Aberdyfi Search And Rescue Team
  • Home
  • Callouts
  • Area Covered
  • Donations
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Login
  • The Team
  • Water

Big Saturday: Triple Trouble

28/9/2019

 
Picture

Rescue 1: Injured Biker
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday 28th September Call handlers from Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team received a request to assist an ambulance crew with the rescue of an injured motorcyclist near Happy Valley, Tywyn.

The man, in his late forties and from Northumbria, was part of a guided off-road motorbike group exploring a hill-track popular with green-lane groups when he came off his machine. Although the crash was at slow speed, the man landed badly and injured his shoulder.

A Team volunteer who lives locally was quickly on scene and made his way up the track on foot to meet the group, shortly followed by paramedics from a Welsh Ambulance Service crew. Other Team volunteers made their way to the scene with equipment as the man was being assessed, and after the provision for pain relief he was able to walk assisted down to a waiting Team vehicle and then to the ambulance for hospital transfer.

Rescue 2: Trapped Dog
At 1:30 p.m., as Team volunteers had just about stored all the equipment and were settling back into their Saturday, a second call was received, this time from the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), requesting assistance in accessing a dog trapped in old lead mine-workings at Dylife, south of Machynlleth. The rescue of animals is not strictly within the scope of the Team's operation, and for some animals, the capability of the equipment we use. Each request is assessed on it's own merits, and volunteers are made fully aware of the individual situation. In this case, the need for a technical rope system to access the old mine shaft provided an excellent training opportunity, and the dangerous steps that the owners had already taken to access the dog themselves, and would continue to do so, meant that there was a significant risk to human life if we declined to help.

At around 3:15 p.m. and just as the first volunteers were arriving on scene at Dylife, call handlers received word of another call-out, this time a walker with a leg injury on Cader Idris. The dog-rescue party was pared down to the minimum required to operate the system with the help of the fire crew already on scene, whilst one team vehicle and other volunteers still en route were diverted to Minffordd for the third rescue.

At Dylife, the lowering and raising system was rigged without issue, and a Team volunteer was lowered over the crumbling silty lip of the shaft to reach the dog on a ledge a few metres down, and above a much bigger drop. The dog, very pleased to see the red jacket, cooperated beautifully, and was quickly loaded into a bag for transport upwards. Both rescuer and dog were a little dirtier for their troubles, and while the dog was passed back to its owners, the rescuer was hosed-down courtesy of the FRS crew. Everyone was back roughly where they should be within the hour, with the Team volunteers making their way to support call-out No.3 at Minffordd.

Rescue 3: Ankle Injury on Cader Idris
The third incident involved a wild swimmer from London. The woman was one of many outdoor swimming enthusiasts due to take part in the Hurly Burly event which centres on a swim from Barmouth to Penmaenpool on the Mawddach Estuary. Unfortunately the event had been cancelled a couple of days earlier because of the prevailing and forecast bad weather, and the fact that the rivers were running at unusually high levels. However, with the time set aside, child-care in place and accommodation paid for, the woman and her friend had decided to come anyway and to make the most of the time set aside for their Snowdonia visit. Being wild-swimmers, they had already taken a dip in Tal y llyn, and following a recommendation, also swam in Llyn Cau, midway up Cader Idris. Unfortunately, the guidebook focused much on the lake and not so much on the terrain setting, and they were underprepared for the mountain environment in poor weather. The swim in Llyn Cau went well, though was described as "very cold", but shortly after leaving the water the woman went over on her ankle, and could no longer load-bear on it. Cold from the swim, and underprepared for a long wait in poor weather, there was also the risk of hypothermia setting in. Unable to get a phone signal ot the incident site, the woman's friend was forced to move further down the mountain to raise the alarm.

A small party of Team volunteers was despatched to locate the woman, and to assess and stabilise her injuries. She was placed in a group-shelter and given additional clothing to rewarm, but it was evident that she would be unable to walk off the mountain. Whilst inquiries were made about the availability of the Coastguard helicopter, R936, contingency plans were put in place to deal with the difficult stretcher carry down the Minffordd steps. As a number of Aberdyfi volunteers were still in transit from the dog rescue, a request for support was placed with the neighbouring team, South Snowdonia Search & Rescue. This ability to draw on skilled personnel, trained to a similar level and using similar equipment, in order to back-fill any under-resourced incidents makes for a highly robust and effective service, and is one of the great strengths of Mountain Rescue in England and Wales.

