Rescuers stretcher the injured walker off the fell. Photo: Keswick MRT

A walker was forced to call out mountain rescuers after injuring herself on the Helvellyn range.

The woman and her partner attempted to make their own way off the fell after she hurt her ankle.

The pair rang for help as darkness fell.

The walker had stepped into a hole while walking to a stream to fill her water bottle on the descent of the fell on Birk Side, west of Nethermost Pike.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out about 9.35pm on Wednesday.

A team spokesperson said the pair attempted to continue the descent. “Unable to walk, she spent the next few hours with her partner in a valiant self-rescue attempt.

“During this time they made progress on the descent towards Wythburn car park at Thirlmere but as it was getting dark they finally called for assistance.”

Team members made their way in two vehicles and made the ascent of the path to find the injured woman below Comb Crags.

The spokesperson said: “Her ankle was splinted and she was then carried by stretcher to the car park.

“Her partner drove her to the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle for a check-up.”

The two-hour rescue involved 20 volunteers from Keswick MRT.