The woman fell while walking on Pillar, above Ennerdale. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A walker was airlifted from a Lake District mountain after falling and suffering head and chest injuries.

The 40-year-old woman was descending Pillar towards Looking Stead on Thursday when the incident happened.

Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 4pm. Because of the potential serious nature of the walker’s injuries, the full team was called out and a request was made for help from a Coastguard helicopter.

A Cockermouth MRT spokesperson said: “Initially the team intended to ascend the mountain via Pillar Ride. However, HM Coastguard Rescue 199 was dispatched quickly and as such the team headed to Black Sail Youth Hostel for uplift to the scene via helicopter.”

The Prestwick-based aircraft arrived in Ennerdale about 5.10pm and the winchman was lowered to the injured walker.

The spokesperson said: “Working with a Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team member who had travelled to the incident directly, the casualty was treated on scene, then winched to the helicopter and transported onwards to hospital.”

Team leader Andrew McNeil said: “All the initial information pointed towards this being a very serious and potentially difficult callout.

“It was great to have the support of Rescue 199, who made our job a lot easier, and made the casualty’s evacuation considerably quicker.

“The team wishes the casualty a speedy recovery.”

The 2½-hour rescue was the team’s fourth of the year and involved 19 Cockermouth MRT volunteers.