Peak District climber injured after boulder 'thrown off' crag

A climber narrowly avoided serious injury when a boulder was thrown from the top of a crag in the Peak District.

Edale Mountain Rescue Team was called to Bamford Edge, Derbyshire, to reports of a climber with a leg injury below Great Tor on Saturday at 14:15 BST.

The team said "fortunately the climber was wearing a helmet which took a glancing blow before hitting his leg".

Derbyshire Police said officers were investigating and it appealed for any potential witnesses to come forward.

The rescue team said a group of males "ran off before they could be apprehended" after the rock was thrown.

The man had sustained severe muscle bruising to his leg and was taken to Northern General Hospital, in Sheffield, the team added.

"Without the helmet or if [the climber] had been hit more fully on the head, things could have been a whole lot different and serious," they said.

"The climber's leg injury was dealt with and he was evacuated down to an ambulance on New Road.

"This type of behaviour is totally irresponsible and could have had potentially fatal consequences.

"Do not throw rocks over the edge of crags and cliffs."

David Torr, team leader of the Edale Mountain Rescue, added: "He has not broken his leg but it is badly bruised."

He said the boulder "hit him on the thigh and then as it hit the ground it split in half".

Mr Torr added that their message was "please wear a helmet if you are climbing".

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