Twmpa, or Lord Hereford's Knob, scene of the rescue. Photo: Philip Halling CC-BY-SA-2.0
Mountain rescuers said a family found in atrocious conditions on a south Wales mountain after a six-hour search are lucky to be alive.
The 51-year-old woman and her teenage son and daughter were rescued from a 690m (2,264ft) mountain on the border between Wales and England yesterday.
The trio got lost on Twmpa in the Black Mountains. They had no coats or compass.
Longtown and Brecon Mountain Rescue Teams were called out and 25 members were involved in the search.
The family, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, had set off in the morning and became lost on the hill, also known as Lord Hereford’s Knob, near Hay-on-Wye.
Rescuers managed to speak to the woman on her mobile but she had no idea where she was, and with almost zero visibility and driving rain it took rescuers six hours to find the group.
The woman and her children, aged 14 and 16, who were staying at a campsite in Llangorse, were re-warmed on the hillside and given dry clothing before being checked over by medics and allowed home.
With a drop in temperatures forecast to hit the region local mountain rescue teams urged walkers to be properly equipped before heading into the mountains.
Mark Nicholls, team leader of Abergavenny-based Longtown MRT said: “The weather conditions were terrible on Thursday and would challenge even experienced hillwalkers.
“We had very serious concerns about the group and they are lucky to be alive.
“People underestimate how cold they can get on the hills and with the drop in temperatures, appropriate clothing is essential.
“The mountains in the Brecon Beacons are beautiful at this time of the year and are there to be explored. But before venturing out we would urge walkers to ensure they are equipped with waterproof clothing, sensible footwear and a torch.
“It is also vital to carry a map and compass and know how to use them.
“Some people setting off into the mountains now believe that if something goes wrong a helicopter can swoop in and rescue them, but helicopters are unable to fly in adverse weather so it up to the mountain rescue teams to reach lost or injured walkers on foot, which can take many hours in some cases.”
Longtown and Brecon Mountain Rescue teams attended the call out, but volunteers from Central Beacons MRT and Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team were also on standby.
