The injured man is winched into the Coastguard helicopter. Photo: Keswick MRT

A paraglider was seriously injured when he crash-landed on a Lake District mountain.

The man fell 40ft down a crag in the incident on Blencathra on Saturday.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 10.40am and went to the site where the paraglider had suffered serious multiple injuries when he fell into Gategill after hitting the hill.

The crew of the Great North Air Ambulance requested the team’s help. A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “After assessing the situation, it was decided that it would be safer for all concerned to request the assistance of the Coastguard helicopter to winch the casualty from the difficult location.

“While waiting for the S-92 from Prestwick, team members assisted the air ambulance crew to splint the casualty, and then place him in a Tyromont winching bag.”

The Sikorsky crew winched the injured paraglider into their aircraft and flew him to the air ambulance where he was further assessed before being flown by the air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The rescue lasted more than two hours and involved 11 volunteers from Keswick MRT.