A GREAT North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) was stuck for two days on the top of a famous Lake District fell in the first incident of its kind in 16 years. 

On Saturday March 16, Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team requested help from GNAAS's critical care team after a walker had fallen on Scafell Pike and sustained a shoulder injury. 

It would have taken two hours for the mountain rescue team to reach the walker. 

Pilot Mik, paramedic Andy and doctor Jon flew from the base in Langwathby, Penrith at 2.15pm, taking just 17 minutes to fly to a landing site near the stricken walker. 

GNAAS say that they always 'closely monitor' the weather before being tasked to an incident, during the flight and while on scene. 

In this case though, the weather worsened while Jon and Andy were assessing injuries and administering advanced pain relief. 

Strict Civil Aviation Authority guidelines mean that a helicopter cannot fly when there is a likelihood of icing - which was the case because of the altitude and the fog. 

The walker was taken down by stretcher by Wasdale and Duddon and Furness mountain rescue teams. 

The walker was on the valley floor by around 6.30pm. They were taken to hospital for further treatment. 

Because of the weather conditions, the team predicted that the 'Pride of Cumbria II' helicopter would not be able to lift from the summit due to the cloud and would be stuck all night. 

Despite the rareness of the event, the team are equipped to handle it, the charity said. 

Andy and Jon got a taxi back to the base, and Mik stayed in the aircraft overnight hoping the fog would lift the next day. The helicopters have food, water and heat blankets for cases such as these. 

Unfortunately there was no break in the weather and Mik hiked down to the valley floor. 

Araminta Hartley, a spokesperson for the charity, said: "Given the circumstances, the risk of damage to our aircraft was relatively low, and we continued to monitor the situation closely to ensure at the earliest opportunity our helicopter would be able to lift off from Scafell Pike and return back to our base.

"Please be assured there was no interruption to our operations, and our other helicopter based near Eaglescliffe and our rapid response vehicles at both of our bases were still activated to 12 incidents across Cumbria and the North East whilst the helicopter was not online."

Stu, who lives in the area, finally hiked up Scafell Pike and flew the aircraft back to Langwathby on Monday afternoon.

The charity said that the last time it is aware of something like this happening was over a decade and a half ago, despite the service attending thousands of incidents in the Lake District and the north annually.