The pair were making their way up Tryfan's North Ridge. Photo: Richard Webb CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescue team used an internet system devised by one of its own members to locate a couple cragfast on a Snowdonia mountain.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was called out at 2pm today, Monday, after the scramblers got into difficulties on Tryfan.

The team found the pair, a 42-year-old man and 33-year-old woman, both from Essex, using the Sarloc designed by team member Russ Hore which sends a text message to the user’s smartphone containing the URL of a website that automatically requests the phone’s location.

OVMRO spokesman Chris Lloyd said: “The two were well equipped and had been up Tryfan before.

“They had scrambled up the North Ridge, but avoided the North Tower moving east, possibly the Eastern Traverse. The female was becoming panicky so they started to escape down the North Gully and did not reach the summit.

“After a total loss of confidence, she ground to a halt. The male made the 999 call, but wasn’t 100 per cent sure whereabouts on the mountain they were.

“Using Sarloc, the team leader identified North Gully, about two-thirds the way up and just by the escape route at the top of Little Gully.”

Three team members went to aid the pair. The man was able to make his own way down Little Gully and the woman was helped using a confidence rope.

All made it back to the rescue team’s base in the Ogwen Valley by early evening.

Mr Lloyd added: “This was just one of those things that sometimes happen. And once you start to lose confidence, especially on a place like Tryfan, it is very difficult to regain it.”

The Sarloc system is now also being used by other mountain rescue teams.