Team members lower the man from the ridge. Photo: Patterdale MRT
A walker was airlifted from Helvellyn after suffering a suspected heart attack.
The man began experiencing chest pains while scrambling on Striding Edge on Thursday.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and members began making their way to the site, but rescuers also requested the help of the Prestwick Coastguard helicopter and the Great North Air Ambulance, because of the serious nature of the incident and its location.
A team spokesperson said: “The air ambulance landed on Helvellyn summit and their medical teams, once on scene, began providing immediate medical care.
“Due to wind conditions the Coastguard helicopter was unable to winch from scene and assisted by transferring 13 team members and technical equipment onto Helvellyn summit.
“Once stabilised the casualty was transferred into the team stretcher and lowered 200m down the gully towards Red Tarn basin. He was carried to the outflow then transferred into the rescue helicopter where he was flown to hospital for further treatment.”
Duty leader for the rescue, Neil Barrow, said: “This was our second challenging and technical rescue within a week on Striding Edge, taking over five hours in total and involving 18 team members.”
The team thanked the Coastguard helicopter crew for their quick response and helping lift team members and equipment onto the summit, saving valuable time.
The Great North Air Ambulance was in action again on Saturday after a walker injured himself on Rest Dodd, north-east of Hartsop.
Police contacted Patterdale MRT at 12.35pm.
The team spokesperson said: “The team mobilised onto the hill making their way to the scene from Hayeswater where they are able to drive to. They then started to walk to the casualty site with the necessary kit for the injury.
“Due to the timescale of reaching the casualty the duty leader liaised with the Great North Air Ambulance, who were on station at their Langwathby base, to see what their availability was. They offered to fly to the scene and see if they could assist.”
While rescuers were making their way to the fell, the air ambulance crew was able to land near the injured man. After treating him, they flew him down to the Patterdale MRT base, from where he was able to go to hospital for further treatment.
The spokesperson said: “Thanks again to the [Great North Air Ambulance Service] for their assistance.
The incident involved 18 Patterdale MRT members for just over two hours.
