A BUSINESSMAN who was photographed landing his helicopter on a Lake District fell said he was practicing in case he was ever called upon to help out the emergency services.

Dave Fishwick was snapped touching down on Wansfell with wife Nicola and dog Jack by Gaynor and Morten Thomassen, of Ambleside, who described the presence of the helicopter as ‘intrusive’.

“I just thought ‘that can’t be right,’” said Mrs Thomassen.

“It can’t be ok for anyone to just plonk their helicopter down wherever they like on the fell-tops, where people are walking.

“It just seemed very uncaring. It seemed an abuse of an environment.

“It’s supposed to be a place where you can enjoy the outdoors in peace.

“One little helicopter on a not-very-well-frequented part of a hill might be seen as: ‘we weren’t really getting in many people’s way.’”

“But it just didn’t seem right, and we kind of felt if it’s ok for one person to do it then it should be ok for lots of people to do it, and if it’s ok for lots of people to do it then where would we be?”

However, Mr Fishwick defended the landing, saying he had been offering the helicopter - usually used for business - and his services as a pilot to his local fire service and mountain rescue teams during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lancashire businessman, known for setting up lending company Burnley Savings and Loans (or ‘The Bank of Dave’) in 2011, said: “If moors are on fire or mountains are on fire or mountaineers are stuck up a mountain...it’s something that you want to be up to speed with and you want to be as sharp as you possibly can be when you’re helping with that sort of thing.”

Mr Fishwick, who lives just outside Burnley, said he had offered to transport medical supplies across the country and called on other people with resources to consider offering similar assistance during the pandemic.

He added he had permission from the landowner for the landing with wife Nicola - also a pilot - on bank holiday Monday.