A FIFTY-YEAR-OLD man has died after falling 150 metres from Dove Crag.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team members were called by Cumbria Police yesterday (October 15) evening following a 999 call reporting that the man had fallen down the front face of Dove Crag.

The man had planned on spending the night with a group of eight friends in the Priest’s Hole, a shallow overhang, high on Dove Crag.

Given the nature of the incident Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team called for the assistance of a Coastguard Helicopter, ‘Rescue 999’, from Prestwick in Scotland.

The helicopter flew direct to the scene and was able to direct a member of the team directly to the casualty’s location.

Mike Blakey, team leader said: "The helicopter was able to direct the team straight to the man’s location, approximately 50 metres below the bottom of the main crag. The man, who had slipped from the ledge, had fallen approximately 150 metres vertically and had sustained fatal injuries.

"The helicopter was unable to get close the scene but provided lighting from a hover position a few hundred metres away from the crag. Rescue 999 then returned to the valley bottom to uplift equipment and members of Penrith MRT who had been called to support us.

"Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions the helicopter was then unable to assist further and the Team evacuated the man over a large boulder field and then down the valley on a stretcher to a Landrover ambulance.

"This kind of evacuation is always complex as it involves belaying the stretcher down the mountainside and team members literally man handling the stretcher over each boulder, through dense bracken and over streams.

"We also deployed four Team members to the Priest’s Hole to assist the remaining members of the party back to the safety of our base.

"This Priest’s Hole has seen an increase in visitor numbers since the BBC covered its location in a documentary this year. Earlier in the summer a man sustained very serious injuries whilst attempting to access the location one evening and prior to this we were also called to assist a father and son.

"This group of friends were very well equipped and prepared for their adventure. However, as a team we are seeing more and more people who are attempting to locate the Priest’s Hole in the dark and without the right equipment. Indeed, during this rescue at about 11pm we came across three men who had been searching for the cave for a couple of hours. We really would like to remind people that the cave is on the front face of a vertical cliff, and it is only accessible by one route. It is always best to plan to stay in good weather and to arrive in daylight. An Ordnance Survey map and good navigations skills are prerequisites.

"Finally, and most importantly, our thoughts are with man’s family and friends including those were staying the night with him. No matter how many times we deal with such incidents they are always tragic and very sad for all concerned."