A LONE walker who lay injured for about three hours after falling down a steep embankment was rescued by Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.

They were called at around 6pm on Saturday to go to the aid of the 28-year-old man - who suffered suspected spinal and pelvic injuries - in the area around Court Green, Wilton Lane, near Redcar.

He had been out walking and was very well equipped but had taken a tumble down a steep embankment and lay there before managing to attract the attention of two horse riders, Louise Hierons, 12, and her friend Emma Watson, who were passing by and it was they who raised the alarm.

Emma provided blankets and comforted the man, who is thought to be local, while Louise ran over a mile to raise the alarm. A third person arrived at the scene, Nikki Harrison, and gave first aid support before the rescue team arrived.

The area is known to have poor telephone reception which made raising the alarm more difficult.

Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team Spokesman, Graeme White said: “As the night was closing in the gentleman was lucky that he managed to get the attention of the two passing horse riders. The injured male had told us that he tried to get the attention of some people walking past but was unable to."

The rescue team, who quickly responded from its base near Great Ayton with its two Land Rover Ambulances. Once at the scene, they worked alongside a paramedic from the NEAS Heart team based in Newcastle.

The walker was stabilised and treated before being taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough in one of the team's Land Rover Ambulances.

Mr White added: "Thanks to the quick thinking of the two females help was summonsed and the causality was recovered with the assistance of the North East Ambulance Service Heart Team and Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team and transported to hospital for further treatment. ”