The RAF Sea King in action during the rescue of a climber at Tremadog. Photo: Aberglaslyn MRT

A climber was airlifted to hospital after being knocked unconscious in a fall on a Snowdonia crag.

The climber was leading on a route at Tremadog today and took a fall of about 10m (33ft), and was temporarily knocked out.

Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team was called out to help the stricken climber, who was with a fellow Leeds student on the Christmas Curry route, shortly before 4pm.

A team spokesperson said: “The pair had been climbing the classic route, where the lead climber took a substantial fall. Initially, the lead climber was knocked unconscious due to the brunt of the fall but came around shortly afterwards.

“Luckily a fellow climber on a nearby route heard the pair’s cries for help, and raised the alarm”

The team used its two Land Rover ambulances in the rescue, which involved 13 volunteer members along with North Wales Police officers and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey.

The spokesperson said: “The team was on scene within 14 minutes of the call, and quickly reached the top of the Plum Buttress to set up a technical rope rescue system and evacuate the pair.

“The casualty suffered a minor head injury during the fall, and was treated for a suspected spinal injury and a dislocated right arm.”

The helicopter crew airlifted the injured climber to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, while the team abseiled to help the second climber off the crag.

The rescue operation lasted 2½ hours.