Forest rescue for missing woman

Beverley Burkitt became lost in thick woodland while walking with her dog

A 45-year-old woman who went missing overnight while staying at a trekking centre with her teenage daughter has been found safe, say police.

A search was launched after Beverley Burkitt, who has dwarfism, failed to return from what was expected to be an hour's walk with her pet chihuaha.

She was staying at the Ty Coch centre at Dolwyddelan, near Betws y Coed, in Gwynedd, when she disappeared.

Officers said Ms Burkitt was found safe in woodland near Penmachno.

A mountain rescue team spokesman said she had apparently become lost in thick forest after dropping her mobile phone during her walk.

Chris Lloyd, from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said: "This woman had gone for a walk at 10 o'clock yesterday morning with her little dog, called Pebbles, and walked into the forest where she dropped her mobile phone.

She was walked out of the forest in time to be reunited with her 15-year-old daughter in time for Mother's Day Chris Lloyd, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team

"She sat down overnight, luckily it was very mild.

"Some locals also joined in the search this morning and found the mobile phone.

"The police helicopter then hovered overhead and located her.

"It took search teams 10 minutes to cut their way through the forest which included a river crossing."

Mr Lloyd added: "She was walked out of the forest in time to be reunited with her 15-year-old daughter in time for Mother's Day."

The alarm was raised after Ms Burkitt, from Colwyn Bay, failed to return to the centre on Saturday morning.

Rough terrain

She and her daughter had arrived at the centre on Friday and Ms Burkitt, who is 3ft 8in (1.11m) tall, had gone missing with her long haired black-and-white chihuahua.

A search of the area using a police helicopter, mountain rescuers and dogs was carried out at nearby woodland until the early hours of Sunday, and then resumed at first light.

Officers had said they were concerned about Ms Burkitt, who is asthmatic.

Police later confirmed she had been found "safe and well" on Sunday lunchtime

A spokeswoman said: "She was walked to safety at 12.04 hrs by the mountain rescue team from deep within rough terrain in the Dolwyddelan area after a genuine case of disorientation.

"She has been given a clean bill of health by paramedics."