Striding Edge: a man collapsed en route for the ridgeA Lakeland rescue team reminded walkers to ring the police if they need the mountain rescue services.

Striding Edge: a man collapsed en route for the ridge

The plea followed an incident on Helvellyn yesterday morning during which a man collapsed. The Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team went to the aid of the 43-year-old, from the North-East, after being called by ambulance staff. A 999 call had been made to the ambulance service, which mobilised its air ambulance.

Eleven members of the Patterdale team, including some who were flown on to the fell by helicopter, went to help the walker, who was having an epileptic fit. The walker was on the Mires Beck path leading from Glenridding to Helvellyn.

The man had regained consciousness by the time the air ambulance reached him. The helicopter’s doctor treated him and he was taken by stretcher by the MRT to the valley, from where a road ambulance took him to hospital in Carlisle.

Britain’s mountain rescue teams operate under the control of the country’s police forces. Official advice from Mountain Rescue England and Wales is: “If you have a serious problem, get a message to the police via 999 for help as soon as possible, and keep injured or exhausted people safe and warm until help reaches you.

“If you cannot contact anyone, use six whistle blasts or torch flashes, repeated at minute intervals, to signal an emergency.”