The falls at Pont Cyfyng. Photo: Hugh Venables CC-BY-SA-2.0

A paddler was rescued from a north Wales river after injuring himself while kayaking over falls.

The main A5 road had to be closed by police to enable the man to be airlifted from the scene near Capel Curig today.

Police were alerted about 10.45am by the ambulance service who had been called to the Cyfyng Falls on the River Lugwy.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation members joined ambulance staff, North Wales Fire and Rescue, the crew of a Sea King helicopter from 22 Squadron from RAF Valley and the North Wales Air Ambulance in the incident.

A spokesperson for the Ogwen Valley team said: “A kayaker sustained a spinal injury when going over the falls at Pont Cyfyng in Capel Curig. His friends managed to drag him on to a rock slab at the side of the river and then asked for help.”

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: “The busy A5 road was closed for a time by police officers while the casualty was airlifted from the scene to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor by Squadron 22 of the RAF.

“The canoeist is not believed to have sustained life threatening injuries and is being treated at hospital where he remains at this time.”