The scene of the rescue at the Idwal Slabs. Photo: OVMRO

A climber was winched from a mountainside after injuring herself while descending from a route.

The 21-year-old woman from London was with three others from the capital when she slipped and tumbled 5m (16ft) while descending from the Faith route on Idwal Slabs in the Ogwen Valley in north Wales.

The two men and two women had successfully completed the climb and negotiated the tricky walk-off to the path leading to the route’s base.

While making their way down below Suicide Wall, the woman injured her foot. Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said she attempted to hobble off the hill but found it difficult.

The rescue team was alerted about 3pm yesterday, Saturday and 17 members went to the woman’s aid. A Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey also went to the scene above Llyn Idwal.

Mr Lloyd said: “The pilot made a good attempt to hover over the casualty site but could not hold the hover due to turbulence. The winchman was eventually lowered nearby.

“The Sea King was sent away until team members could load the casualty onto a stretcher and then move the stretcher across a steep, loose, rocky and vegetated slope for about 250m to where the helicopter could winch.

“A series of rope systems were set up to protect the stretcher and carriers. Then the Sea King returned to successfully winch the casualty aboard.”

The three remaining climbers walked off the hill with rescue team members.

The team was in action again this morning, Sunday, when a woman tripped and injured her ankle near the breached dam in Cwm Eigiau beneath Carnedd Llewelyn.

Mr Lloyd said: “Two team members were able to drive a Land Rover and bring her back to her transport.”

A white flare seen near Blaenau Ffestiniog later today was investigated by the North Wales Police helicopter and found to be a false alarm.