Hawes, scene of the rescue. Photo: Stephen Craven CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescue team was called to help in the rescue of a couple who fell down a steep embankment during a passionate clinch.

Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team joined firefighters, ambulance crew and air ambulance staff after the incident in Hawes, North Yorkshire.

Emergency services were alerted about 12.30pm on Saturday when the woman fell backwards over a wall near the entrance to Upper Wensleydale Business Park in the Dales village.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “It is believed the female fell backwards over the wall and down a steep embankment.

“The male is believed to have attempted to catch the female but the momentum of the fall has also pulled him over the top and down the embankment.”

The couple, in their 30s, fell 4m (12ft) down the slope. The fire service spokesperson said: “Fire crews used ladders and manpower to assist paramedics gain access to the casualties and transfer them to stretchers.”

The Swaledale team helped remove the couple from their position at the bottom of the slope.

The fire service spokesperson added: “The male has been taken to hospital via air ambulance suffering possible abdominal and leg injuries. The female has been taken to hospital via road ambulance suffering possible pelvic injuries.”