A LEADING scientist from the region suffered serious injuries after falling 130ft down a waterfall in a remote part of the Lake District.

Sir John Holman, 65, a professor at the University of York, suffered major head, chest and back injuries in the accident on Monday.

It is understood the lecturer, who lives in York, was on a walking break in the Lakes when he fell near a waterfall in Sour Milk Gill, landing in water at the bottom.

The alarm was raised by Sir John's walking companion in the village of Seathwaite.

More than 20 volunteers from Keswick Mountain Rescue went to the scene.

An RAF Sea King helicopter winched the injured man up and flew him to nearby Seathwaite Farm, where he was transferred to a Great North Air Ambulance helicopter.

Keswick Mountain Rescue’s team leader Chris Higgins said: “We knew it was a serious rescue.

“The gentleman was given first aid at the scene and stabilised by our team. He had fallen into the water and he was very cold, so he was insulated and warmed up.”A spokesman for the air ambulance said: "He had sustained multiple serious injuries and had come to rest in an area completely inaccessible by road.

"A Sea King aircraft and crew from RAF Boulmer were able to winch the patient and fly him down the hillside, where our helicopter was waiting to take him to hospital.

"Keswick Mountain Rescue Team also played a key role in the rescue."

The man was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, receiving treatment on the way.

The spokesman added: "We had to fly through difficult dark and wintery conditions but arrived safely after a 30-minute flight. The patient was stable on arrival."

Sir John is an adviser in education at the Wellcome Trust and the Gatsby Foundation, and has also advised the Government.

He was named by the Science Council in 2014 as one of the 100 leading practising and inspirational UK scientists.

He was knighted in the 2010 New Year’s Honours for services to education.