650ft Helvellyn plunge man 'bumps into rescuers'

After helping the mountain fall victim, rescuers aided stranded motorists at Kirkstone Pass

A man who plunged 650ft (200m) down a Cumbrian mountain during a blizzard bumped into his rescuers by chance.

The 28-year-old hiker stumbled out of a "white-out" on Sunday and collapsed at the feet of a team of volunteers on a training exercise on Helvellyn.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue said the victim initially had "no idea" what had happened to him.

The team was later called to Kirkstone Pass near Windermere to help 40 people stranded in a number of vehicles.

Team leader Mike Blakey said the man fell from the Swirral Edge ridge.

'Buy lottery ticket'

"This was one lucky chap," he said.

"Not only did he fall a long way from a mountain on which three people have died so far this year, but he managed to make his own way down in a snow storm.

"He described falling through the snow when he was on the ridge and coming to rest about half way down the mountain, still in a blizzard."

Three men have died on Helvellyn in recent weeks in snowy conditions

"He should probably buy a lottery ticket," Mr Blakey added.

Meanwhile, Langdale Mountain Rescue were called to help motorists on the A592 Kirkstone Pass who became stranded after heavy snow struck the area on Sunday.

They helped passengers in an overturned car and a coach carrying 24 Chinese tourists.

Members of the Patterdale team later joined them.

Rescuers said abandoned cars were still blocking the road and the Wrynose Pass remained closed.

The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for the area, predicting at least 4ins of further snowfall.