Air ambulance stuck on mountain for two days

The weather changed soon after the helicopter landed

An air ambulance helicopter became stuck on England's highest peak for two days due to fog.

The Great North Air Ambulance's (GNAAS) critical team was helping an injured walker on Scafell Pike when the weather changed.

It meant the helicopter could not travel from the summit due to cloud, with the pilot staying with the aircraft overnight on Saturday.

"He didn't have to stay. He was a real trooper," said Lee Salmon, head of the service's operations in Cumbria.

The walker, who hurt their shoulder, was moved by stretcher by mountain rescue team volunteers based at Wasdale, and Duddon and Furness, before being taken to hospital.

The aircraft was collected on Monday afternoon when there was a break in the weather, the GNAAS said.

'Cloud shrouded helicopter'

Mr Salmon told BBC Radio Cumbria a similar event had only happened once before, 16 years ago in the Lake District.

He said the team was prepared, with food, water and heat blankets available onboard.

"As they got out of the helicopter, the weather literally just changed," Mr Salmon said.

"When the guys landed in clear air, there was blue sky, and the cloud came in and shrouded the helicopter.

"That cloud was -5°C (23°F), so ultimately it's moisture in the air and can cause icing, so at that point, we can't take off."

The doctor and the paramedic onboard got a taxi back to base, but the pilot stayed in the aircraft overnight hoping the fog could lift the following day.

He then hiked down on Sunday morning as the weather conditions had not improved, and the aircraft was flown back to its base in Langwathby, Penrith, on Monday.