Hiker praises rescue team after 'freak accident' in Lake District

Daniel Milligan was visiting the picturesque site with his wife when he slipped on an unassuming flat path, resulting in a broken tibia.

Reflecting back on the February 18 ordeal, Mr Milligan said: "As I tried to stabilise myself, I heard a loud snap and extreme pain and I started to go in and out of consciousness.

"When I came around, I told my wife to bandage my leg, intending for us to walk down the hill.

"However, my leg couldn't hold me when I attempted to stand.

"At this moment I realised I was in shock due to impaired judgement. I instructed my wife to place me in my sleeping bag and call for help.”

In the face of the remote accident location, response teams from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT) were summoned.

Mr Milligan broke his tibia after falling on a flat path (Image: GNAAS)

The GNAAS helicopter landed on Brown Crag as the mountain rescue team ascended towards White Side, the location of Mr Milligan's fall.

Mr Milligan said: "They assessed the injury, secured me in a splint, and just as they finished, the mountain rescue team arrived to transport me to the helicopter."

To alleviate the severity of his pain, Mr Milligan received morphine from the attending doctor and paramedic, who also assisted the KMRT in moving him onto a stretcher for the helicopter journey.

Mr Milligan said: "The guys were absolutely great.

"So professional but still jovial and they make you feel in safe hands.

"There was no way I was walking off that hill, I was in a sticky spot and without them it could have gone south real quick.”

With a flight time of 13 minutes, Mr Milligan arrived at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle to receive further medical care for his leg, including surgery.

Reflecting on the incident, he said: "You never think it's going to happen to you, it was a bit of a freak accident."

GNAAS needs to raise £8.5m annually to stay operative.