A WALKER plummeted 500ft from a Cumbrian mountain prompting a huge emergency response.
The 31-year-old man had to be rescued by members of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team after he slipped and fell from Swirral Edge down into Brown Cove while descending from Helvellyn.
He sustained multiple injuries to his head, neck, spine and chest and had to be airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) said the walkers, who is from outside of the county, was in a critical condition on arrival at the hospital.
As well as GNAAS' Pride of Cumbria helicopter the mountain rescue team also requested the assistance of the coastguard helicopter from Prestwick following the incident on yesterday afternoon.
A mountain rescue team spokesman said: "Several team members were flown into Brown Cove while the remainder of the team used the fully equipped off-road Land Rovers to get as close as possible before making their way on foot.
"The rescue team would like to stress that while many of the Lakeland fells are without snow, Helvellyn remains covered in hard icy snow on many of its ascents and descents. Walkers and climbers should be adequately equipped for full winter conditions on Helvellyn. This is the team's third faller from Helvellyn this year."
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