By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 15:06, Friday, 26 February 2010

A father was helping rescue a drowning woman at almost the exact moment his son was engulfed by a freak avalanche in the Lake District, it has emerged.

Stuart Nelson

Stuart Nelson, 21, was one of two men swept 750ft down a crag above Patterdale – while his father Derek, a volunteer for the RNLI, was taking part in a sea rescue off Redcar, Teesside, on Monday.

Stuart, from New Marske, Teesside, is seriously ill in the Cumberland Infirmary along with fellow climber Caed Parker, 22, of Redcar.

They were among a group of four who were hurt while tackling St Sunday Crag on Monday afternoon.

Dave Cocks, of Redcar RNLI, said: “At the time of the avalanche Derek was helping rescue a woman from the sea.

“He played a big part in the rescue. He didn’t find out until later that his son was involved in a climbing accident.

“We were all shocked when we found out. Stuart is a very enthusiastic and capable climber.”

Mr Cocks said Stuart had gone away for the weekend, something he often does.

“He loves all those kind of adventure sports,” he said.

“He has a lot of broken bones and has a long recovery ahead of him but we all wish him well.”

Mr Nelson is in a comfortable condition and Mr Parker is seriously ill but stable after suffering head injuries.

Two other men were in the party at the time of the accident but managed to roll clear.

A 54-year-old man from the Durham area suffered an ankle injury while a fourth, a man in his 50s from Merseyside, was unscathed.

It is believed Mr Nelson and Mr Parker may have unwittingly triggered the avalanche as they crossed a point called Pinnacle Ridge.

A major rescue operation was launched, with 19 members of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue team mobilised, along with two air ambulances and a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland.

The families of Mr Nelson and Mr Parker have not spoken but issued a statement on Wednesday night, thanking the emergency services and everyone who helped rescue the two men.

“We would like to thank Patterdale Mountain Rescue, the North West Air Ambulance, Rescue 131 RAF Boulmer,Cumbria police, North West Ambulance Service and all else involved in saving both of them, and the outstanding treatment and support from staff at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle,” it read.

First published at 14:13, Friday, 26 February 2010
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk