A 62-year-old man is being treated for multiple serious injuries after falling 115ft down a mountain in the Lake District.

The man, from York, had been walking with members of his family when he slipped and fell into a gully while descending the north side of 2,418ft Robinson, which walking guide books describe as steep, rough and craggy.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, the Great North Air Ambulance and a Rescue 999 Coastguard helicopter from Prestwick were alerted shortly after 3.30pm on Friday and arrived at the scene, near Buttermere 50 minutes later.

The man, who had sustained head, neck and arm injuries, was treated in the gully by the air ambulance crew before 18 members of the mountain rescue team helped transfer him to the Coastguard aircraft, which winched him from the mountainside.

The Northern Echo:

A mountain rescue spokesman said: "Because of the casualty’s location, it became clear that the best course of action would be for the Coastguard helicopter to winch the casualty from the scene, and then land close to the air ambulance so that the casualty could be transferred.

"The casualty would then have the benefit of the expert medical support available on the air ambulance."

He was then airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for further treatment.

The Northern Echo:

The spokesman added: "The team wishes to express its gratitude to both aircrews for their prompt response, as it saved a large amount of time and effort in recovering the casualty, and gave him the best possible chance of a good outcome."