The man fell at the 'bad step' on Striding Edge. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A walker was airlifted to hospital after suffering a suspected broken ankle when he fell on Striding Edge.

Police contacted Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team over the weekend, as its members were celebrating the organisation’s 60th anniversary.

The man fell at the ‘bad step’ on the Helvellyn ridge, a steep downhill section at the western end of the route, before its final rise to the mountain’s summit plateau.

A team spokesperson said: “Initial reports stated that the casualty, a 27-year-old man from Hull, had lost his footing on the ridge, fallen a short distance and then slid further down the hill.

“He was reported to have a suspected broken leg.”

Team members made the ascent to the scene from Greenside mines, and on arrival team doctors examined the man, confirming a suspected fractured ankle and other possible injuries from a tumbling fall.

“Due to his condition, the location, and the time needed for an evacuation on foot, the assistance of a search and rescue helicopter was requested,” the spokesperson said.

“However the weather conditions deteriorated and the team had to lower the casualty down from Striding Edge on a stretcher and then carry him around Red Tarn and down the main track, until they were below cloud base before the transfer to the helicopter could occur.”

The injured man was then flown to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle.

The incident lasted 5½ hours and involved 16 Patterdale MRT volunteers.