Mr Chadwick was found by rescuers at the foot of Helvellyn's headwall. Photo: Mike Blakey

Police have named the climber who died after falling on Helvellyn earlier this week.

John Chadwick, 68, of Gamblesby in the Eden Valley, was found by rescuers at the base of the mountain’s headwall in the early hours of Wednesday after a major search involving more than 40 volunteer rescue team members.

Mr Chadwick’s wife Marjorie reported him missing when at 8.40pm on Tuesday after he failed to return from a winter climbing trip on the fell.

He was an experience mountaineer and had completed a route on Helvellyn a few days previously.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team leader Mike Blakey said he had gone on to the mountain well equipped.

The Patterdale team was joined by colleagues from the Keswick, Kirkby Stephen and Penrith teams, Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs and a Royal Navy helicopter.

Rescuers stretchered the unconscious climber from the site near Red Tarn to where the helicopter had landed near Greenside Mines, after low cloud prevented the Sea King reaching the scene.

It took rescuers more than four hours to carry Mr Chadwick from the mountain, during which time he suffered a heart attack. An AutoPulse machine was used to deliver automated cardio-pulmonary resuscitation during the stretcher carry.

The HMS Gannet crew then flew the mountaineer to the major trauma centre at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne but he died about 6.30am.