Pen-y-Fan. Photo: afcone CC-BY-ND-2.0

A walker was airlifted from south Wales’s highest mountain after collapsing on a popular route.

The 33-year-old Cardiff man was flown by RAF Sea King helicopter after he suffered a seizure while with family and a friend on the Storey Arms route up Pen-y-Fan.

Members of the Brecon, Central Beacons and Longtown Mountain Rescue Teams went to the walker’s aid today, Monday, after being alerted about 1.15pm.

An air ambulance was unable to land at the site of the incident at the Bwlch Duwynt below Corn Du on the 886m (2,907ft) massif, and the RAF aircraft was scrambled from RMB Chivenor.

Rescuers said the man was in reasonable health but exhausted after the seizure and could not walk.

One of the Brecon team’s doctors was also winched aboard the helicopter so medical treatment could continue while the walker was flown to the Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil.

Rescuers prepare for the helicopter winching. Photo: Brecon MRT

Mark Jones, deputy team leader of Brecon MRT, said: “It’s not unusual for team medics to fly with the casualty for continuity of care.

“It’s the most popular route in the national park and one of the busiest weekends of the year. The callout today demonstrates the vital role of the mountain rescue teams in the area.”

Mark Moran, incident commander for the Central Beacons team added: “The RAF helicopter crew are an invaluable resource to rescue teams when working so far from the roadside. They saved the casualty a several-hour stretcher carry off in fading light conditions, and we thank them enormously.”