Rescuers with the fallen walker at the scene near Matlock Bath. Photo: Derby MRT

An injured walker was rescued after spending almost nine hours calling for help from a Derbyshire hillside.

The stricken 75-year-old woman was finally rescued after members of the public heard her shouts for help from the bottom of High Tor near Matlock Bath.

But it was another six hours before rescuers could extricate her from the site and enable her to be taken to hospital.

Trains on the Derwent Valley line had to be stopped to enable the rescue operation and a Coastguard helicopter also flew to the site.

Derby Mountain Rescue Team was called out at 6.30pm on Monday after Derbyshire Constabulary was alerted by the passers-by.

The team also requested the help of the neighbouring Buxton team because of the difficulty of accessing the site. Police officers, crews from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue and the East Midlands Ambulance Service hazardous area response team also joined the rescue efforts.

A Derby MRT spokesperson said: “The lady had slipped and fallen from the path tumbling a long way down the steep side of High Tor sustaining several injuries to both legs.

“It transpired that she had fallen at approximately 10am that morning and had spent many hours calling for help unable to move.

“A specialist rope safety system was set up by mountain rescue to help access and stabilise the lady and make the scene safe for rescue personnel.

Rescue teams were at the site for almost nine hours. Photo: Derby MRT

“Due to the proximity to the railway line Derbyshire police informed Network Rail who had to cancel some train services through Matlock. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency were also called to assist in evacuating the lady; however after several attempts to access the site, it was deemed best to carry the casualty to the roadhead.”

The woman was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham for further treatment about 1am.

Derby and Buxton Mountain Rescue Team volunteers left the site at around 3am to return the vehicles to their respective bases and restock kit.