With resources tied up in the first incident, our neighbours at North East Wales Search & Rescue agreed to attend this second job. In the event, the man managed to self rescue shortly afterwards, and NEWSAR was stood down.
As the Team was deploying to Abergynolwyn to attend an incident, a second call-out was received, describing a man trapped in a ravine near Llangynog.
With resources tied up in the first incident, our neighbours at North East Wales Search & Rescue agreed to attend this second job. In the event, the man managed to self rescue shortly afterwards, and NEWSAR was stood down. At around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday 16th March, Call-Handlers from the Team were made aware of a man with an injured leg on Tarren y Gesail, above Abergynolwyn.
The 64 year old man from Somerset had sustained an ankle injury following a slip whilst fell-running and was unable to load-bear on the injured leg. A hasty party, which included a Team volunteer who farms land in the area, was able to utilise hill tracks to drive to within a kilometer of the casualty as other volunteers made their way to the incident. The man's ankle was splinted, and the casualty was stretchered over boggy ground down to the trail head for transport down the hill in a Team vehicle. The injured man was driven to Ysbwty Gwynedd by friends for further treatment. Everyone was safely off the hill by 5:30 p.m. Shortly before 9:30 p.m. Call-Handlers for the Team were made aware of a vulnerable male claiming to be on Cader Idris.
As enquiries were ongoing, Cheshire Police reported that the man's vehicle had been located near the home address in Macclesfield, and that his phone had connected to the network in the same area within the previous 2 hours. On the basis of available information, the Police determined that is was highly unlikely that the man was in North Wales, and the incident was closed just before 11:00 p.m. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Friday Feb 16th, Call-Handlers for the Team were made aware of a party of walkers lost on Cader Idris
The party of 5, aged between 17 and 22 became concerned at the failing light and called for assistance. Using Phonefind protocols to quiz the walkers' smartphones, the Call-Handler was able to quickly locate the party and guide them remotely to ensure they got safely down off the mountain. A family member was then able to collect the group when they reached tarmac. At around 4:40 p.m., call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a group of walkers lost on Cader Idris.
The party of 3 had drifted off their route whilst descending from the summit on the Pony Path. With darkness encroaching, they opted to call for assistance. Using the Phonefind protocols, call-handlers were able to quickly pinpoint the group's location on the mountain. Using features on the ground, the men were guided remotely to help them re-find the path, and their progress was monitored by Phonefind. Being otherwise uninjured and equipped with suitable clothing and torches, the party was then able to exit the mountain under their own steam. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Team call-handlers were made aware of two walkers sheltering in the summit hut on Cader Idris.
The two men, unprepared for the navigational demands and the prevailing weather, and with little or no contingency for an extended stay on the mountain, had asked for assistance having exhausted themselves. Having made two attempts to navigate off the summit, and faced with gale force winds and encroaching dark, the men made the wise decision to return to the hut and call for assistance. Given the poor weather forecast overnight and into the following day, and with two underprepared walkers who's condition could easily deteriorate, the decision was made to send a party of seven Team volunteers to assist them off the mountain. With winds of up 70 mph forecast, the Team followed a slightly less convenient, but more sheltered route to reach the stranded pair. After being provided with warm drinks and extra clothing, the pair were walked down off the mountain. Everyone was safely back at vehicles by 01:15 a.m. the following morning 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. |
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