Rescuers rigged up a rope system to lower the injured climber. Photo: NNPMRT

Rescue teams in the North-East of England were called to deal with three incidents within a couple of hours.

The Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were alerted to injured walker, climber and a missing person on Sunday.

The teams were first called out at 2.40pm to aid a 66-year-old walker who suffered serious injuries in a fall at Hareshaw Linn.

A Northumberland National Park MRT spokesperson said: “The casualty was evacuated via a mountain rescue stretcher towards Blakelaw Farm, before a North East Ambulance Service hazardous area response team’s all-terrain vehicle was used for the final few hundred metres to the waiting road ambulance.”

The two-hour rescue involved 13 team members.

While dealing with the injured walker the teams were alerted by police to an injured climber who had fallen between 5ft and 6ft on Kyloe Crag in north Northumberland, suffering leg injuries.

The spokesperson said: “Two mountain rescue emergency response vehicles were dispatched immediately, with others following once the Hareshaw Linn incident concluded.

“NEAS also responded and a crew was on scene swiftly dealing with the casualty. At the same time, mountain rescue rigged a rope system to lower the casualty down a steep slope below the crag.

“The casualty was then carried 300m to an off-road-capable mountain rescue ambulance which transported the casualty to the road and the waiting ambulance.”

Twenty-four team members were involved in the 3¼-hour rescue.

An all-terrain vehicle was used to carry the injured walker from the hill. Photo: NNPMRT

Before the first incident had concluded, police requested the teams’ help in finding a high-risk missing person.

The spokesperson said: “With limited information available regarding the whereabouts of the missing person, the Sarloc system was used. The system sends a text message to the missing person and if they click on the link in the text then the GPS location of the smartphone is sent to mountain rescue.

“No response was received and police enquires are ongoing.”

The incident involved two team members for more than 2¼ hours.

The spokesperson added: “The teams would like to thank the farmers at Blakelaw Farm and at Kyloe Crags for their assistance during the incidents.”