Just after midnight on Monday 28th September, call handlers from Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team received a request to assist Dyfed Powys Police in a search for two walkers missing in the hills south of Machynlleth.

The lightly equipped pair had set out on a fine and sunny afternoon to walk to Pistyll y Llyn and Llyn Penrheaedr near Glaspwll. At some point they became lost and spent 10 hours roaming the hills trying to find their way back. Eventually, cold and tired, they rang the Police for mountain rescue assistance.

Volunteers from the Team made their way to Machynlleth as attempts to contact the casualties continued unsuccessfully. With little clue as to the probable location of the walkers, and with clear still conditions prevailing, it was decided to deploy the National Police Air Service helicopter to help sweep the large expanses of terrain in question.

Shortly after 2:00 a.m. the helicopter reported that the pair had been sighted at a position close to a road, and that a Police patrol car had been dispatched to collect them.

With the situation back in the hands of the Police, the Team was stood down, though many of the volunteers would not see their beds much before 3:00 a.m. As such they got a fine view of the supermoon eclipse!

At around 4:40 p.m., call handlers were contacted by Dyfed Powys Police with a request to help in the rescue of an injured walker in the hills south of Machynlleth.

The 58 year old man was following the Glyndwr Way north towards the town when he slipped and badly injured his right ankle.

The walker had been able to supply an accurate grid reference for his location and so Team members living and working close by were quickly on scene. They were  able to assess and reasure the casualty as members from further afield arrived and the appropriate equipment was brought to the location.

The man was given pain relief before being carried by stretcher to an awaiting Team Landrover and driven down to meet an ambulance in Machynlleth. Everyone was down off the hill by 8:00 p.m.