© Paul LewisLightning zone: An aerial view of the area where the helicopter was called to
Four hill walkers, in three different locations, were airlifted to hospital following an electric storm in the national park yesterday afternoon.
The helicopter, from HMS Gannet at Prestwick, Scotland, had initially been called to a separate incident involving a man with a suspected shoulder injury at Langdale, Cumbria.
But at around 3pm, as reports of lightning emerged, the crew were instead deployed to help a hiker who had been struck at Grasmoor.
Within 35 minutes they had been called out to two other hillside locations - Crag Hill and Whiteless Pike - and rescued three more victims of lightning.
All the casualties were dropped off at Buttermere Hotel in Buttermere where they were then taken by ambulance to West Cumberland Hospital.
A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: 'The first incident was at 3pm when a male walker seemed to be suffering from the effects of shock from a strike. He was being airlifted when we immediately got a call to a party of three people on Crag Hill, two of whom were injured.'
The spokesman continued: 'The crew were then called to a party of six at Whiteless Pike and one injured woman was airlifted and then taken to hospital.'
It is thought none of the casualties were seriously injured.
Mountain rescue teams from Cockermouth and Keswick also assisted in the rescue operation.
Cockermouth mountain rescue team leader Mike Park said they were called to the strikes at Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike.
He said: 'A man in his 50s was said to have been thrown 30ft in the air by a mini-explosion at Grasmoor. He had not been struck but was nearby to the impact. He was unconscious for a few minutes but he didn't seem to have suffered any burns. I understand a group of 13 people were involved at Crag Hill where the lightning struck at 3.15pm between them and eight people were thrown to the ground. At 3.35pm we were called to reports of a female in her mid-30s being struck at Whiteless Pike.'
'She was physically struck on the head and suffered burns. It appeared the lightning exited out of her foot because she had injuries to her ankle.'
Mr Park added it was 'rare' to be struck by lightning in the mountains.
'Mountain rescue teams get involved with one or two such incidents a year. For this to happen to three separate parties in that short space of time is really amazing,' he said.
'The advice to people who encounter such conditions is keep clear of exposed areas.'
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