A mother has died and her six-year-old daughter and partner left injured after a fall 2,000ft up a mountain.

They tumbled some 200ft as the family scaled Sharp Edge on Blencathra in the Lake District, Cumbria, yesterday afternoon.

Two RAF Sea King helicopters scrambled to rescue the stricken trio, from Peterborough, but the 38-year-old mother died in hospital from her injuries.

The schoolgirl and her 48-year-old father remain in Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said a first distress call was made around 2.45pm and conditions on the steep mountainside were "wet and slippy".

Rescue helicopters were sent from nearby RAF Bulmer and RAF Valley to airlift the injured family from the mountainside.

“We believe they tumbled or fell about 200 feet. The second helicopter recovered the lady who had fallen and took her to hospital," said the spokesman.

“It was wet and slippy. They were just below the cloud line around 2,000 feet up the mountain. It is quite steep there.

“Two other adults were taken down the mountain by Keswick Mountain Rescue team.”

Cumbria police confirmed they would not be releasing further details about the family at this stage.

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