The injured walker is winched into the Coastguard helicopter. Photo: Patterdale MRT

A walker was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries in a fall on Striding Edge on Helvellyn.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was alerted to the incident on Monday.

The team said the woman was with her partner on the ridge, heading for the summit of the mountain.

“While negotiating the ‘bad step’ the female lost her footing and fell around 10m down the rocky chute, sustaining serious injuries,” a team spokesperson said.

“In addition to the Patterdale team, the Great North Air Ambulance and Rescue 199 Coastguard helicopter also responded.

“The GNAAS helicopter landed on the Helvellyn summit and their medics arrived first on scene to treat the casualty’s injuries. Rescue 199 landed at Red Tarn and flew Patterdale members to near the scene.”

The injured walker was treated and stabilised by the medics, then placed on a stretcher and winched into the Coastguard helicopter, which flew her to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne for further treatment.

The spokesperson said: “The team would like to thank GNAAS and the Coastguard for some great teamwork which made this another efficient rescue. We also wish our casualty a rapid recovery and hope to see her walking in the Lakes again very soon.”

The incident involved 12 Patterdale MRT volunteers and lasted four hours.