Shepherd's Crag, scene of the rescue. Photo: Shaun Ferguson CC-BY-SA-2.0

A climber was seriously injured in a fall at a popular Lakeland crag today.

The man fell 15m (49ft) and hit the ground after coming off a route in Borrowdale.

The climber, from Newcastle upon Tyne, suffered serious leg injuries and possible spine and pelvis injuries in the incident on the E1, 5b rated Conclusion route on the Brown Slabs area of Shepherds Crag.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.41 this afternoon and 19 members went to the man’s aid. Two members of RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team were also involved in the rescue.

A paramedic from the Great North Air Ambulance gave the climber first aid and mountain rescuers help splint the casualty and stretcher him to the waiting helicopter which had landed across the road from the crag.

The climber was then airlifted to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for further treatment.