Blencathra: Woman rescued after 20m fall at Sharp Edge

The rescue operation took nearly six-and-a-half hours

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after falling 20 metres (65ft) down a Lake District fell.

Mountain rescue teams carried out a near six-and-a-half hour operation at Sharp Edge, on Blencathra, on Saturday having been alerted by a walker shortly after 08:30 GMT.

The woman suffered several injuries but stopped herself falling further, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said.

The group described Sharp Edge as "notoriously slippy" in wet conditions.

The woman was "also fortunate to have received excellent first aid by a passing Royal Marine," they said.

A rope system was used to lower the woman to a doctor from Penrith Mountain Rescue Team.

She was then taken to hospital in a Coastguard helicopter after being stretchered to a meeting point.

Sharp Edge is "notoriously slippy" when wet, rescuers say