Ogwen Valley rescuers at the site of the incident where a climber lost his lower leg. Photo: Ogwen Valley MRO

Mountain rescuers in Snowdonia have warned about the dangers of loose rocks, following incidents in the area involving large boulders coming away and injuring walkers and climbers.

A climber had his lower leg severed after a block came away when he was negotiating a route on Braich Ty Du on Pen yr Ole Wen recently.

The rock crashed on to the A5 road, causing it to be closed for a time earlier this month.

And two men were injured while scrambling on the Llech Ddu spur on Carnedd Dafydd in September.

Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said: “While mountains are being eroded all the time, we believe that after the wet summer of 2012 and the good winter earlier this year, many rocks have become loose.

“Certainly this is being drawn to the attention of team members who often have to work off the beaten track.”

A loose four-ton block has been reported in a gully on Tryfan

Mr Lloyd said the team had been emailed recently to say there is a four-ton block loose at the top of Little Gully on the East Face of Tryfan.

And another person has reported loose rocks at the top of Sinister Gully on Bristly Ridge on Glyder Fach.

“Both of these reports have been passed onto the Snowdonia national park, as we do not go round closing mountains or trundling loose rocks,” Mr Lloyd said.

The rescue team member said walkers and climbers should be aware of the dangers.

• The Ogwen Valley team’s annual fundraiser the Oggie 8 Challenge raised more than £9,000 for its funds.

This made a contribution of almost £7,000 after costs were taken out.

“We would like to congratulate and thank all the entrants and the sponsors who helped us nearly reach our target of £10,000,” Mr Lloyd said.

“Hopefully, the event on Saturday 2 August 2014 will attract more supporters and that we will crack the £10,000 figure.”