AN AIR ambulance crew and mountain rescue were called to rescue a man in the Swirral Edge area yesterday. 

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) was called out at 4.20pm yesterday to help a 66-year-old male who had fallen in the Swirral Edge area. 

The GNAAS crew, with a doctor and paramedic on board, arrived at the scene in 12 minutes and were assisted by Patterdale Mountain Rescue. 

The patient was treated at the scene and airlifted to the cumberland infirmary in Carlisle.

A spokesperson for the GNAAS said: "Due to the nature of the terrain, it can be challenging in those areas to transfer the patient to the helicopter and fly them to hospital.

"However, we were able to get the patient to hospital within six minutes."

The GNAAS thanked the mountain rescue team for their efforts.