Mountain rescuers were unable to get to a girl who collapsed following a championship fell race near Keswick because of badly parked cars on a dilapidated road leading to the fellside.
Thankfully, the Great North Air Ambulance was available and able to attend and deal with the 16-year-old casualty.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team leader Chris Higgins said: “There could have been a worse outcome if the air ambulance had been deployed elsewhere or there had been poor weather and it could not have got there.
“Fortunately the air ambulance service was able to be airborne right away.
“The helicopter crew was able to muster enough people to assist them in loading the casualty aboard the helicopter, and she could then be flown to hospital for treatment.”
The team was called out on Saturday shortly after midday.
The girl was taking part in the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Champs and had collapsed on Skiddaw at the end of the race. The team headed up the road leading to Latrigg car park, above Ormathwaite.
Mr Higgins said: “I was not involved with this callout but know there was a delay because the road was blocked by vehicles. People were parked quite randomly.
“The road is in an appalling state and desperately needs to be repaired. There was a vehicle stuck in the ditch.”
The team had to set off up the road on foot and were on their way when the helicopter arrived.
“The road needs to be repaired and clearer parking signage,” said Mr Higgins.
Carol Stubbs posted on the Keswick Mountain Rescue Facebook page: “I was up on Skiddaw when the helicopter came, we had seen all the young fell runners coming past us on our way up.
“The parking was absolutely atrocious, no passing places free on the lane and also parking where the road had severely eroded at the side.”
It is not known how seriously injured the teenager was.
A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the poor condition of the road.
“Work will begin on October 26 to repair the carriageway and drainage issues. The work is expected to take about three days.”
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