The RAF helicopter at the Llyn y Fan Fach

A boy was rescued from a hillside in the Brecon Beacons after he became ill.

Mountain rescuers broke off an urban search for a missing woman and diverted to Llyn y Fan Fach to help the boy.

Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team, Brecon Mountain Rescue, Central Beacons Mountain Rescue and Search and Rescue Dogs Association Wales were called to the two incidents on Thursday in conditions described as ‘very testing’.

Nick Hardwidge of the Western Beacons Mountain team said: “Initially called to Carmarthen to assist Dyfed Powys Police, West Wales Fire and Rescue and HM Coastguard, a search was carried out in high wind and heavy rain for a vulnerable female.

“The difficult conditions were compounded as the teams were subsequently called to the Llyn y Fan Fach area of the Carmarthen Fans, in the early afternoon, to assist a boy who had become ill on the mountainside.

“The teams were redeployed to the area along with the ambulance service and the casualty was quickly reached and evacuated by Search and Rescue Helicopter RAF 169, from RMB Chivenor, Devon, the pilot of the helicopter demonstrating all of his skills manoeuvring the aircraft in the high winds.

“Following the successful evacuation of the casualty, the three mountain rescue teams were en-route to resume the search in Carmarthen when new information led them all to be stood down.”

Mr Hardwidge added: “Yesterday showed again the commitment of our mountain rescue teams in assisting the people of south Wales.

“From a multi-agency search in an urban area, to rapid redeployment to the western hills of the beacons and effectively back again, the south Wales teams showed that they are on hand at any hour in any conditions.”

“It is important that people realise that we are not simply limited to mountain rescue, but as trained search and rescue teams we are called to a range of situations that can see us searching along rivers, through gardens, streets and forests.”