The man fell about 100m from Swirral Edge
A man was injured after falling more than 300ft from a ridge on England’s third highest mountain.
Rescuers were alerted shortly before 4pm today after the man fell about 100m while on Swirral Edge, Helvellyn.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, which was on a training exercise with a Sea King search and rescue helicopter and crew from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, responded to the call for help.
Six of the 17 team members on the exercise were airlifted by the helicopter to Red Tarn below the ridge, with emergency first aid equipment and ropes.
The then made their way up to Swirral Edge to try to find the injured man.
A team spokesperson said: “The helicopter carried out an initial search of the area but due to low cloud was unable to spot the casualty location.
“Further members of the rescue team ascended to Swirral Edge on foot with additional equipment and assisted those already on scene whilst the helicopter refuelled.
“At the time of the incident, the man’s friends could not see him due to low cloud and believed him to be unconscious.
“The team found the casualty at the head of Brown Cove below Water Crag.”
The fallen walker had an injured shoulder and cuts and bruises, but was conscious.
The spokesperson said: “Due to the distance he had fallen the team placed him in a neck collar and full body vacuum splint.
“He was airlifted from the mountain by the RAF Sea King helicopter, which returned to assist the team, and then flown to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, for further treatment.
“The rest of the casualty’s friends walked safely off the mountain with the team.”
The rescue lasted three hours due, the team said, to the fact they were already in the area and had the help of the RAF helicopter.
Gavin Murphy
08 July 2013It's not a position that anybody wants to be in, but as the casualty of this fall, I would like to give my thanks to the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
Lying cold and injured on the side of a mountain can be a very lonely place to be, even with friends around assisting you. You can imagine my delight to hear the rotors of the RAF Sea King and then see the bright yellow helicopter coming out of the clouds. Within 40 minutes of falling I had 3 members of the MRT round me with more appearing every 30 seconds or so. By the time I was airlifted there were more than 20 people round me including friends and a crew member from the helicopter.
As with most people, you never expect to be the one being rescuced. In this instance, I am very glad that I was in the capable hands of the Patterdale MRT, the crew of the RAF Sea King and later on the staff of the Cumbria Infirmary.
A big thank you to all.
Barry Grannell
21 July 2013Glad you survived what must of been a very scary incident, the mountains can be very dangerous and most serious mistakes on the mountains dont end up as yours did.