A MEMBER of Kendal Mountain Rescue Team fell 60 feet while being winched by a helicopter when its blade tips made contact with the crag and it was forced to crash land during a rescue.

The rescuer fell down the crag breaking his wrist and suffering other minor injuries during the ill-fated operation on Monday at 2.30pm.

Mountain rescuers had been called to Pike O'Stickle at Great Langdale to a man who had fallen while scrambling, and tumbled into an unsafe position on the crag, breaking his upper arm.

The Langdale/Ambleside MRT was deployed, with support from members of the Kendal team and a helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station Gannet at Prestwick.

During the rescue, the helicopter blade tips made contact with the crag and it was forced to crash land in the valley. At the time, a member of the Kendal team was being winched to the accident site and he fell 60 to 70 feet down the crag.

None of the aircrew or other people on the helicopter were injured.

Both the casualties were rescued by members of the teams, along with an RAF helicopter from Boulmer in Northumberland, and members of Coniston MRT. The casualties were flown to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle where they were detained for treatment.

Nick Verrall of the Langdale/Ambleside team said yesterday (Tuesday) that both men were expected to make a full recovery.