The cascade at Sgwd yr Eira. Photo: Alastair Bennett

A walker was winched from a national park beauty spot after slipping and breaking her ankle.

The 72-year-old Australian woman, described as an experienced walker, slipped on wet rock at the base of the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall in the Ystradfellte gorge in the Brecon Beacons.

Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 12.35pm today, Monday, by Dyfed Powys Police, and Brecon MRT and the Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team joined the operation to reach the woman.

Rob Jones of the Central Beacons MRT said: “Due to the nature of the area the teams called on the support of the RAF search and rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor.

“Once the lady was assessed and her condition stabilised the helicopter performed a magnificent winch out of the gorge and transported her to hospital at around 2.45pm today.”

The waterfall was used, mixed together with a lake scene by computer graphics, in the BBC production of Merlin. The cascade, translated as Falls of Snow, are on the Afon Hepste.