An RAF Sea King helicopter

A man was airlifted from a Lake District fell today after injuring himself in a cave.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called to help the 18-year-old, from Wiltshire, after he was unable to walk off the fell after slipping in the Priest Hole, above Dovedale, and sustaining a painful knee injury.

A spokesperson for the rescuers said: “Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team’s doctor was already on board the Great North East Air Ambulance and initially assisted the team and administered first aid on scene.

“Given the time of day, and the complexity of evacuating a casualty across the face of Dove Crag, a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer winched the casualty from the scene.

“The young man was taken to Whitehaven hospital.”

Eighteen members of the Patterdale team took part in the operation, which began at 5pm today, Monday.