The walker fell about 100ft from Swirral Edge

A walker was seriously injured when he fell 30m (100ft) from a ridge on England’s third highest mountain.

The 60-year-old man from Lincolnshire was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious head and other multiple injuries after slipping and falling from Swirral Edge on Helvellyn.

The man was walking with his daughter when the incident happened.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out about midday and two helicopters, one from the Great North Air Ambulance and a Sea King from HMS Gannet at Prestwick, also joined the operation.

A team spokesperson said: “Due to the location and low cloud it was not possible for either helicopter to directly evacuate the casualty.

“The team lowered the casualty down a loose scree slope for several hundred metres until they were below the cloud and the Sea King could fly in to winch the stretcher.

“Due to the serious nature of the injuries, the casualty and a team doctor were flown direct to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.”

Two passing Penrith MRT members also helped in the rescue.

The Patterdale MRT spokesperson added: “Due to the steep and loose terrain this was a particularly difficult rescue made possible by the excellent cooperation between the team, the Great North Air Ambulance and the naval helicopter crew.”

Swirral Edge and Striding Edge are the two arêtes leading to the summit plateau of the 950m (3,117ft) mountain.