A WALKER had to be airlifted to hospital after injuring himself in a fall in the Lake District.

The man was descending Swirl How, between Coniston and the Duddon Valley when he fell and injured himself yesterday (October 25).

Coniston Mountain Rescue Team received a call around 2.30pm and attended along with a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire.

The man, from Staffordshire, was walking with two members of his family down Prison Band when he injured his knee in the fall and was unable to continue walking.

Coniston mRT said he was treated by a paramedic from the helicopter and then stretchered back to Swirl How summit where he was flown to Cumbria Infirmary Carlisle for further treatment.

Twelve MRT members were involved in the rescue.