Rescuers help the boy to the Coastguard helicopter. Photo: Keswick MRT

A teenager was airlifted from a Lake District fell after becoming ill.

The 15-year-old suffered a severe asthma attack while camping with a group at Dale Head Tarn.

The student was undertaking an expedition training session when he got into difficulties. Rescuers said his medication failed to relieve his condition.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 5.45pm on Friday.

A team spokesperson said: “The instructor with the group requested immediate assistance, and the team dispatched its first vehicle within 15 minutes of the first page, whilst requesting air support from the Coastguard helicopter.

“A second vehicle with eight more personnel, and a number of team members going direct, brought the total manpower on the hill to 16. The casualty was quite a long way from the road head at Honister, but the first team members were on scene with first aid equipment and oxygen in 40 minutes from leaving base.

“Because of the difficulties with communications, a mobile relay was deployed above Honister mine.”

The spokesperson said the Prestwick Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 had difficulty reaching the site, 700m east of the summit of Dale Head, because of patchy low cloud. “It made an approach to the site from the Newlands side, but the crew reported minimum visibility, and they then flew round to the eastern side.

“Eventually they were able to put down about 200m away, and the casualty was assisted into the aircraft. He was then flown to the Cumberland Infirmary for assessment and treatment, and the team returned to their vehicles at Honister.”

The rescue lasted 2¾ hours and involved 22 volunteers from Keswick MRT.