Fortunately R936 was available and able to fly in under the cloudbase and land close to the casualty. After a short stretcher-carry, the woman was loaded aboard and flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd for further assessment and treatment. Everyone was safely back at the carpark by 6:15 p.m.

Picture

Hip Injury at Dolgoch Falls

17/9/2019

 
​Shortly before 3:00 p.m. the Team received a request to assist a Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) crew assist an injured woman at Dolgoch Falls near Tywyn.

The 62 year old woman from Chirk was walking with her husband at the popular beauty spot when she slipped and fell on a rocky path midway up the falls. Her husband raised the alarm and she was initially attended by a WAST paramedic, while Team volunteers assembled the equipment required to remove her from the scene. Using a wheeled stretcher, Team members maneuvered the woman down the difficult ground to the waiting ambulance for transport to hospital based care.

Anxious Campers on Cader Idris

16/9/2019

 
Shortly before 6:30 a.m. call-handlers from the Team were made aware of two campers in distress on Cader Idris.

The couple, a man and woman in their 60s and 70s, had ascended the mountain from Minffordd on Sunday with the intent of staying out overnight. They encountered low cloud on the upper slopes and were unable to locate the summit hut. Wet and cold, they pitched their tent and spent an uncomfortable night on the hillside, but, increasingly anxious about their situation, they called for assistance shortly before dawn.

The pair were able to supply accurate information about their position, but were too anxious to use this information to get themselves down off the mountain. A small party of Team volunteers scaled the mountain and escorted the pair down to safety.

Everyone was back at vehicles by 11:40 a.m.

Injured Farmer at Rhiw Gam

14/9/2019

 
​Shortly before 2:00 p.m. the Team was made aware of a seriously injured man in the hills south of Machynlleth.

The man, a 69 year old farmer, had fallen down a bank from a hill track at Rhiw Gam, and had sustained suspected pelvic and spinal injuries. Early reports suggested that he had been knocked over by a cow.

Given the nature of the injuries, assistance was requested from the coastguard helicopter, Rescue 936. The winchman-paramedic was dropped at the scene, and together with Team volunteers, set about stabilising the casualty and getting him onto a stretcher while R936 landed further down the valley. The man was carried a short distance to a position suitable for winching him aboard the helicopter and then transport to Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth for further assessment and treatment.

Everyone was safely off the hill by 4:30 p.m.
Picture

Missing Woman on Cader Idris

13/9/2019

 
Shortly before 7:00 p.m. Team call-handlers were made aware of reports that an elderly woman was missing on Cader Idris.

The woman became separated from her husband, both in their 70's while they were descending the Pony Path. The husband waited at Ty Nant, the bottom of the path, but after 1 1/2 hours had elapsed he raised the alarm.

North Wales Police officers and Mountain Rescue volunteers started coordinating a plan, and two passing walkers offered to keep an eye out for the woman as they made their way up the mountain to camp. The husband pointed out her last known position to the walkers and commented that she could have taken an alternative path heading down toward the youth hostel.

Having reached their proposed campsite, the two walkers dumped their equipment and decided to check this alternative route. They fortunately located the woman in a ditch, where she had fallen and injured her ribs. While one of the men stayed with the injured woman, the other descended the mountain to inform rescuers, and the lady was assisted down off the mountain.

Everyone was safely down off the mountain by 8:30 p.m., although the walkers then headed back up the mountain to get on with their camping trip.

Team spokesperson Graham O'Hanlon recognised the contribution made by the passing walkers; "We'd like to say thanks to a great pair of lads who selflessly gave of their time to help a fellow walker. Without their efforts we could have been looking at an entirely different outcome."

Flashing Lights Above Fairbourne

7/9/2019

 
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. the team was made aware of reports of a flashing light seen on the hills above Fairbourne.

The 
Informant  reported seeing a flashing light in the approximate  direction of Blue Lake and lasting for about  20 min. 

A Team volunteer drove to Fairbourne, but was unable to spot any lights on the hillside. With reasonable phone coverage in the area and no calls for help received , it was concluded to be a false alarm with good intention, and likely due to torch light from people enjoying the night-time hills.

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011