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Ten-year-old survives Swirral Edge 50-metre fall Ten-year-old survives Swirral Edge 50-metre fall
(35 minutes later)
A 10-year-old boy is being treated for suspected pelvic and head injuries after being airlifted from England's third-highest mountain following a fall in icy conditions.A 10-year-old boy is being treated for suspected pelvic and head injuries after being airlifted from England's third-highest mountain following a fall in icy conditions.
He slipped and fell 50 metres (165 feet) from Swirral Edge on Helvellyn, not far below the 950-metre (3,117-foot) peak which was snowbound and the subject of warnings that only experienced winter fellwalkers should attempt ascents.He slipped and fell 50 metres (165 feet) from Swirral Edge on Helvellyn, not far below the 950-metre (3,117-foot) peak which was snowbound and the subject of warnings that only experienced winter fellwalkers should attempt ascents.
The boy, from Preston, was climbing down the ridge with his father when the accident happened on a snow slope on Sunday. The Patterdale mountain rescue team were alerted and climbers were joined at 3.30pm by rescuers flown to the scene in the Pride of Cumbria helicopter operated by the Great North Air Ambulance service. The boy, from Preston, was climbing down the ridge with his father when the accident happened on a snow slope on Sunday. The Patterdale mountain rescue team were alerted and climbers were joined at 3.30pm by rescuers flown to the scene in the Pride of Cumbria helicopter operated by the Great North Air ambulance service.
The boy was treated by a doctor and paramedic and secured to a vacuum mattress before being winched into an RAF Sea King helicopter which also flew his father and the doctor to the Royal Victoria hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He remained conscious and was treated during the flight. The boy was treated by a doctor and paramedic and secured to a vacuum mattress before being winched into an RAF Sea King helicopter and flown with his father and the doctor to the Royal Victoria hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He remained conscious and was treated during the flight.
Swirrel Edge is one of two steep ridges enclosing Red Tarn below the summit crags of Helvellyn and leads across to the shapely cone of the neighbouring peak, Catstycam which rises to 889 metres (2,917 feet). It is less well known than Striding Edge on the opposite side of the tarn and the writer Alfred Wainwright describes it as a "good scramble on a rocky staircase" as opposed to Striding Edge's "succession of jagged fangs ending in a dark tower". Swirrel Edge is one of two steep ridges enclosing Red Tarn below the summit crags of Helvellyn and leads across to the shapely cone of the neighbouring peak Catstycam, which rises to 889 metres (2,917 feet). It is less well known than Striding Edge on the opposite side of the tarn, and the writer Alfred Wainwright describes it as a "good scramble on a rocky staircase" as opposed to Striding Edge's "succession of jagged fangs ending in a dark tower".
Both ridges have been the scene of many accidents, including the tragic case of a young man, Charles Gough, whose dog stayed with his body for three months after he fell from Striding Edge in 1805. The event was described by William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott in poems which have become part of Lake District lore. Helvellyn is unusual in having daily weather reports from two assessors who climb the mountain daily in winter to check conditions. Both ridges have been the scene of many accidents, including the tragic case of a young man, Charles Gough, whose dog stayed with his body for three months after he fell from Striding Edge in 1805. The event was described by William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott in poems that have become part of Lake District lore.
On Sunday, their report said: "There are unstable cornices above north-west through to east facing slopes and gullies, so please keep well back from the edge. Swirral and Striding Edges have bare dry rock interspersed with patches of hard ice. Their steep exit ramps are covered by deep, unavoidable hard snow and ice and should only be tackled by those experienced and equipped for such conditions. Helvellyn is unusual in having daily weather reports from two assessors who climb the mountain daily in winter to check conditions. On Sunday their report said: "There are unstable cornices above north-west through to east facing slopes and gullies, so please keep well back from the edge.
"Full winter clothing and equipment is essential for anyone venturing out onto the fells and going above the snowline. For those attempting, or traversing, steep ground, an ice axe and crampons are also essential – especially given an overnight frost." "Swirral and Striding Edges have bare dry rock interspersed with patches of hard ice. Their steep exit ramps are covered by deep, unavoidable hard snow and ice and should only be tackled by those experienced and equipped for such conditions. Full winter clothing and equipment is essential for anyone venturing out onto the fells and going above the snowline. For those attempting, or traversing, steep ground, an ice axe and crampons are also essential – especially given an overnight frost."