Rescuers and the North West Air Ambulance at the site above Borrowdale. Photo: Keswick MRT

A walker was airlifted to hospital after breaking her ankle on a Lake District fell.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out on Friday when the walker injured herself while descending from High Spy to High White Rake above Borrowdale.

A team spokesperson said two vehicles were ready in minutes as team members had just ended another callout. “The team set off to the Borrowdale Gates to access the hill,” the spokesperson said. “Other team members went direct to the scene.

“Fortunately, the air ambulance from Blackpool was able to assist with the rescue, which would otherwise have taken another two hours. The leg was splinted, the patient given analgesia, and then carried about 400m to the aircraft.”

The injured walker was flown to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven for further treatment.

The 2¾-hour rescue involved 18 Keswick MRT members.

The team had been called out earlier in the afternoon to Helvellyn on an aborted rescue.

The Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “A young man phoned the police for help saying he was stuck on steep icy ground on Helvellyn, but with no clear position.

“The team was alerted but because the mobile signal kept dropping out, was unable to pin down where exactly he might be.

“Eventually after a number of abortive attempts to make contact, a small team, including a search dog, set out to Swirls to see if he could be located. After an hour, we received information that he had in fact managed to self-rescue and continue with his route, but no-one had thought to inform the team.

“The team stood down after making sure that his safe arrival in Grasmere was notified to police.”

Twelve team members took part in the incident, which lasted just over 2¼ hours.