A WOMAN from County Durham had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious injury in an extreme test of endurance and fitness.

The unnamed woman, believed to be from Spennymoor, was competing in the Born Survivor Challenge, at Lowther Park, near Penrith, in Cumbria, yesterday. (Saturday, April 4) She suffered a broken ankle and was airlifted to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance.

Born Survivor’s medical team gave some first aid prior to the arrival of the helicopter.

It landed in the park and the injured woman was flown to hospital in a stable condition within 12 minutes.

The woman, thought to be aged in her 40s, was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary, in Carlisle, Cumbria, where she is thought to have had undergone an operation.

The injury happened as the woman, who was part of a team, attempted the 37th and final obstacle, called The Blitz, just 50m from the finish.

As she climbed up the obstacle she fell and landed awkwardly, causing the injury.

Kevin Bedford, Born Survivor’s event director, said: “It’s an event that sends competitors over obstacles and rough ground.

“We had 2,500 people there taking part and very, very few people got injured.

“This was a serious injury but we had taken the possibility into consideration and we had a medical plan in place.”

An estimated 3,500 people took part in the 10km Cumbrian Born Survivor Challenge which has obstacles like The Mincer, The Coffins and The Beast.

Organisers say an estimated 2,000 spectators watched the action.

The event is billed as "not your average trail run or obstacle event. It's designed to be tough and testing and it may just break you.

“You'll need to be physically fit and mentally prepared to cope with the challenges and endure the suffering."

Did you see what happened or do you know the woman who was injured? Contact newsdesk@nne.co.uk or call 01325-505065.