A MIDDLE aged walker had to be stretchered off Penyghent on Saturday morning after suffering a suspected broken ankle.

The 40 year old man was with friends and was walking towards Hull Pot near to the summit of Penyghent when he slipped on ice and heard a snapping sound coming from his right ankle.

Volunteers from both the Cave Rescue Organisation and the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association went to help, responding to the call at 8.51am, splinting and carrying the man across snow and rough terrain to a waiting road ambulance at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

A CRO spokesman said many team members were just beginning a day’s casualty training at the UWFRA headquarters in Grassington when the call was received.

“The casualty’s companions, who had been keeping him warm, in low cloud and snowy conditions, were escorted off the hill, while he was splinted and put into an insulated casualty bag. He was lifted onto a stretcher, then carried and sledged over snow and rough terrain, the 1.5 km down to a CRO vehicle. Patient and stretcher were loaded into this, then driven down to meet a YAS road ambulance, in Horton in Ribblesdale.”