An Essex student was airlifted to hospital with a broken leg and back injuries after she and her boyfriend fell 20ft while rock climbing.

Giulia Vincenzi, 19, of Broome Grove, Wivenhoe, was climbing at Edale in the Peak District when the accident happened yesterday at 1pm.

Her boyfriend of two years, Adrian Morris, 20, escaped serious injury in the fall.

Miss Vincenzi, an avid rock climber, was winched by RAF helicopter to Sheffield General Hospital where she was due to undergo an operation today to pin her leg.

Her mother, Beryce, was travelling by train this afternoon to be by her bedside.

Mrs Vincenzi said: "I am obviously worried and upset. I won't be happy until I get there and have seen her.

"It is a terrible thing to happen. Apparently the pair were climbing on the same rope when Giulia slipped and fell.

"She has broken her femur but Adrian escaped with cuts to his face."

Miss Vincenzi, a former student at Colchester Sixth Form College, had taken a gap year and had been travelling the world for six months.

She was due to begin an English degree at London University later this month. Mr Morris, formerly of Leeds, is in his third year of a politics degree at Essex University.

The pair had decided to take a short break in the Peak District, Derbyshire, as they are both keen rock climbers.

Mrs Vincenzi said: "This could have happened anywhere in the world. I am glad it has happened close to home so I can get to her."

The rescue was mounted by Edale Mountain Rescue team leader Justin Squires said they were with Miss Vincenzi for two hours.

He said: "We called an RAF helicopter and Giulia was winched to hospital. We gave her oxygen and treated her for a broken leg."

"When climbers fall their ropes and systems normally protect them but in this instance that did not happen.

"We do not know why this was the case."

Miss Vincenzi is a former pupil of Broomegrove County Infants and Junior School in Wivenhoe.

Giulia Vincenzi - leg and back injuries.

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