The couple and their dog were stuck on Tryfan. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

Mountain rescuers used photographs taken from a police helicopter to pinpoint the position of a couple and their dog stuck on crags on a Snowdonia mountain.

The pair, in the 20s and from north-east Wales, strayed on to steep ground with their small black dog on Friday.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was called out about 1.30pm to the gully on the West Face of Tryfan where the walkers ended up while trying to get down the North Ridge.

Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said: “This is becoming a regular black spot.

“Fortunately the police air support unit was in the area and was able to fly in and locate and photograph the couple.

“They then flew to Oggi Base and brought the photographs in to the team leader. This saved a lot of time sending spotters to try to locate the couple from the A5 road. Team members were despatched to the top of the gully.

“A rope rescue system was set up so as to lower a team member to the couple. The team member collected the woman first and both were lowered to safe ground below.

“The team member was raised back up to the man and once again the two were lowered. Other team members were on hand at the bottom of the gully to receive the party and to walk them off the mountain to be driven to Oggi Base.

“The couple were not really dressed for a damp afternoon on Tryfan, though it was a navigational error that resulted in the callout.”

Mr Lloyd said one of the team’s vehicles was flagged down by a man while taking the rescued Tryfan couple back to its base.

He said: “He was part of a group of nine students from Bristol. They had been descending from Carnedd Llewelyn to Ffynnon Llugwy via Bwlch Eryl Farchog.

“On the Difficult Step, one student had badly sprained his ankle. His colleagues treated him and with an excellent team effort, they managed to assist the casualty down the steep footpath and along the uneven lakeside path to the road head.

“As they continued their way down the private road, it was decided that they should try to get help as the student was in considerable pain.

“A team vehicle was sent up the private road to recover the students and bring them to their minibus. They took their injured colleague to hospital.

“This was a really excellent effort in self-rescue and the students should be commended for this.”

The team was in action on Sunday evening after police were called shortly after 7pm by a man who fell in the Gwydyr Forest north of Betws-y-Coed.

Mr Lloyd said: “He lived locally and had gone out on a two-day self-survival expedition. As he was descending a footpath he reported as having blacked out and he fell a short distance, his fall being arrested by a fallen tree.

“He complained of back and knee injuries. He was able to report his approximate location.

“This was greatly assisted by his reference to being able to see a large piece of forest harvesting machinery. One of the OVMRO team leaders works in forestry and knew where harvesting was taking place, greatly speeding up the search for the man.

“After treatment, the man was placed in a vacuum mattress and on to a stretcher for a 150m carry to the team Land Rover. He was driven 750m to the car park and the awaiting ambulance.

“The man was reasonably equipped for his expedition, carrying a full rucksack complete with torch and whistle both of which assisted in locating him.”