THE AIR ambulance, coastguard helicopter and mountain rescue service struggled against the elements in an attempt to save a dad who fell down a gully on a Lakeland peak.

The incident happened yesterday at Sharp Edge, Blencathra - the Great North Air Ambulance service was alerted to the incident at 1.50pm.

The father had been walking with his son when he slipped and fell most of the way down the north gully.

A spokesman for the team said: "A witness to the accident called 999 and Helimed 58 helicopter was immediately dispatched and delivered a doctor to the scene in a very short space of time.

"In the meantime the son had scrambled down to help his father as best as he could.

"The air ambulance then returned to Mousthwaite Combe and picked up several Keswick team members taking them to the casualty site.

"While the medical team were treating the man’s serious injuries coastguard helicopter support was requested to winch the casualty out of the gully.

"Unfortunately this plan had to be abandoned due to turbulent wind conditions.

"So after packaging, the casualty was lowered on a stretcher to a safe area and loaded onto Helimed 58 who flew the man to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary."

A spokeswoman for the Great North Air Ambulance said: "Our critical care team were activated to reports of a fall on Blencathra. The patient was assessed and treated by our paramedic and doctor team before being airlifted to hospital."

The rescue took about three and a half hours.