Canoeist saved from raging river

A canoeist is "lucky to be alive" after being rescued from a raging Snowdonia river swollen by torrential rain.

He was swept about half a mile (0.8 km) down river before he managed to grab hold of rocks just before Conwy Falls, near Betws y Coed, Gwynedd.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue used ropes to get him out on Sunday evening, and the man was cold but uninjured.

Rescuer Chris Lloyd said the team regularly rescued canoeists who got into difficulty at the same spot.

"We were called out at quarter to six on Sunday to a stranded paddler under Penmachno bridge, after the owner of a nearby cafe heard him blow his whistle," said Mr Lloyd.

The man, a student, is aged about 20 and from Somerset.

This kind of rescue is a regular occurrence on this stretch of river, and we get called out three to four times every year Chris Lloyd, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation

Mr Lloyd said the man got out of his canoe to walk it down river, when it got swept away.

"He jumped in to try and retrieve it before he too was swept a good half a mile down river," he added.

The man managed to grab hold of rocks to prevent himself going any further.

"He was very, very lucky as if he had gone over the Conwy Falls it would have been a different story," Mr Lloyd added.

Rescue teams then braved heavy rain and darkness to set up a rope rescue of the man who was trapped on "steep rocks with a raging torrent underneath".

'Shocked but unhurt'

"We were assisted by Betws y Coed fire service who illuminated the site, which was a big help," said Mr Lloyd.

In all, 20 Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation members were involved. A group from Imperial College, London, also took part, and one of their boats went missing after they were forced to abandon it due to their involvement.

"We got him out by 6.15 which was quite quick, and he was checked over by an ambulance crew, who found him shocked but unhurt," Mr Lloyd said.

The rescued man's canoe, and another one from the same group, are still missing.

"This kind of rescue is a regular occurrence on this stretch of river, and we get called out three to four times every year," said Mr Lloyd.

"There is a large pool before the bridge with a white marker which is noted in canoeing guides as the place this section finishes.

"Otherwise you face a 30-40 ft drop into the cascading falls, although very experienced canoeists do take that on too," he added.