The injured teen is winched into the helicopter. Photo: Western Beacons MRT

Rescuers went to the aid of a teen who injured himself ‘tombstoning’ off a waterfall in the South of the Brecon Beacons.

Members of Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team faced a difficult helicopter winch of the injured boy, with the Coastguard aircraft dislodging branches and dead trees.

South Wales Police alerted the team shortly after 3.30pm on Friday after the incident in which the 13-year-old fell 20m at Sgwd Gwladus on the southern boundary of the national park, near Pontneddfechan.

The teenager suffered suspected spinal and pelvic injuries when he hit the riverbed in the fall.

Rescuers placed the injured boy in a vacuum mattress to immobilise his back and he was then placed in a stretcher.

Team leader Neil Butcher said: “Due to the casualty’s injuries and to save him a very painful carry-out a Coastguard rescue helicopter from St Athan was requested to winch him from the location.”

The team said the winch out was difficult due to the location, with the helicopter downdraught creating a hazard for rescuers on the ground, with several dead trees blown down and branches dislodged.

The casualty was flown to hospital by the helicopter crew.