Rescuers set off a red flare to guide the helicopter to the incident site. Photo: Keswick MRT

A walker was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries when she tumbled 65ft into a Lakeland ravine.

The woman was walking with her son when she slipped on an icy path above Taylorgill Force above Seathwaite and fell 20m into a scree field, injuring her head.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out at 3.20pm on Saturday after the woman’s son ran down to Seathwaite Farm to raise the alarm.

A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “The team set off to Seathwaite with a Land Rover full of personnel, while other team members followed in a Sprinter, and search dog handlers training in the valley went direct.

The walker tumbled on to a scree field after slipping. Photo: Keswick MRT

“Control checked on the availability of air support, given the reported injuries. The casualty was in an awkward location, so a request for a winching Coastguard helicopter was made.

“Fortunately, the Great North Air Ambulance was able to attend fairly swiftly, and the medical crew were deployed to assess the patient. After preliminary treatment, she was winched aboard the Coastguard helicopter to transfer her to the Preston Royal Hospital for treatment, accompanied by the doctor from the air ambulance.”

The 3¼-hour rescue involved 17 volunteers from Keswick MRT.