KESWICK Mountain Rescue Team rushed to help after a climber had bounced down a rock in Borrowdale.

The team were called out at 4.30pm yesterday after some experienced climbers got into trouble while tackling Corvus on Raven Crag.

The two climbers had travelled from Scotland to climb the crag.

The pair had made progress but had not finished the climb before the rain started making the area slippery.

A spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said: "The rain started before they had completed the climb and while not technically difficult the route became slippery.

"The lead climber was on the top pitch and approximately 15 meters above the belay with no gear placed when he slipped and fell, bouncing down the rock and past the belay ledge to end up dangling on the rope some 30 meters below where he had fallen."

KMRT rushed to the top of Raven Crag and two volunteers abseiled down to check the casualty and get him ready for rescue.

The spokesman continued: "Because of the location and the distance the climber had fallen, a request had been made for helicopter assistance.

"The Great North Air Ambulance Service responded very quickly landing in the valley to offer help when required.

"The Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter arrived shortly after and attempted to approach for a crag pick off. The wind and conditions proved too dangerous to approach and they were forced to retreat.

"In anticipation of not being able to airlift the casualty more team members had been called to assist should a stretcher carry be required.

The volunteers stretchered the man from the crag and carried him to a waiting ambulance.

It took 26 team members and more than five hours to rescue the climbers