The man got stuck on St Sunday Crag. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A man who reported himself cragfast on a Lake District ridge managed to self-rescue after calling for help.

Rescuers said the man, in his mid-20s, had already undertaken a major feat in cycling to the area from the North-East.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 8.50pm on Wednesday when the man called police for help after getting stuck on Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag. He told officers he could not go any further.

A team spokesperson said: “Due to the nature of the incident and weather conditions, a full team callout was requested.

“The duty leader was unable to contact the male and a PhoneFind was sent. However, this also failed to get a response.

“As the team were preparing to set off up the hill after their briefing, the male managed to contact Cumbria police and state he was moving off the hill. This was then confirmed by the PhoneFind which showed his exact position.”

Rescuers used a team vehicle to collect him, and he was taken back to the base in Patterdale, where he was given a warm drink.

“He then proceeded to tell us that he lived in the Darlington area had borrowed his mother’s mountain bike and had cycled over the A66 to Penrith and on to Glenridding, taking six hours, before leaving the bike safely in Glenridding and making out on foot up onto St Sunday.

“This ride was no mean feat in itself; the male then planning a further, well prepared, three-day walk and cycle in the Lakes.

“Back at base, he was in very high spirits and could not believe he had picked the worst day to attempt this walk after all the nice weather. He was given directions to the local campsite where he could pitch his tent for the night.”

The man pledged to return to tackle the grade-three scramble in better conditions, and apologised for troubling the team.

The spokesperson said: “He told the team that he would attempt the route again in better conditions possibly the next day, and was very apologetic for calling them out. However, he was reassured by the duty leader that his actions were definitely the correct ones given the terrain and conditions at the time.”