Rescuers at the scene of the incident in the gill on Angletarn Pikes. Photo: GNAAS

Two runners were seriously injured when they fell into the same Lake District gill in separate incidents on the same afternoon.

A man suffered head injuries when he fell more than 160ft while taking part in a mountain marathon in the Lake District.

The Warrington man fell into Dubhow Gill on Angletarn Pikes on Saturday.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out and the Great North Air Ambulance was scrambled about 3.30pm.

A Great North Air Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Due to the severe nature of the terrain the helicopter was unable to land near to the casualty, instead landing in the valley bottom from where the aircrew doctor and paramedic team made their way on foot to the casualty site.”

It took the crew members about 25 minutes to make the climb to the injured runner, a competitor in the Saunders Mountain Marathon.

The spokesperson said: “When they reached the casualty the team assessed and treated a young male for injuries to the head and face.

“The casualty was placed onto a mountain rescue stretcher and lowered to the valley floor by Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team before being transported to the waiting helicopter by MRT Land Rover and then flown to hospital in Preston.”

The man also suffered leg and arm injuries in the 50m fall into the gill.

His condition was described as stable when he arrived at the specialist unit in Preston after the 20-minute flight.

A Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson said: “Just as the team had returned to base they were called out again to a second incident in exactly the same location.

“This time a female fellrunner had taken a tumbling fall with a suspected fractured arm, back and chest injuries along with lacerations to her head.

“Due to the seriousness of the potential injuries a Coastguard helicopter was requested. The casualty was winched from the fell and flown to hospital for further treatment.”

The two rescues took six hours in total and involved 14 team Patterdale MRT volunteers.

The spokesperson added: “With three major outdoor events happening in the Ullswater valley and two incidents with the Saunders Mountain Marathon the team are hoping for a quiet night and lie-in in the morning.”