Man collapses and dies on Three Peaks mountain

The man was found "unconscious and not breathing" after having a medical emergency on Whernside

Tributes have been paid after a man died near the summit of the highest mountain on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge route.

The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) was called to reports of a man who was "unconscious and not breathing" on Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales National Park at 13:21 BST on Saturday.

North Yorkshire Police said the man, who was in his 50s and from the Halifax area, had suffered a medical episode.

The rescue organisation said its "thoughts are with the deceased's family and friends".

In a statement, it added: “The team also made a request for Yorkshire Air Ambulance to attend through the police.

“Two medical professionals who were walking on Whernside had already begun CPR and they also had a defibrillator with them.

“Sadly, despite their best efforts and those of the air ambulance crew, the casualty could not be resuscitated.”

Other walkers who witnessed the incident said they had felt "helpless".

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Whernside rises to 2,415ft (736m) with Ingleborough reaching 2,372ft (723m) and Pen-y-ghent measuring 2,277 (694m).

One wrote on the CRO's Facebook page: “Me and three friends witnessed this and I must say it was awful to witness, being so helpless, nothing we could do.

“The people working on him did a fantastic job and it's heartbreaking that he didn't make it.

“This will stay with me for a long time, RIP and thoughts with his family.”

North Yorkshire Police said the man's death was not being treated as suspicious and added that his family had been informed.

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