The men were found on the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge. Photo: Adrian Perkins CC-BY-SA-2.0
Four men were rescued from the highest hill in the Brecon Beacons after getting lost in bad weather.
Three of the walkers were shod in sandals and one was suffering from a heart problem.
Four rescue teams yesterday went to the aid of the men who were found on the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge, north of the summit of Pen y Fan.
Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team were alerted at 7.45pm on Sunday after reports of an unwell walker on the 886m (2,907ft) mountain. The team was joined by colleagues form the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team and the Longtown Mountain Rescue Team.
After setting off from the Storey Arms, the rescuers found the men in high winds and conditions described as very poor.
Three of the men were helped from the hill, and the fourth was stretchered to a waiting ambulance.
A spokesperson for the Central Beacons MRT said: “The men who had been camping in the national park for the weekend had become disorientated in the poor weather and their problems were then compounded by the heart condition of the casualty.
“All four reached safe ground with assistance of the teams and the casualty was transported to Neville Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.”
Spokesmen from the teams questioned the equipment and preparedness of three of the men who were rescued, and advised that mountain boots may be a better option than sandals in poor weather.
Richard Jones
30 May 2011They should be charged for the time of the MRT s involved !! they placed many people in danger from going into the hills unprepared! at least a pair of closed in shoes, pathetic!!
R Webb
31 May 2011I don't think MRTs work like that. Sorry Mr Nasty, but ever heard of sports sandals?
Sum Doood
31 May 2011I doubt the rescue teams' members were in any danger whatsoever. I wonder why three teams were sent though - are there very few active members?
I like hill and mountain walking (and running), in sports sandals.
Rosie
31 May 2011Good sports sandals (with closed toes)are way better than poor shoes or boots.
DefyRider
31 May 2011We took one look up there Sunday morning and decided the weather was far too poor, and walked the Pontneddfechan waterfalls instead........ some people need to get some common sense installed.
JB
31 May 2011Standard procedure for available members of all the areas teams to attend if there is a known or presumed casualty to assist if a carry off is required. Perhaps we don't have as many members as some of the Lakeland teams so call goes out to all the area's teams if necessary to make sure there's enough manpower.
Richard Jones
03 June 2011Not being mr nasty, but just read the article ! BAD WEATHER, YES IT CAN CHANGE IN SECONDS so sandals is not a good option. they were un prepared !!
also the MRT fellas and ladies are put at risk every time they have to rescue somebody, Im sure the MRT were laughing all the way down when they saw that they were wearing sandals !! I agree with Defyrider Common sense is always the way forward, maybe next time I go up there I will wear my sandals and a mankini ( only if the sun is shining) I dont want to take silly risks !
A. Smith
16 September 2011I called 999.
Well this is interesting... i came across this article after many months since the event. This news article is missing some very interesting facts. i should know because i was the one who called 999.
I was in brecon camping/hiking and came across a party of 3 men only one could speak english he asked me the best way back to storey arms to his car He was not familiar with brecon beacons.
My intended route was back to the reservours where my girlfriend was going to pick me up, instead i decided to walk them back to storey arms, but one man kept slowing down and breathing heavily. Time was passing and visibility was getting worse i thought we were doing well until 2 kept walking ahead ignoring my shouting to stay together they took the wrong exit down pen-y-van i followed and then he collasped.
As for me i was wearing boots... and i have good quality equipment and clothing, i also set up my mountain tent and squezed all of them into it whilst waiting for the resuce team to reach us and relayed our position and details of his condition.
Was i the good samaritan?
grace smith
16 September 2011it's a shame that this article doesn't actually mention that it was my dad who alerted the mountain rescue... who took 3 hours to get there, and in that time my dad stayed with the poorly man and the three other men, with his 1 man tent! I think it's a shame he hasn't even been mentioned. My dad is an experienced climber so he wasn't at risk and has been told he should join the volunteers at brecon mountain rescue team!
Taz H
13 May 2012My husband wears sandals, sometimes I wear sandals. The reason these men needed assistance was poor weather and a health issue.
Nick
19 November 2012sorry ...but if you KNOW the conditions are ideal for sandals then yes wear them....the trouble is conditions change ... so keep sandals for the beach