The walker was rescued from Gallt yr Ogof. Photo: Nigel Callaghan CC-BY-SA-2.0
A north Wales mountain rescue team helped a lost walker to safety while members were taking part in the massive operation across Britain to help those hit by floods.
The walker was one of many people helped by Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation members over the weekend.
The team was contacted by ambulance staff for help on Saturday to help reach the village of Trefriw in the Conwy valley. Due to flooding, the village could only be accessed by the rescuers’ 4×4 vehicle using private tracks.
Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley team said: “Welsh Ambulance Service requested OVMRO to transport a district nurse to the home of an elderly man in the village for his daily treatment.
“Members were then requested to search for a possible missing driver as a flooded car had been seen in the Conwy Valley. During the investigation, other enquiries discovered the driver safe and well.”
The team was then asked to make its way to the town of Llanrwst where some homes had been flooded. “An elderly woman was evacuated from her home” Mr Lloyd said. “Team members tried to salvage her belongings as well as clear out the flood water before making the house safe and secure.”
The team was then asked to recce the main A470 road between Llanrwst and the A55. A number of flooded areas were reported.
Mr Lloyd said: “In the evening there was a request from Yorkshire police silver command for swiftwater rescue teams to assist with rescuing flooded citizens of York. Two Ogwen vehicles loaded with water rescue equipment and five Ogwen members left the valley early on Sunday morning.
“They picked up two North East Wales Search and Rescue members en route. They have been in action in York.”
On Sunday evening five team members attended a call for assistance from a 55 year-old-man lost on the lower Glyder range, between the tops of Gallt yr Ogof cliff and Y Foel Goch. In failing light and heavy drizzle, he had lost his way, Mr Lloyd said.
Using the Sarloc smartphone system, the team leader was able to pinpoint the man’s position. Mr Lloyd said: “Five team members made their way to him. He was escorted from the mountain to Oggie Base for a warm up, dry out and refreshment.”
Volunteers from North Wales departed again for York on Monday morning. A vehicle and driver from South Snowdonia MRT, a member from Aberglaslyn MRT, a member from Ogwen Valley MRO, a second vehicle from Newsar along with its driver and three swiftwater-trained members all made their way to the flood-hit city.
Volunteer rescue teams from as far away as Devon and Cornwall also joined the rescue operation in North Yorkshire on Monday.
