Sgŵd Clyn-gwyn waterfall. Photo: Jeremy Bolwell CC-BY-SA-2.0
A walker was airlifted from a south Wales beauty spot after falling 15m (50ft) into a ravine.
Rescuers said he was fortunate that trees broke his fall, or his injuries would have been more severe.
The 26-year-old from Gloucestershire was walking with three others at Ystradfellte waterfalls yesterday when he slipped from a viewing point.
He fell above the Sgŵd Clyn-gwyn waterfall, ending up stranded in the gorge after hitting two trees on the way down.
An RAF Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor joined the rescue operation along with more than 30 volunteers from Brecon, Longtown and Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Teams and Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team.
Nick Hardwidge of the Western Beacons team, said: “The call for help came at about 1pm on Sunday and more than 30 members of the four mountain rescue teams responded to the stricken walker, who had slipped down a sheer face at the top of the waterfall walk.
“It would appear that he struck two trees, which arrested his fall and seem to have prevented more serious injury.
“Following assessment by the ambulance service, the RAF was called to assist in the evacuation.
“The RAF search and rescue helicopter was already in the area attending to another emergency and demonstrated once again their supreme flying skills in an area of dense woodland and, at times, torrential rain.
“Our team members secured him in a vacuum mattress and then, using a mountain rescue stretcher, carried him to a flat open area on the river bank at the top of the waterfalls from where he was winched aboard the rescue helicopter and taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, for further treatment.”
He added that the waterfalls area of the Brecon Beacons national park is very popular with walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts but walking there has inherent dangers, as the paths are narrow, often slippery and steep.
It marked the end of another busy week for the south Wales teams which were called out on rescues four times during the last seven days.
