The collapsed man is stretchered up the hillside to the helicopter. Photo: GNAAS

A man was airlifted to hospital after collapsing near a popular Lake District climbing crag.

The 74-year-old got into difficulties at Falcon Crag in Borrowdale today.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out and the Great North Air Ambulance was scrambled about 11.55am and flew to the site overlooking Derwent Water.

An air ambulance spokesperson said: “Working with Keswick Mountain Rescue Team the crew located the patient and medics went to reach him on foot.

“The helicopter crew assessed the patient and found he required further investigations at hospital.

“KMRT then led the carry up challenging terrain to get the patient to the helicopter, and from then he was flown to [Cumberland Infirmary] Carlisle in a stable condition.”