A WALKER collapsed and died close to the summit of Penyghent early on Saturday morning.

The 50-year old male, who was walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, was given CPR by an off-duty paramedic after collapsing. He was later confirmed dead by air ambulance paramedics at the scene and was flown off the hill to a waiting road ambulance.

A team from Cave Rescue Organisation, which received a call at 8.23am on Saturday, was on its way to the summit when it was told the man had died.

A CRO spokesperson said: "Team members who were approaching the summit turned round and returned to Dale Head when it was learned that air ambulance paramedics had confirmed that he had died and would fly the deceased off the hill. Other members assisted with landing the aircraft and carrying him to a waiting road ambulance.

"Our thoughts are with the walker’s companions and his family at home."

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "We were called to the sudden death of a man in his 50s on Penyghent on Saturday. His death is not being treated as suspicious and we are assisting in preparing a report for the coroner."

The CRO team was called out for a second time on Saturday afternoon to White Scar Cave, Ingleton.

The 75-year old reportedly collapsed while in the battlefield chamber, the furthest point of the show cave, was sitting up, with a cave guide, and unable to walk.

The CRO spokesperson said: "After a thorough assessment by the team’s doctor, the patient was carried by stretcher to the cave entrance and handed over to Yorkshire Ambulance Service personnel who were waiting with a road ambulance."