North West Air Ambulance deploys two helicopters to scene of an avalanche in the Lake District
The region’s helicopter emergency medical service formed part of a multi-agency response when four climbers were caught in an avalanche on the afternoon of Monday 22nd February. 
Two climbers were swept a distance of 750ft (228m) on Pinnacle Ridge near St Sunday Crag in Patterdale and two other men were also caught in the avalanche but suffered less serious injuries.
The North West Air Ambulance deployed two of its Eurocopter EC135 aircraft to the scene.
The first aircraft, based out of Blackpool, assisted the Patterdale Mountain Rescue team and was used to transport team members and medical personnel close to the site of the incident and later to provide treatment and evacuate a patient from the mountain.
The second aircraft, based in Manchester was used to transport a specialist regional medical incident team from their base in Stockport to the scene.
The team worked alongside 19 members of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue, land ambulance colleagues, Police and a RAF Sea King helicopter from its base in Northumberland.
The injured were taken to hospital in Carlisle.
Paul West, Clinical Manager said: “This was a challenging rescue demonstrating all of the different aspects of the helicopter emergency medical service from transporting specialist teams quickly over long distances, landing and operating in difficult conditions and terrain to treating and transporting patients.
“Our organisation, like the mountain rescue, is a charity relying almost totally on public donation and we hope people will continue to support us in providing care from the air to assist at serious incidents such as this one.”
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