Striding Edge, the challenging ridge leading to the summit of England’s third highest mountain, Helvellyn, was again the scene of a rescue effort on Thursday.
The Patterdale rescue team were called into action just after 1pm by the North West Ambulance Service to help a woman who had tripped while traversing the ridge and sustained a suspected dislocated knee in the fall.
Due to the location of the incident, on steep and rocky ground, and the type of injury, a Coastguard rescue helicopter was called in to provide a swift and more comfortable evacuation for the casualty.
The Patterdale team made their way on foot from their base to the accident scene. A helicopter arrived from Prestwick and, after a winch operator was lowered to the site, the casualty was treated and winched on board to be flown to hospital for further treatment.
A team spokesman thanked the helicopter team for their swift response, saying that without their assistance it would have been a long, hot and uncomfortable carry down to the roadside.
The rescue was attended by 11 team members and took just under three hours to complete.
