Shortly before mid-day , the Team was requested to assist the Welsh Ambulance Service recover a 50 year old off-road motorcyclist who had come off his bike in forestry near Llangadfan. The scene was also attended by Dyfed-Powys Police Officers and the Welsh Air Ambulance helicopter.
Shortly before midday, Team call-handlers were made aware of a male experiencing medical issues on Cader Idris.
The 66 year old man was part of a larger group starting their day up the Minffordd Path. As they made their ascent, the man became unwell and group members raised the alarm. A Team casualty-carer was dispatched to meet the group and, with the casualty much improved, see them safely back to the carpark. Advice was given to casualty to consult with his own G.P. At around 8:00 p.m., call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a party of lost walkers on Cader Idris.
Using smartphone protocols to quiz the caller's phone for location information, the lost pair were identified as being on the edge of the crags south of Mynydd Moel summit. As a hill party made their way up to intercept the group, the walkers were given clear instructions about how to regain the path, and their progress was monitored remotely. The lost walkers were able to make progress in the correct direction, and were met by Team volunteers as the proceeded downwards. Everyone was safely off the mountain by 11:30 p.m. At around 3:45 p.m., Team call-handlers were made aware of a seriously injured mountain-biker near Machynlleth.
A local 19 year old male rider hit a tree at speed on a steep track at Dyfi Bike Park, Pantperthog, and sustained multiple injuries. The casualty's location was in difficult terrain and so the Team was called to assist with the extraction. Moving and packaging the casualty for transport was complicated by the nature of the injuries and significant pain levels. This, combined with difficulty of access for an ambulance, meant that support from the Coastguard helicopter, Rescue936, and their paramedics was requested. The aircraft managed to land close-by and paramedics were able to stabilize the injuries sufficiently to enable the Team to operate; using a rope system the stretcher was raised to a nearby forest track and then carried to the aircraft for transport to hospital. Everyone was down off the hills shortly after 8:00 p.m. At around 5:15 p.m., Team call-handlers were alerted to an unwell walker on Cader Idris.
The 86 year old man was part of a group on the latter stages of their circular walk on the mountain. Whilst descending the fence line from Mynydd Moel back to Minffordd car park, he had become increasingly unsteady on his feet and was deemed unsafe to continue by the group leader. Due to the age of the male and concern for his welfare the group leader called for help. The Team deployed a hasty party of three casualty carers to the group's location. A second wave with stretcher and additional equipment followed up behind. Following a medical assessment, Team members provided assistance and reassurance as they slowly escorted the casualty and group back down to Minffordd car park. All team members were off the hill by 10:20pm At around 1:20 p.m. the Team was requested by the Welsh Ambulance Service to assist in the recovery of a male who had suffered a medical incident at Dyfi Bike Park near Machynlleth.
Everyone was off the hill by 3:40 p.m. Shortly before 2:00 p.m., the Team received a request from our neighbours at Brecon MRT for assistance in reaching an injured mountain-biker at the Bwlch Nant yr Arian trail-centre; a significant drive for both Teams.
The closest available volunteers deployed directly to the scene and were able to assist Welsh Ambulance Service crews attending the injured woman. Everyone was safely off the hill shortly after 4:00 p.m. Aberdyfi and Brecon MRT personnel then diverted to Cader Idris to assist in a further incident. Shortly before 4:30 p.m. Team call-handlers were made aware of a walker with an injured ankle on Cader Idris, the third incident of the day.
With our vehicles and available volunteers underway, along with resources from our neighbours at South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team, to attend an incident at Lake Vyrnwy, it looked like the injured woman might be in for a long wait. Fortunately the first incident of the day was closing down, freeing up both Aberdyfi volunteers, and those from Brecon MRT who kindly diverted from their long journey home to provide further assistance. Coastguard helicopter Rescue936, en route to the casualty at Lake Vyrnwy, was able to divert to Cader Idris to provide a quick pick-off rescue, delivering the casualty to the landing zone at the foot of the mountain before continuing onwards to lake Vyrnwy. The woman was transported by family and friends to seek further treatment. Shortly before 4:00 p.m. Team call handlers were made aware of a walker with an ankle injury at the head of Lake Vyrnwy.
Team vehicles and volunteers were dispatched to the location, a significant drive from our bases, and with some personnel already committed to an incident at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, a request for support was placed with South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team to bolster numbers. The injured woman was attended to by MR casualty carers before being flown by Coastguard Rescue936 to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor for further assessment and treatment. Everyone was safely off the hill by 7:30 p.m. Shortly before 4:30 p.m., Team call-handlers were informed of concerns raised over an out-of-contact walker.
The woman was walking a 9-day long distance route moving north through the Eryri National Park. Her last known position was camping near the summit of Cader Idris on Sunday evening: some 40 hours previous, and she had failed to make contact from that point onwards. Given the elapsed time, the potential search area was significant, and it was unclear whether she was indeed in any trouble at all. Enquiries were made with the national park ranger service with regard to abandoned tents in the area, but nothing conclusive was forthcoming. The following day, one of the rangers reported the sighting of a lone female, well north of our area, who seemed to fit the description of the "missing" woman. With a degree of evidence that the walker was no longer in our area, and she was potentially doing no more than having switched her phone off, or having a flat battery, the Team was stood down. |
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