Woman killed in 200ft mountain plunge

3:25am Saturday 30th August 2008

A 38-year-old woman has died after falling about 200ft down a mountainside.

The woman fell along with her six-year-old daughter and the girl's father while walking on Sharp Edge, Blencathra, Cumbria, at around 2.30pm on Friday.

All three victims, from Peterborough, were airlifted by Sea King helicopters from RAF Bulmer and RAF Valley to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "We believe they tumbled or fell about 200ft. It was wet and slippy. They were just below the cloud line around 2,000ft up the mountain. It is quite steep there."

The 48-year-old father and six-year-old daughter were being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Police said: "Officers can confirm that the three people involved were a family from Peterborough.

"Tragically the 38-year-old wife and mother has been pronounced dead. Police will not be releasing the identity of any of the family members at this stage."

No further details were released.

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