The Climbers' Traverse on Bow Fell. Photo: Raymond Knapman CC-BY-SA-2.0

Two helicopters were involved in the rescue of an injured walker on a Lake District mountain.

Three mountain rescue teams went to the aid of the man who suffered a serious shoulder injury yesterday on the Climbers’ Traverse on Bow Fell.

A spokesperson for Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team described the rescue as ‘a bit of an epic’.

The team was called out at 12.45pm and was joined by Kendal MRT and members of RAF Leeming MRT.

The spokesperson said: “Two helicopters attempted to assist, but were unable to get close due to high winds and low cloud.

“His injury proved very difficult to stabilise on the difficult terrain. However, with a substantial amount of pain relief and fortitude, the man was treated by team members and evacuated to a location below the cloudbase.”

After the walker was stretchered down the steep mountainside, a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland was able to airlift the man to hospital for further treatment.

The 8½-hour rescue involved 23 Langdale Ambleside volunteer in addition to those from Kendal MRT and members of the RAF Leeming team.