‘Sorry for being a prat’ – man stuck on Snowdon on New Year’s Day makes candid apology to rescuers:
MAN LOST ON SNOWDON ON NEW YEAR’S DAY APOLOGISES FOR PUTTING RESCUERS’ LIVES IN DANGER
AGRANDFATHER has apologised for sparking the first call-out of 2019 for Wales’ busiest rescue team.
The New Year was less than two hours old when the unnamed man called family members to alert them he was lost on Snowdon.
He had climbed to the summit of the mountain via the Llanberis Path to see in the New Year but on leaving the summit in poor weather, got lost and had no idea where he was.
In an honest account posted online, the man said: “It was blowing hard, the fog swirling around. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
“There were about 15 to 20 others who made it to the top – 14 had turned back because of the poor conditions.
“I was on my own and took a wrong turn 10 minutes from the top on the way down. I knew I was in the wrong place when on top of some rocks with sheer drops below. I decided the best thing was to wedge between two small rocks to escape the worst of the wind and rain and get any warmth I could get until it became light at 8.45 – eightand-a-half hours later, and then I would make my way down.”
He added he thought he had his “predicament” under control.
“I’d got adequate clothing, spare hat and gloves, hot tea and food, a storm lantern, powerful torch and a head torch. I had spare batteries and a charge pack for my mobile, kindly lent me by my daughter.
“My grandson had given me emergency kits, including food, blanket, first aid, etc. These I’d decided not to carry up with me.
“Also, my son-in-law had given me an army-style sleeping bag which I also declined to carry.
“Stupidly, I could have done with all of these items!
“I know the mountain quite well and its dangers, or so I thought, and I was sure if I kept still and had a modicum of shelter I’d be fine until morning.”
He texted a woman called Tracey and a friend to let them know of his “slight predicament”.
“I told them, I have it under control and not to worry, and I was just informing them ‘just in case’.
“Wrong move – they both saw the seriousness of my little escapade and had even warned me days before not to go, as had my brothers and sisters and mum and dad, who were quite upset with me. But, I never listen, just like any other fool,” he wrote.
The Llanberis team were alerted and set off up the mountain to find the man and lead him to safety.
He was found by a search dog just before 5am.
He was cold and wet and beginning to suffer from the effects of cold.
He added: “I put the rescue team at risk – I couldn’t thank them enough.
“To all my family, and friends, sorry, for being a prat, but I will always be a prat.
“I’m my own man, but I do promise to listen to all of your precautionary advice in future.
“If you ever get the chance to meet these wonderful mountain rescuers, say hello, give them a smile, but most importantly don’t put their lives at risk.”
A Llanberis team spokesman said: “It’s not often that we get to hear back from people we assist but on this occasion, he’s written a frank account of his evening and we publish it here to educate and not to condemn.”