An elderly man ‘involuntarily performed around 75m-worth of backwards tumbling roly polys’ after falling from a fell path.

Mountain rescuers, alongside Great North Ar Ambulance, coastguards, and NWAS, were called out to help the man who fell from the Mousethwaite Comb path.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) said they were called out yesterday (June 12) at 11.14am after the man fell, coming to rest in the gill below.

KMRT said that because of the length of the fall and the man’s location, the coastguards were required as a winch extraction was considered necessary.

“The man’s companions and two passing walkers who had raised the alarm looked after the gentleman until the team arrived.

“A medical assessment showed fortunately the very stoic casualty to be less badly injured than first feared,” a KMRT spokesperson said.

They added that the coastguards were then stood down, and thanked the R956 coastguard helicopter and Great North Air Ambulance for responding.

The spokesperson added that the man was taken to Cumberland Infirmary after being stretchered down the road where further checks were done.

The callout involved 12 KMRT members and lasted two hours and 26 minutes.