Rescuers at the scene at Aira Force. Photo: Patterdale MRT

Rescuers at the scene at Aira Force. Photo: Patterdale MRT

A walker was airlifted to hospital after falling 50ft at a Lake District waterfall.

The woman was pulled over a steep cliff by her dog and landed in shallow water at Aira Force on Wednesday.

Ambulance staff requested the help of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team about 3.35pm. The Great North Air Ambulance also flew to the scene.

A team spokesperson said she suffered serious injuries to her lower leg and was in considerable pain. Mountain rescuers worked with other emergency teams at the site.

The spokesperson said: “The casualty was treated on scene by the medics, and she was then transferred onto a stretcher and evacuated by the Patterdale team to the helimed which had landed in a field some distance away.”

The woman was then flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The spokesperson added: “The team would like to thank the [North West Ambulance Service] and [Great North Air Ambulance Service] crews for some great teamwork which resulted in a quick and efficient rescue.”

The rescue involved 14 Patterdale team volunteers and lasted for about two hours.

The woman intended to bivvy at the Priest's Hole, Dove Crag. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The woman intended to bivvy at the Priest's Hole, Dove Crag. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The team had also been alerted shortly before midnight the previous day to a lone walker who got lost trying to find the Priest’s Hole cave above Dovedale. She had intended to bivvy at the site overnight.

She rang her friend by mobile phone when she got lost in the dark.

The spokesperson said: “The friend had managed to talk her back towards the main path and her intention was to return to her car and give up on the overnight camp plan.

“The friend raised the alarm when he could not get in touch with her after a couple of hours had passed.”

The team leader found the woman’s vehicle parked in the valley. Two team members then walked up and located the walker just above Hartsop Hall.

“She had managed to navigate most of the way down using the torch on her phone,” the spokesperson said. “She was very glad to see the team and get an escort down the mountain back to her car.”

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