RESCUE crews were called into action after an elderly man was found unconscious next to a 150ft drop.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team launched a search after a 68-year-old man was reported missing on Helvellyn at 20.38pm yesterday (February 17).
They enlisted the help of Cumbria Police and a Royal Navy helicopter was dispatched from Prestwick, Scotland.
The Navy discovered the pensioner lying near a cliff face at 1am this morning (Wednesday, February 18), unconscious, suffering from hypothermia and 'life threatening injuries' before airlifting him to the trauma centre of Newcastle General Hospital.
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Mountain rescue teams were able to respond so quickly because they were already on Helvellyn looking for two walkers who turned up safe and well.
The current condition of the 68-year-old victim is not known.
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