Rescuers at the site with the injured climber. Photo: OVMRO
A climber was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries in a fall on a Snowdonia crag.
Police alerted Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation to the incident near Betws-y-Coed shortly after 2pm on Friday.
A 68-year-old experienced rock-climber was leading a route on Dinas Mawr crags behind the Silver Fountain Hotel next to the A5.
Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said: “A 30kg rock had come away and fell to the steep ground below. He fell but was arrested by his ‘second’.” My Lloyd said the man fell about 10m in the incident and sustained a serious injury to his abdomen and pelvis area due to the sudden jolt. The second was able to lower him to the steep, loose ground.
“Local team members went straight to the incident while others went via Oggi Base in the Ogwen Valley to collect rescue equipment,” Mr Lloyd said.
“The first two team members arrived at the incident site to find the casualty seriously injured lying face down on a very steep, loose vegetated scree. A Llanberis MRT member had seen the incident on the police callout system and was able to get to the casualty first.
“Initially, all the three MRT members could do was to carry out an initial survey and record observations as there was serious concern about the injuries and further movement may have aggravated these.”
The Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter was requested and was flying to the casualty site when it was diverted to the Lake District.
Mr Lloyd said: “The Helimed air ambulance was offered but declined as it would not be able to access the casualty from the steep, loose ground between the base of the crag and the wooded slopes.
“Rescue 187, the Coastguard’s helicopter based near Cardiff, was dispatched. Meanwhile, more Ogwen team members arrived on scene with the team doctor. The casualty was given strong analgesics before being placed in a vacuum mattress and then onto a stretcher.”
The Coastguard helicopter successfully winched the injured climber into the aircraft about 5pm and flew him to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
Rescuers cleared the area around the crags before making their way to their base to unload and store their kit and for a debrief on the incident.
