Walker dies after falling 650ft down mountain in Lake District - Metro

The rescue operation lasted four hours but the walker was found to have suffered fatal injuries (Picture: Alamy)

A man has died after falling 656ft (200m) down a mountain in the Lake District.

The 24-year-old, who has yet to be named, was walking with a companion on Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England, when the incident occurred.

The walker fell from Striding Edge into Nethermost Cove, the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) said.

His walking partner found him unconscious and, because there was no mobile phone signal, he continued his descent into Grisedale where a local farmer gave him a lift to Patterdale so he could raise the alarm.

An RAF Sea King helicopter, the Great North Air Ambulance, search and rescue dogs and mountain rescue teams from Patterdale and Penrith combined to search for the man, but he was found to have suffered fatal injuries.

Patterdale MRT leader Mike Blakey said: 'This is a tragic incident involving the loss of a young life. Our thoughts are with the young man's walking companion, friends and family at this difficult time.'

The operation, on Friday, lasted for more than four hours.