Rescuers stretcher the injured runner across Langstrath Beck. Photo: Keswick MRT

A runner taking part in the Original Mountain Marathon in the Lake District was rescued after injuring his ankle on the fells.

Another suffered a dislocated shoulder in a fall during the challenge, which is being run this weekend, based in Langdale.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 1.10pm on Saturday when the runner turned his ankle and heard a crack while descending with his competition partner into Langstrath from High White Stones above Stake Beck.

A team spokesperson said: “His companion acted promptly in getting him into shelter, but unfortunately they were in an area of very poor phone reception, so it took an hour before the alarm was raised.

“The team sent a Land Rover right away with a speedy team, and one of the Sprinters followed with a further eight members.

“The first group were with the casualty in an hour, and got him splinted ready for evacuation. The Sprinter group chased the first group down near the incident site.

“As it was a windy day, no air support was available, so it meant flogging back up the valley, and crossing Langstrath Beck, all the way to Stonethwaite.”

The injured runner was transferred to an ambulance which took him to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle. The spokesperson added: “His running partner was given a lift to Keswick MRT’s base, where eventually transport back to the start appeared.”

Fifteen team members were involved in the rescue, which lasted more than 4½ hours.

About an hour earlier, another competitor slipped and dislocated his shoulder on Cold Pike. Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and treated him after event marshals had undertaken initial care.

He was transported to Ambleside from where he was taken to hospital.

Team members at the rescue scene in Whinlatter Forest. Photo: Keswick MRT

On Friday the Keswick team was called out to Whinlatter where a 50-year-old woman slipped on a muddy path while walking with a friend and suffered a suspected broken ankle.

The team was alerted about 3.35pm. The team spokesperson said: “Details initially were sketchy, but we eventually got confirmation that it was the path down from Grisedale Pike into Whinlatter.

“The first Land Rover set off to Revelin Moss and, once on scene, confirmed that an ambulance crew were already there, and the location for the second vehicle.

“In a short space of time, the casualty was loaded on to the stretcher, and carried down a very muddy path to the ambulance. She was then taken to the Cumberland Infirmary for treatment.”

The rescue lasted just over 1½ hours and involved 15 Keswick MRT volunteers.