The Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter winched the injured climber from the mountainside. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
A rock climber was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries in a fall at a remote Snowdonia crag.
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted by police shortly after midday on Tuesday when the man called for help.
The 40-year-old was soloing the classic Amphitheatre Buttress route on the cliffs of Craig yr Isfa, at the head of Cwm Eigiau and in the shadow of Carnedd Llewelyn.
Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said the climber fell from about 10m up from the steep start, landing on the steep and rocky slope below, then continued a further 10m or so. “Fortunately, he was still conscious and had mobile phone reception from this remote location,” Mr Lloyd said.
In view of the description of the incident and the man’s possible injuries, the team leader requested the aid of the Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter.
Mr Lloyd said the aircraft flew to the team’s base at Bryn Poeth in the Ogwen Valley to collect three team members.
“Meanwhile, a team member who lives close to Cwm Eigiau headed up to the incident and a further two members from the Conwy Valley followed him sometime later,” he said.
“Due to the close proximity of the 300m-high steep rock face, the winchman, three mountain rescuers and a stretcher were winched out onto the steep heather-covered rocky slopes some distance below the casualty. The helicopter then collected the two team members from a good landing zone by the Eigiau dam, and ferried them to the incident.
“The seriously injured casualty was treated and placed on the stretcher. His injuries and location made this an awkward procedure.
“With a rope tied to the stretcher, team members carried and slid the stretcher carefully downhill 50m to an area from which it could be safely winched up to the helicopter, four hours after the first report.
“Team members cleared the site and walked out to the dam to the vehicles.”
The climber was later reported to have suffered a broken pelvis and wrist and is recovering in hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.
