VOLUNTEERS hurried to the rescue after a walker broke his arm when he fell on the moors above Bolton during an Easter hike.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team were called after the 45-year-old man slipped while walking near Rivington Pike.

The air ambulance was called out and the man was flown to hospital.

Chris Greenhalgh, aged 38, deputy team leader of Bolton Mountain Rescue, said: “It was slippery underfoot and it was quite a steep lane. He fell awkwardly on his arm.

“It could have happened to anybody.”

The team was called at 4.48pm on Saturday by Lancashire Police, who told them a man had fallen and been injured.

Volunteers were able to call the injured man and his partner to locate them, and were with them by 5.35pm.

Mr Greenhalgh said: “He had slipped on the path while walking to Rivington Pike just off Georges Lane. He had quite seriously injured his arm and he was very cold as well.

“We arrived on the scene and administered pain relief, covered him over and stabilised his arm, which was broken.”

The first volunteer on scene was Mark Scott, aged 60, from Horwich.

Mr Scott is an assistant team leader and casualty carer with the rescue team and recognised the injured man as he used to work with him at the University of Bolton.

Mr Greenhalgh said it was not the first time Mr Scott has ended up rescuing a colleague.

The rocky terrain meant taking the man to hospital in one of the team’s Land Rovers could have injured him further and so the air ambulance was called.

The North West Air Ambulance arrived at 6.20pm and the injured man was taken to Blackburn Hospital at 6.50pm.

The mountain rescue volunteers then drove his partner to hospital.

The Mountain Rescue Team advised that anyone out walking should prepare and wear suitable shoes and clothing.