Cycling champion Julia Shaw has praised emergency services after a severe fall in the Lake District.

The 59-year-old was on a holiday with her partner Andrew in Ullswater when the incident occurred on September 3.

They had set off on a long walk and were nearing the summit of Place Fell when Ms Shaw slipped on wet rocks.

Ms Shaw on a stretcher before being lifted into the helicopter (Image: Supplied) Ms Shaw said: "Because I am sporty, I tend to go ahead of Andrew, so I was on Place Fell, close to the summit, waiting for him to catch me up and there was a stream so I went to fill my water bottle.

"I had very good walking boots on and the right kit in case something went wrong.

"I stepped onto the edge of the stream onto some wet rock and somehow, I managed to fall really heavily on my left-hand side.

Ms Shaw walking in the Lake District (Image: Supplied) "I'm not sure if it was my hip or shoulder, but there was a crack, and the pain was off the scale.

"I've fallen off my bike a few times, but I'd never felt pain like this."

Due to the amount of pain she was in, Ms Shaw struggled to get out of the water.

Ms Shaw at the Commonwealth Games (Image: Supplied) Ms Shaw said: "It became apparent we weren't going to get off the mountain on our own, so after about half an hour Andrew phoned 999 and mountain rescue, while I continued to try and get myself out of the water.

"Between us, he was putting rocks underneath my good leg and I tried to push myself upwards and slowly but surely I inched my way out, and got to the stage where I was more or less out of the water."

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) critical care team flew from their base in Langwathby, Penrith, and were able to land close by.

Ms Shaw said: “I was soaking wet and at risk of getting too cold, so I was lucky they requested the air ambulance.

“When I heard the helicopter it was such a massive relief.

"I burst into tears, probably in shock.

Ms Shaw was airlifted to safety (Image: Supplied) "I was so pleased to see them they did an amazing job.”

An X-ray revealed she had a displaced and broken hip and a broken humerus, in her upper arm.

She spent 15 days in hospital before returning home to continue her recovery.

Ms Shaw in hospital (Image: Supplied) The cycling champion hopes to get back on a bike as soon as possible.

She said: “The team did an amazing job getting me to safety quickly and in comfort and I will always be grateful for this.

“As an ex-full time cyclist, a speedy and successful recovery from my hip injury is very important to getting back to training and normal life.”