The woman died after falling on Tryfan. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

A woman has died after falling from a mountain in Snowdonia.

The 70-year-old walker was found at the base of crags on Tryfan after her partner made his way off the mountain after falling himself.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was first alerted on Wednesday when other members of a group tackling the North Ridge became worried when their companions failed to return after splitting from them.

Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said: “A group of six adults aged from late 30s to mid-70s, all related and from the Midlands and South of England had been scrambling up the North Ridge of Tryfan.

“They arrived at the foot of the North Tower at about lunchtime. Here, one of the senior couple was not confident about climbing the tower, so the party split; four continued to the summit, descending to their cars via Cwm Bochlwyd.

“The most senior couple retraced their steps down the North Ridge.”

Mr Lloyd said the team had been carrying out training for members to familiarise themselves with a new Bristow Sikorsky S-92 helicopter that will take over search and rescue operations from RAF Valley’s Sea Kings under the Coastguard civilian service.

He said: “The party of four reached their cars at about 4pm. As the senior couple were not there, they waited and waited. Having seen the helicopter activities at Oggie Base from the North Ridge, they drove there to ask advice.

“They were advised to go back a wait a bit longer as there were still hours of daylight. Shortly afterwards, the man staggered into the car park having suffered a number of superficial injuries.

“He had obviously fallen and was in a confused state. The party of four telephoned Oggie Base from where three members were dispatched to carry out casualty care. An ambulance was called too.

“It was only during treatment that it became evident that his partner had fallen too. Team members made their way up the mountain to find the 70-year-old woman on the footpath to the East of Milestone Buttress. Her injuries were incompatible with life.

“She had obviously fallen down the steep crags above, a distance of 10m or more.

About a dozen team members made their way up the footpath. The lady was secured to a stretcher which was then carried down to the roadside.

“She was handed over to a local undertaker whilst the party of four was being interviewed by North Wales Police.”

Mr Lloyd added it was ‘a sad end to a good day’.

The rescue operation ended about 9pm.

Tryfan’s North Ridge, a grade-one scramble, is the scene of numerous rescues for the Ogwen Valley team.

Almost a third of the team’s 109 callouts up to November in 2014 had been to Tryfan, with 14 on the North Ridge.