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Men rescued from Lakes avalanche | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Four walkers have been rescued after being swept away by an avalanche on a remote fell in the Lake District. | |
Mountain rescuers said two of the men fell 750ft (228m) down St Sunday Crag in Patterdale shortly before 1400 GMT. The others emerged nearer the fell top. | |
Three were airlifted off the fell, with one suffering serious head and leg injuries. Another had chest injuries. | |
The men, from County Durham, triggered the avalanche in attempting to climb a snow-covered ridge, rescuers said. | |
Martin Cotterell, leader of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, said: "The men had got to the top of their climb when they were faced by a snow covered ridge and they triggered the avalanche when they attempted to climb it. | |
Unstable areas | |
"Two were swept down the fell and were found in the debris of the avalanche. The other two men have somehow rolled out closer to the top, we are not sure how." | |
The two most badly injured were taken of the fell by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer and the third was rescued by air ambulance. | |
The final man walked off the fell with mountain rescuers before being taken to hospital. | |
Insp Lee Skelton, of Cumbria Police, said recent heavy snow falls combined with fluctuating temperatures had left many areas unstable. | |
Officers are urging people not walk in the fells and to postpone activities until conditions improve on high land. |