Rescuers with the air ambulance at the scene of the Base Brown incident. Photo: Keswick MRT

A walker was airlifted to hospital after tumbling more than 160ft down a Lake District fellside.

The 54-year-old was on the Hanging Stone ridge of Base Brown above Seathwaite on Thursday when he fell.

The walker was negotiating a step when he fell backwards, tumbling about 50m down the fell’s rocky slope, stopping just short of another steep drop.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, which went to his aid, said a couple who had briefly joined him on his walk witnessed the accident and called 999 and asked for mountain rescue.

The team was called out about 10.20am.

A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “Because of the severity of the fall and possible serious head injuries the air ambulance was requested to attend.

“On arrival the helicopter searched the slopes but could not locate the casualty so flew down and landed at Seathwaite until mountain rescue could find the man and make an assessment of his injuries.

“On locating the casualty, the decision was quickly made to request the air ambulance to pick the casualty up from the top of Sour Milk Gill in order to speed his recovery off the hill. The casualty’s wounds were dressed and he was placed in a vacuum mattress, to minimise any further movement, before being stretchered to the awaiting helicopter for onward transfer to Carlisle hospital.”

The incident lasted almost four hours and involved 15 Keswick MRT volunteers.

The walker is helped from the woods in Borrowdale. Photo: Keswick MRT

The team was in action later the same day when an 87-year-old woman slipped on a steep wet path in Johnny Wood near Borrowdale Youth Hostel.

The spokesperson said: “A passing couple helped her descend a short way but her legs were too wobbly to continue. One of the couple made his way to the hostel from where he was able to call 999 and ask for mountain rescue help.”

A team member who was in the area went directly to the incident and was joined a short time later by colleagues who were returning from the earlier callout.

The spokesperson said: “After an assessment the lady was able to walk assisted the few hundred metres to one of the team vehicles which then took her to meet a land ambulance back at headquarters for further assessment.”

Sixteen Keswick MRT members were involved in the 1½-hour rescue.