The climber injured his ankle while descending Tryfan's North Ridge

An injured climber had to be rescued when his attempts to get himself off a mountain failed.

The 54-year-old man, from the Home Counties, had climbed the Grooved Arête route on Tryfan’s east face with a friend and was descending back to the valley when he tripped and seriously injured his ankle on the North Ridge.

He strapped up the ankle and tried to continue his descent, but the climber and his companion realised they could not get off the 918m (3,012ft) mountain without aid.

Chris Lloyd, of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, said: “Sadly, despite a valiant effort, with time running out, and increasing pain, they decided to call for mountain rescue.

“The team dispatched three members to carry out further treatment. It was decided that a casualty evacuation by stretcher over this rocky terrain would be time consuming and would not best serve the needs of the casualty. The assistance of 22 Squadron from RAF Valley was requested and granted.

“Shortly afterwards the casualty was winched aboard the Sea King helicopter and flown to hospital at Bangor. Meanwhile, his climbing partner walked off the mountain with the three members of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team.

“This was a brave effort by a well organised party of two.”

The rescue sets the volunteer organisation on course for another record year of callouts. Mr Lloyd said: “Last year the team broke its record of 133 callouts in 2009, by a further ten.

“At the same stage of last year, we had carried out 37. This incident was number 46 in 2011. Another busy year!”