Woody is stretchered from the mountain after falling 600ft. Photo: Brecon MRT

A dog was rescued after surviving a 600ft fall from south Wales’s highest mountain.

Spaniel Woody leapt from the summit of Pen y Fan in pursuit of a stone thrown by a member of the public and tumbled 200m.

Dyfed-Powys Police called out Brecon Mountain Rescue Team after it received calls that members of the public were putting themselves in danger on the mountain’s north-east face while trying to help the animal.

A team spokesperson said; “A small party of eight rescuers was tasked to the scene, allowing members of the public to retreat to safer ground.

“They treated the animal for suspected spinal and internal injuries and stretchered him off the hill.

“He was then transported to Honddu Veterinary Centre in Brecon. After x-rays and assessment by a vet, Woody the spaniel was declared to have nothing wrong other than a broken tail and some cuts and bruises despite falling around 600 feet.

“The incident was caused by a member of the public throwing a stone. Determined to catch the rock Woody jumped straight over the cliff edge and plummeted 200 or so metres down the steep face, to the horror of his owner from Abertillery.

“Mountain rescuers have asked people to be aware that throwing rocks from summits is obviously very dangerous, not only for eager springer spaniels, but for humans walking or working below.

“When the team approached the area they all made sure they were wearing their helmets just in case other people on the summit thought that throwing rocks was a good idea.”

Party leader David Grant said: “Woody was one of the best behaved casualties we have bought off the mountain.

“[He was] very well behaved, grateful, light to carry and didn’t complain once.”

The rescue was one of three carried out by the Brecon team on Saturday.

Members were joined by colleagues from the other south Wales mountain rescue teams, Longtown, Central Beacons and Western Beacons in responding to an alert to a woman having breathing difficulties near Strata Florida.

The Brecon team spokesperson said: “Thankfully the new rescue helicopter from Caernarfon arrived on scene very quickly and made a speedy evacuation to Aberystwyth Hospital.

“Team vehicles were then re-routed to a paraglider who had crashed in a very remote area near Nant y Moch. The team’s Land Rover crew was guided to the site by a very helpful local farmer.

“Luckily the police helicopter was available and able to evacuate the casualty to hospital.

“These incidents demonstrate how valuable rescue and emergency service helicopters are to people, living and working in remote areas of mid-Wales.”