A MAN from Cheshire has died after falling from Striding Edge on Helvellyn in the Lake District.

The 54-year-old’s body was discovered by a search dog at Nethermost Cove on the southern side of the mountain.

It is understood the hiker had been walking with his wife on Helvellyn, but arranged to scramble Striding Edge alone.

His wife raised the alarm when he failed to return as twilight approached.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue began the initial search around Red Tarn and Nethermost Cove, and were later joined by the Lake District Mountain rescue search dog teams and a HM Coastguard helicopter equipped with night vision gear. Keswick and Penrith rescue volunteers also came to assist with the search. Almost 50 volunteers took part in the search.

After almost four hours, a dog handler confirmed the discovery of the walker who was declared dead at the scene by a doctor.

A spokesman for Patterdale Mountain Rescue said the victim had “fallen a significant distance”.

The terrain and location of the incident meant it took more than six hours to recover the body.

Cumbria Police have asked anyone who may have seen the man on November 2 to get in touch. Cumbria Constabulary can be reached online here – or by phone on 0300 124 0111 and 101.