Man dies after falling 180 metres on Lake District mountain

A man has died after falling 180 metres from the Lake District's third highest peak.

A 20-hour, two-day search of Helvellyn took place after the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team received a call from Cumbria Police about a man in difficulty with his dog.

Police were contacted by the man's wife, in the evening of Sunday 29 December, who had been tracking his progress but noticed he hadn't moved for a few hours.

The Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out alongside their colleagues from Keswick, Langdale and Ambleside alongside three search and rescue dogs and their handlers.

A search and rescue helicopter was also dispatched, however, due to weather conditions it was unable to land.

The search continued into the morning of Monday 30 December with members from the Cockermouth, Penrith, Kirkby Stephen and Patterdale Rescue Teams assisting in the search.

A statement from Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team said: "In the late morning it was confirmed that the dog had been found alive and well on a ledge on the headwall and shortly afterwards rescuers lowered down to the area found the man and confirmed that he had died as a result of the injuries sustained in his fall of around 180 metres.

"The man’s body was lowered by stretcher to the back of Red Tarn, then carried down to Greenside and transported back to Patterdale Base where it was handed over to Cumbria Police.

"The whole incident took 20 hours to complete over two days and involved Patterdale, Keswick, Langdale Ambleside, Cockermouth, Penrith and Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team members, three Lake District Search And Rescue Dogs and two Coastguard SAR helicopters.

"In total 68 MRT rescue personnel were involved over the two days."

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