Rescuers battle snow, ice and strong wind to evacuate injured walker from Bow Fell

The Great North Air Ambulance crew faced a race against time to evacuate an injured walker from icy terrain in the Lake District before the weather closed in at the weekend. A Kendal man slipped and fell while walking in the snow on Bow Fell and the charity’s Pride of Cumbria helicopter was called to help Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (LAMRT) at 3.15pm yesterday. The pilot landed the helicopter on the ice-covered terrain, around a quarter of a mile away from the casualty due to strong winds and cloud. The aircrew doctor and paramedic then battled against the strong winds across the snow and ice with wind chill temperatures of -19. The man, in his 50s, was treated for a suspected fracture and dislocation of the shoulder. Mountain rescuers carried the casualty to the helicopter before GNAAS flew the man to hospital minutes before the weather closed in. He was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, in 15 minutes where he arrived in a stable condition..