Glyder Fach, scene of the rescue. Photo: Mike White CC-BY-SA-2.0

A man was injured when a rock gave way as he was tackling a scrambling route in north Wales.

The man, in his 50s, was with his wife and another married couple, all from Heswall on the Wirral when he fell on the main cliff of Glyder Fach in Snowdonia.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted about 12.15pm today and was aided in the rescue by members of Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team, who were staying at the team’s Bryn Poeth base.

The man was reported to have suffered head injuries high on the 180m (600ft) crags, so the team requested help from RAF Valley’s Sea King helicopter.

Chris Lloyd of the OVMRO said: “Weather conditions were fine but with a varying cloud level. It was warm in the sun but when the cold front moved, it soon cooled down.”

He said the four scramblers were experienced and well equipped.

“Towards the top, the gentleman pulled up on a rock, which came away in his hands,” Mr Lloyd said.

“He took a tumbling fall of about 30ft [9m], coming to rest on a small ledge with an airy view. He had sustained head and leg injuries.”

Twelve Ogwen Valley team members were joined by their four Irish colleagues. Mr Lloyd said fortunately, despite drifting cloud, the helicopter was able to put its winchman down to the site.

The injured man was put on a stretcher and winched on board before being flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor for further treatment.

Four team members then made their way up to the remaining three scramblers and accompanied them back down to the rescue team’s base.

The rescue was concluded by 4pm. Mr Lloyd said the incident was ‘an unfortunate accident to an experienced and well organised party’.