The walker fell on Tryfan's West Face. Photo: Neil Cowburn

A man was airlifted from a Snowdonia mountain after falling 50ft and suffering serious injuries.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted about 12.50pm on Sunday after the 57-year-old walker managed to call for help after the fall on Tryfan.

The rescue team said the West Midlands man took a tumbling fall down a gully on the West Face of the mountain, suffering head, leg and arm injuries.

Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley MRO said: “The weather was fair so we requested 22 Squadron from RAF Valley, while team members already on Tryfan were diverted to the West Face. Others tried to ‘spot’ the man from the A5 road.

“The helicopter located the man but needed four mountain rescue troops to assist the winchman to execute the rescue. Four of us were lifted in two lifts into the gully.

“The man was stabilised and eventually placed in the stretcher.

“It was an awkward location for the helicopter to hover, so most of the winch wire was used for the winch.”

A team spokesperson said the helicopter crew had to use two highlines connected together in an exceptionally skilful evacuation from a difficult location.

The walker was flow to the Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor for further treatment.

The team, which had been conducting assessment days for potential new recruits, was called out again later that afternoon.

Mr Lloyd said: “A couple of hours later we were calling upon their [RAF Valley’s] assistance again for a man who had taken a slide on the snow on the side of Glyder Fawr above Llyn y Cwn.

“The man was walking wounded though he was complaining of chest pains caused by the slide. A hasty team was dispatched up through Cwm Idwal.

“Fortunately, the helicopter was able to execute this rescue without the assistance of mountain rescue troops. However, the casualty’s three colleagues walked off the mountain alongside the hasty team.”

Mr Lloyd added that the snow on the mountains was soft and deceptive on what seemed like a good day to be on the hills.