The Sgŵd y Pannwr falls. Photo Gareth James CC-BY-SA-2.0

A man had to be rescued from a gorge just two days after a rescue helicopter had to make an emergency landing while carrying an injured man from the same area.

This time, the rescue went without a hitch and the RAF Sea King from Devon was able to airlift the man to hospital.

The Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 4.20pm on Sunday by South Wales Ambulance Service after a man suffered suspected spinal injuries while gorge walking at the Sgŵd y Pannwr waterfalls north-east of Pontneddfechan.

A spokesperson for the team said: “The RAF rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor winched their trained paramedic to the ground and he arrived on scene minutes before Central Beacons MRT and Brecon MRT who were carrying in equipment together. The young man had suspected spinal injuries.

“The team members worked closely with the winchman to assess and place the injured teenager on to the aircraft’s stretcher before he was carried over very rocky and broken terrain to a level area, clear of trees to be winched.”

Mark Moran of Central Beacons MRT added: “The helicopter from the RAF is absolutely invaluable in these situations, and saves the team members hours of strenuous stretcher carrying.

“It’s far safer for the casualty too, to be in professional medical care within minutes of extraction.”

On Friday, a man who had been winched into a Sea King after injuring himself while gorge walking in the same area was taken from the helicopter after it had to make an emergency landing due to mechanical trouble.

The injured man was taken to hospital by ambulance.