Christopher Whitfield was reported missing after heading to Snowdonia on Sunday

Rescuers searching for a missing man in Snowdonia have found a body.

The man was found by a member of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation and her dog Spin on Friday on the Upper Cliff of Glyder Fawr.

Police are working to formally identify the man.

Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley team said: “At lunchtime Wednesday, OVMRO received a call via North Wales Police from concerned friends of a 42-year-old man from Shropshire who had come climbing in Snowdonia last weekend.

“His car was located in a layby off the A5 part-way along Llyn Ogwen.

“The man was known to be an experienced mountaineer and had come to Snowdonia prior to a summer trip to the Swiss Alps.

“With very little information to go on, OVMRO with the help of Search and Rescue Dogs Association Wales, RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Team, RAF 22 Squadron [from Valley] and North East Wales Search and Rescue mounted a search of Tryfan, and the Glyders on Wednesday afternoon and evening until dusk.

“The weather and lighting was good but alas nothing was found.

“The missing man was reported as probably being dressed in grey – not the easiest to see on the slopes of Tryfan, Bristly Ridge, Cwm Cneifion area.

“The following day a few of his friends arrived to assist with the search, but to no avail.”

Police appealed for help from walkers and climbers for sightings of the missing man, Christopher Whitfield.

Mr Lloyd continued: “On Friday a member of OVMRO with her Sarda dog, Spin, was searching an area on the west side of Seniors Ridge above the Idwal Slabs.

“She then moved to High Pastures below the Upper Cliff of Glyder Fawr. It was here that at lunchtime on Friday she found the body of the missing man.

“It looks most likely that he had been solo climbing a Very Difficult route on the Upper Cliff, something well within his experience and capabilities.

“However, for reasons unknown and probably never to be known, he has fallen from the crag, sustaining fatal injuries en route.

“Members of OVMRO made their way up the steep and very loose slope to the foot of the crag. Strong gusting winds, varying cloud level and frequent squally showers prevented access by helicopter.

“Team members were left to sledge the casualty down this unpleasant and dangerous ground. However, 22 Squadron did endeavour to make a snatch at the earliest opportunity, saving the team members from further risk.

“The casualty was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor whilst team members slid down this loose slope back to the footpath and walk out of Cwm Idwal and back to Oggi Base.”

Rob Johnson of Sarda Wales said three of the organisation’s members had been searching the area on Thursday and Friday before the discovery of the body.

“The colour of his clothing and the consistently poor weather made the man very difficult to see and the find re-iterated the value of search dogs,” he said.

“Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of the missing man and we send them all our deepest condolences. He was a member of our small community of climbers and mountaineers and died in the mountains that we all love.”