Snowdonia ice fall rescue 'huge challenge'

The Ogwen Valley in Snowdonia has been covered by a blanket of snow over the new year period

Mountain rescue teams say an operation to rescue an injured climber in Snowdonia was one of the hardest they have encountered.

The Cardiff man in his 20s fell 40m (130ft) while ice climbing at Cwm Idwal on Saturday, breaking a leg and ankle.

An experienced and well-equipped climber, he only survived after his female climbing partner managed to arrest the fall with his safety rope.

She was praised for keeping cool and supporting him throughout the rescue.

He remained trapped in a gully until members of the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team lowered him to safety.

"It was probably the most interesting, dramatic and challenging rescues I've been involved in 30 years," said Chris Lloyd, from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue.

Chris Lloyd, of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said the operation was tricky.

"It was very difficult working in confined spaces, with everything covered in thick powder snow, which meant it was hard to see what you were standing on, and to find safe rope anchor points."

The climber, who was described as well-equipped and experienced, had been on an ice climb known as Devil's Cellar at Devil's Kitchen in Cwm Idwal.

He had been climbing with a female partner, both from a south Wales mountaineering club.

Rescuers said the man had almost reached the top of the 40m climb when "something went wrong".

"Perhaps the ice broke off," speculated Mr Lloyd.

"But whatever happened, he fell 40m. His partner managed to hold him, and made her way down to him."

Four other climbers in the area came to their aid, and two went for help.

The rescue happened near Devil's Kitchen in freezing temperatures

The mountain rescue team was alerted at around 1700 GMT, and its first members reached the pair by 1830, in the dark and arctic conditions.

A sea-king rescue helicopter from 22 Squadron at RAF Valley also joined the operation, but were unable to winch the fallen climber from the gully.

"The guy was still in the gully, but because of the downdraft and the spindrift of snow it was too dangerous to winch him out," explained Mr Lloyd.

"Instead, we had to lower him down another 600ft (182m), down scree covered in thick snow. We could then get him on board the helicopter and he was taken to hospital."

The injured man was finally flown to Bangor at around 2200 GMT.

The mountain rescue team also paid tribute to the efforts of his climbing partner. Throughout the rescue, the woman, also in her 20s stayed with him.

'Star of the rescue'

"She was a complete star in this rescue," added Mr Lloyd.

"She stayed with him, was very cool and calm, reassuring and very supportive.

"She must have been absolutely freezing."