A FELL runner was struck down with hypothermia after falling during a race above Coniston.

The 70-year-old was taken ill on the summit of Dow Crag at 3.51pm on Saturday.

Thirty rescue volunteers from the Coniston and Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue teams responded to the incident.

An RAF Sea King helicopter called in to assist was forced to abort a landing at the site because of low cloud.

The fell runner was treated at the scene and stretchered off the hill to below the cloud base and airlifted to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.