A FURNESS mountaineer who lost his footing while sorting out his equipment before making a start on a climb at Pike's Crag, on Scafell Pike, is recovering after suffering multiple injuries when he tumbled for 30 metres over rocky ground.

The 47-year-old from Ulverston sustained fractures to his ribs, arms and legs and cuts to his head following last Sunday afternoon's accident.

Sixteen members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team responded after the man's climbing companion, who is from Kirkby Stephen, managed to attract the attention of a walker who had a mobile phone.

The injured man was winched off the mountain by helicopter and taken to the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, where his condition was described as "comfortable." Police did not release the names of those involved.

Meanwhile, the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team stretchered a man with a suspected broken ankle off the fell after he had slipped in the Dungeon Ghyll area of Great Langdale on Sunday afternoon.

He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

And Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was also called out on Sunday to assist a 15-year-old Leicestershire girl suffering from heat exhaustion while walking in the Keppel Cove area.

She was taken to the team's rescue centre and released after treatment.