Calder Valley SRT members work with air ambulance crew at the Oxygrains incident

A walker was airlifted to hospital after breaking her leg when she went out on an early morning expedition to photograph the sunrise.

Members of the Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team were alerted at 8.20am on Thursday after the woman fell on the hills above Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

Pete Farnell, chair of the Mytholmroyd-based team, said: “A teacher from a school in Wilmslow who were staying in the area, had set off on her own, before the school activities had started for the day, as she wished to photograph the sunrise from Orchan Rocks near Lydgate, Todmorden.

“Unfortunately she slipped on the wet grass close to the rocks and sustained an ankle injury. The rescue team responded quickly, sending rescue Land Rovers from Todmorden, Mytholmroyd and Copley.

“Team members administered pain relief and splinted the injury and she was carried on a stretcher to the North West Air Ambulance for transfer to Blackburn hospital where x-rays confirmed her lower leg was broken in three places and required surgery.”

While dealing with the injured walker, the Calder Valley team was contacted by police who had reports of a man missing in the Rishworth Moor area on the hills north of the M62 motorway.

Mr Farnell said: “Search dog Pepper with handler Ellie Sherwin were put on standby to search for the missing man.

“Before the search began, a fellwalker reported finding a collapsed male near Oxygrains Bridge on Rishworth Moor and the team responded to assist the ambulance crew who were on scene.

“After treatment by team doctor Rebecca Isles, the man was flown by air ambulance to Leeds hospital for further medical treatment.”

The Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team has 45 members and covers the Pennine hills and moors between the M62 and the Yorkshire Dales and has running costs of £30,000 a year.