A WALKER is fighting for his life in hospital after plunging 80ft to the bottom of a Lancashire quarry.

Christopher Walsh, believed to be in his 40s, was rescued by members of Bolton and Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team after falling into Anglezarke Quarry near Rivington yesterday afternoon.

Mr Walsh, of Liverpool, was flown by air ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital at 1pm where his condition was described as "critical but stable."

He suffered multiple injuries in the fall.

Kirsten McAteer, spokesman for Bolton and Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team and Mountain Rescue Team, said: "We were called to assist Lancashire Police and the North West Air Ambulance with the evacuation of a male who appeared to have fallen in and sustained serious injuries.

"Initial reports to the Mountain Rescue Teams were that a climbing party had heard a noise and, upon searching, found the male at the quarry bottom.

"The male was not wearing climbing equipment but may have been walking on the top footpath near to the Golden Tower, the highest part of the quarry. The Mountain Rescue Teams evacuated the male by stretcher to the North West Air Ambulance, and he was flown to hospital."

Inspector Simon Atkinson, of Lancashire Police, said police were called to the scene after a male could be heard shouting for help.

Insp Atkinson added: "Police found a man called Christopher Walsh.

"He was at the base of the quarry having fallen 80ft from the top.

"He was known to be a keen walker and climber although the exact circumstances of his fall are not known at this stage."