescue which lasted about 1¾ hours.