The man fell while scrambling at the base of Tryfan's North Ridge. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

The man fell while scrambling at the base of Tryfan's North Ridge. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescuer warned loose rocks are becoming more common on the hills, after a man was injured while scrambling on a Snowdonia peak.

The experienced walker suffered head and leg injuries after falling when a rock came away in his hand on Tryfan.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was called out at 3.45pm today to the incident on Creigiau’r Dena at the base of the North Ridge.

Chris Lloyd of the team said the man from the mid-Wales borders, was tackling the route with three companions after setting off shortly after lunch.

He said: “One of the men, aged about 40, pulled up on a rock, which came away in his hand.

“He fell about 20ft [8m] suffering lacerations to the head and injury to his lower leg. A hasty team was despatched.

“They suggested that the assistance of 22 Squadron would be useful because of the nature of the injuries.

“A stretcher party with ropes was despatched whilst the services of 22 Squadron [from RAF Valley] were sought. Fortunately, the request was granted and the Sea King was able to winch the casualty and fly him to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

“His three colleagues returned to the hospitality of Oggi Base, with team members. It was a really unfortunate incident. However, loose rocks appear to be more common recently.”

The Ogwen Valley team has had a busy period, with a callout to an injured 56-year-old woman on the Great Orme at Llandudno on Saturday.

Mr Lloyd said: “While high up above the west shore and on a footpath, she slipped sustaining a lower leg injury. We were asked to assist with the casualty evacuation.

“One team member who was local at the time of the callout was able to assist the paramedics, while a couple of us got within 50m of her, but we were beaten by the air ambulance which was able to fly her down to the road ambulance some 500ft below.”

The following day, the team was alerted to a crashed paraglider on the mountains. Mr Lloyd said: “He was part of a club from Birmingham who were in Snowdonia for the day.

“He had just taken off from Y Garn summit, high above the Ogwen Valley. It is believed that he had problems with some of his lines so had to make a quick decision to return to earth – either 1,000ft beneath him or to the summit 20ft beneath him.

“He opted for the summit but landed heavily on his back. His companion made the 999 call, but wasn’t sure where he was. He knew that the map was in his colleague’s back pack, but that was still on his back.

“So as not to risk further injury, he described what he could see to the police control.

“Team members were despatched to likely spots. Fortunately, 22 Squadron had just lifted off from Ysbyty Gwynedd, so over flew the area. They were able to winch him aboard and take him from whence they had just come.”

The team’s volunteers were called out again on Monday when a couple and their two dogs got benighted on a hillside.

The pair, in their 40s and from Warrington in Cheshire, set off about 11am on an eight-mile (13km) walk in the Crafnant Valley. They had two small rucksacks, a phone and a guide book.

Mr Lloyd said: “Their eight-mile walk took a bit longer than planned and after about 6½ miles, they ran out of daylight. By 9pm, they were on steep broken ground in the dark.

“Without a torch and with two tired little dogs, they made the 999 call. Three of us from the Conwy Valley walked up the back of the valley until we made voice contact.

“The light of their mobile phone identified a position and it wasn’t easily accessible from below.

“We climbed around and walked down to them, arriving at about 10.30pm. They were escorted back up the route of steep vegetation covered scree – tired dogs were carried – and brought back down on the path.

“They were delivered to their holiday cottage shortly after midnight.”

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