Patterdale mountain rescuer injured in fall dies

Chris Lewis had to return to hospital with pneumonia

A mountain rescue volunteer who was badly injured while trying to help wild campers who broke coronavirus lockdown restrictions has died.

Chris Lewis, a member of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) in the Lake District, fell 500ft (150m) in 2021, severely damaging his spine.

The campers, from Liverpool and Leicester, were both fined £200.

The MRT praised Mr Lewis's "highly valued" expertise and "significant contribution" to the rescue community.

It said Mr Lewis was admitted to Furness General Hospital on 2 September with a chest infection and pneumonia and died two days later.

Team leader Mike Rippon said he was "a lovely, genuine person" and his death was a "very sad loss".

"He was very knowledgeable and was a great person to have around in the team," Mr Rippon added.

"His expertise and companionship was brilliant for new team members."

Two further rescue teams were called out, with one aiding the initial effort and another helping Mr Lewis

Mr Lewis, 62, was called out to Red Screes above the Kirkstone Pass near Ambleside in February 2021.

The fall left him with multiple facial fractures and needing a wheelchair and round-the-clock care.

He continued to support mountain rescue teams in the Lakes and, in March, received the Inspiring Eden Award for his bravery and service to the community.

Mr Rippon said Mr Lewis had remained a trustee, still came to meetings, and was "very keen to be back on board" and to "make the best" of things.

"Chris was keen to continue putting as much back into this voluntary rescue service as he possibly could," he said.

The two campers in 2021 had called for help after one of them began having chest pains.

Some members of the MRT had just reached the pair after midnight when Mr Lewis slipped.

The temperature was little above freezing and it was sleeting, members of the team said at the time.