Injured walker rescued in 12-hour operation

A walker with injuries to his head, arms, back and legs has been carried to safety after a 12-hour operation by mountain rescue teams.

The alarm was raised just before 21:00 BST on Tuesday when shouts were heard at Red Ghyll, in the Lord's Rake area of the Lake District.

There, a 43-year-old man had strayed from the path and ended up 150m (492ft) below it with a number of injuries, Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said.

Team leader Lee Johnson said the conditions on the fell were "brutal" and it was thought the man had been lying below the path for nearly two hours before rescuers were alerted.

Johnson said: "He thinks the fall took place at 7pm, so he had sat there 'til the call came in.

"We didn't know that at the time but that's even worse because hypothermia is going to set in.

"It was quite a mild evening until the weather came in but we were absolutely soaking wet."

Eleven volunteers were flown up Lord's Rake by a coastguard helicopter to get as close to the walker as they could.

The team, including rescuers from the Duddon and Furness group, worked by torchlight and managed to set up a rope system in heavy rain.

By 02:40 BST the volunteers were tiring and had still not begun the descent, so Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team was called to provide more support.

The man was brought safely down the fell and received care from the ambulance service, rescuers said.

A spokesperson for Wasdale Mountain Rescue said: "Back at base, the team dried out kit and tucked into a well-earned bacon and sausage sandwich."

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