Chris Lewis suffered life-changing injuries during the callout on Red Screes

A volunteer mountain rescuer who suffered life-changing injuries while on a callout more than two years ago has died.

Chris Lewis of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was admitted to hospital on Saturday 2 September with a chest infection and died of pneumonia the following Monday.

The 62-year-old experienced rescuer suffered spinal injuries and facial fractures when he fell 150m on steep ground on Red Screes above Kirkstone Pass in February 2021. The Patterdale team had responded to a call for help from two men wild camping, one of whom was experiencing chest pains. The incident happened during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two men who prompted the callout had travelled from Liverpool and Leicester and were given fixed penalties for contravening lockdown regulations. The camper who felt ill was discharged from hospital the same day.

Mr Lewis was airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to hospital in Preston and spent time in intensive care. An online appeal to raise funds for Mr Lewis’s care raised more than £868,000, with 39,000 people contributing. He was able to leave hospital for his home in Hawkshead.

Mountain Rescue England and Wales, the umbrella body for teams south of the border, said in a statement: “Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Chris continued to make a significant contribution to the Lake District’s mountain rescue community, in particular through his service as a trustee for Patterdale Mountain Rescue where his charity leadership experience and expertise were highly valued.

“Our deepest sympathies go to Chris’s widow Carol, his family, friends and teammates. RIP Chris, and thank you for all that you gave to mountain rescue.”