A hiker who plummeted 200m down a Cumbrian mountain in a blizzard and then staggered through the treacherous conditions, collapsing at the feet of a mountain rescue team, has been described as "one lucky chap".
The 28-year-old man, whose name was only given as David, was on Helvellyn in the Lake District when the snow storm struck.
He began his terrifying descent after taking a step backwards on a ridge with a 350m drop.
Miraculously, he didn't fall the whole way and came to a rest about 200m down the mountain.
He then managed to continue making his way to the bottom through the blizzard.
His luck went even further, as nearby volunteers from Patterdale Mountain Rescue had cancelled their plans to train somewhere else because of the severe weather and happened to be waiting at the bottom.
The team's leader, Mike Blakey, told Sky News: "He came out of a cloud, collapsed at our feet and didn't say anything.
"We were quite close to our Land Rover ambulances, so we were able to package him on to a stretcher.
"He had no major injuries - but there are lots of cuts and bruises. Maybe there was lots of soft snow."
Mr Blakey has suggested that the patient should buy a lottery ticket in light of his incredibly good fortune as he only knows of one other person who has survived such an accident on the mountain.
Shortly after David's rescue, the team assisted with another emergency call to Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue after dozens of people were stranded by the heavy snow.
Two injured people became trapped in an overturned car on the Kirkstone Pass, while coach carrying 24 Chinese tourists also had to be evacuated.
A yellow "be aware" warning for heavy snowfall across the region has been enforced by the Met Office.
Three people have died on Hellvelyn since the start of the year.
