Rescuers guide in the air ambulance at the scene of the incident on High Rigg. Photo: Stuart Holmes/Keswick MRT

A walker was airlifted from a Lake District fell after suffering head and chest injuries in a fall.

The 80-year-old man was walking with friends on High Rigg near St John’s in the Vale when he fell about 3m (10ft) from a path into a boulder field.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, which was called out about 2.15pm on Saturday, said the walker suffered severe head lacerations and damaged ribs in the tumbling fall.

The man was walking on High Rigg when he fell

A team spokesperson said: “The team was swiftly on scene and requested assistance from the air ambulance in view of his head injury.

“Fortunately the Great North Air Ambulance was available, and was on scene in 10 minutes. After treatment on scene, the man was flown to the Cumberland Infirmary for further assessment.

“The team assisted members of his party back to their vehicles at St Johns in the Vale.”

Nine volunteers from Keswick MRT were involved in the rescue, which lasted a little over two hours.