A MAN has fallen 200m from near the summit of a popular Lake District mountain - but was able to walk away from the tumble.

Keswick Mountain Rescue were called out at 3.29pm on Monday, March 7.

The man was said to be fortunate to walk away, however due to concern over a potential spinal injury, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) airlifted the man to hospital.

A spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said: "The team were alerted to a man who had taken a 200m tumbling fall from near the summit of Helvellyn.

"There was some difficulty in contacting the informant to get further information but in the meantime the team were deployed to Swirls car park by Thirlmere.

"The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) also took to the sky and were first on scene.

"They advised that the man was located by Red Tarn on the east side of Helvellyn. As this is the Patterdale MRT patch, Keswick stood down and passed the incident over to Patterdale.

"It seems the man had slipped whilst ascending a snow slope. Despite the massive fall he was fortunate in being able to walk away.

"However due to concern over potential spinal injury GNASS airlifted the man to hospital for further checks."