Rescuers rigged up a rope system to bring the crafgast couple to safely. Photo: RAF MRS

Rescuers in Snowdonia were called out to bring to safety a couple in a precarious position on mountainside cliffs.

Two teams worked for eight hours in the operation at the rear of Cwm Idwal in the Ogwen Valley.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said the walkers had a very lucky escape.

The team was alerted by police shortly before 7pm on Monday after a man walking on the path at the rear of the cwm heard shouts for help high up on the cliffs of the headwall.

Chris Lloyd of the team said: “He had shouted back so as to confirm that the shouts were human and not, as frequently reported, bleats from goats.

“The team leader contacted the informant, but he was in an area of very poor telephone reception. By 7.30pm an advance party of five team members was deployed to locate the reported ‘adult and child’. By 8pm, the advanced party met with the informant and realised the complexity of this crag rescue.”

The Ogwen Valley team requested the help of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service based at Valley, and 13 of its team members joined the operation. Rescuers also requested help from the Coastguard helicopter, but it was unable to assist.

Mr Lloyd said: “Often, in these rescues, there is the high risk of the rotor downwash blowing the casualties from the rock face before they can be rescued.”

Two Ogwen Valley team members used their rock-climbing skills to make their way up to the pair. The cragfast walkers were, in fact, a couple in their early 20s.

Mr Lloyd said: “They were able to secure the ‘casualties’, but the location was unsuitable for conducting a rescue due to poor rock conditions.

The walkers had strayed into steep, dangerous terrain. Photo: OVMRO

“By shortly after midnight, the main rescue party had scrambled to the top of the cliff, established a secure rope system and lowered two rescuers down to the two casualties. They were fitted with harnesses and attached to the rescuers and the rope systems, then lowered to safe ground below by about 1 o’clock in the morning.

“While a couple of team members walked the casualties to their car in the Ogwen Valley, the other rescuers recovered all the rescue equipment. Ogwen team members arrived at their base at about 3am; the RAF MRT probably after 4am.

“Meanwhile, the two 20-year-olds drove back to Chester to review their very lucky escape and to consider the purchase of more suitable kit for walking on the mountains and the skills required.

“This was a good example of two MRTs working together on a difficult technical rescue at night. Ogwen members thank the RAF Valley MRT for their valuable and expert support.”