Rescuers with the air ambulance at the scene. Photo: Calder Valley SRT

A walker was airlifted from a South Pennines beauty spot after falling and breaking his ribs.

Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team was called out about 1.40pm on Wednesday to the incident at Hardcastle Crags near Hebden Bridge.

The 74-year-old man was walking with a family group when he fell from the footpath in the woods and tumbled 20ft towards the river. Ambulance staff called for urgent assistance from the volunteer rescuers.

A team vehicle and crew made its way to the scene and other team members went direct to the site. The Mytholmroyd-based vehicle was first to arrive and treated the walker, protecting his spine after he complained of back pain.

Other team members joined the operation, followed by ambulance crew and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance flew to the scene, landing upstream in a small grassy clearing.

A team spokesperson said: “Following a thorough medical assessment by the air ambulance paramedics, the casualty was carefully packaged in a vacuum mattress and loaded onto a Bell stretcher.

“CVSRT members then carried the stretcher across the flowing river and to the landing zone to the helicopter for onward transfer to hospital. We have since learnt that the casualty had sustained four broken ribs from his fall.

“We wish the gentleman a very speedy recovery and hope he will be out enjoying the countryside soon.”

The rescue involved 15 Calder Valley team members.