Injured climber sparks seven-hour rescue op

WOMAN AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL AFTER FALLING ON CADER IDRIS

AWOMAN was airlifted to hospital after she slipped while walking in Snowdonia – sparking a sevenhour rescue operation.

The accident happened on Saturday on Cader Idris, near Dolgellau, within the Gwynedd range.

The woman, in her 40s and from Anglesey, had slipped and hit her head while crossing the summit plateau between the Pen y Gader and Mynydd Moel peaks on the mountain in Snowdonia.

Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team were called to the scene shortly after 1pm, though it was understood it would take volunteers more than an hour to reach the casualty.

Air support from the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 936 was requested but the aircraft was forced to turn back due to poor weather conditions on the mountain.

The injured woman was reached on foot by search and rescue volunteers instead, who found her “bleeding profusely” – with the casualty and her partner described as “anxious, cold and wet.”

The team determined she was unable to walk off the mountain and placed her in a casualty bag on a stretcher for warmth – ahead of the “prolonged and very difficult” journey down to Minffordd.

Helicopter aircraft was requested during the descent and although unable to reach the stretcher party, the aircraft managed to land nearby – with the casualty winched aboard the vehicle.

The injured woman was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd for further assessment and treatment.

A total of 32 team volunteers were involved in the mountain rescue operation – which took seven hours.

Aberdyfi Search and Rescue said everyone was safely off the 8pm.

A spokesman: “Without the repeated attempts in difficult conditions by R936 to assist this rescue, the team faced a long and very challenging carry down the mountain in the dark.

“As it was, rescuers had been attending this incident for 7 hours, and without the air-lift it would have continued for a fair number more.”

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