A CLIMBER was treated in hospital for suspected spinal injuries after a marathon rescue operation on Helvellyn.
Seventeen members of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team were involved in the 10-hour mission after being called at 3.30pm yesterday.
The climber, from Penrith, had slipped and landed badly while climbing on Viking Buttress.
The climber had injured his lower spine and was eventually located on a rock ledge.
He was taken to Penrith Hospital for treatment.
A Patterdale MRT spokesman said:"The team climbed in and assessed the injuries and administered analgesia and placed him in a vacuum mattress.
"The weather conditions prevented a helicopter from reaching the scene so the man was carried down to Greenside on a stretcher.
"Seventeen members attended the incident and further assistance was give by eight members of the Penrith Mountain Rescue Team.
"The evacuation took ten hours due to the technical nature of the rescue, the difficulty of the position on the crag and the deep spindrift snow conditions.
"The injured man's companion, who was climbing with him, was suffering from mild hypothermia, but was able to walk off the hill accompanied by a team member."
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