​At shortly before 3:30 p.m., call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a woman experiencing neurological issues in the summit hut on Cader Idris

The woman and her walking partner had left the Minffordd car-park at around 11:00 a.m. and had made it to the summit. At some point the woman reportedly lost her vision, and was carried by her friend to the summit hut.

With slurred speech and nausea reported, there was the possibility that the woman was having a stroke, a time-critical issue requiring early intervention to give the best chance of a good outcome. With this in mind, a request for assistance from the Coastguard helicopter R936 was placed. In the meantime Team members started making their way up to the summit in order to back up the request and start stabilising the situation if required.

The aircraft landed on the summit plateau, and after assessing the casualty, both she and her friend were flown to Bangor hospital for further tests and treatment.

​Everyone was off the hill by 7:15 p.m.

​Shortly after 2:30 p.m., call-handlers from the Team were made aware of an injured walker on Aran Fawddwy.

The 52 year-old woman, who had slipped and injured her ankle, was discovered by passing walkers who were able to raise the alarm.

The Coast-guard helicopter, Rescue936, was training in the area and was able to be on scene very quickly, greatly speeding up the rescue from this remote location. After initial assessment, the lady was flown to Bronglais hospital for further treatment.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m., call-handlers from the Team were made aware of an overdue fell runner on Cader Idris.

The man had set out at 4:30 p.m. and had expected to be 90 minutes. Friends following his tracker online noted that it disappeared as he traversed the saddle between Pen y Gader and Mynydd Moel. With visibility poor on the mountain, the alarm was raised.

​As the Team was preparing to deploy, the man was found, safe and well, by his anxious friends.

Shortly before 5:00 p.m.  call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a party of crag-fast walkers on Cader Idris.

The group of four walkers and their dog had stated from Minffordd carpark around lunchtime with the intention of reaching the summit. They had opted to take the route known as the "Stone Chute" from Llyn Cau up to the ridge-line. This is a steep and loose track that ends in a scramble up an awkward, steep and slippery rock step close to the rim of the cwm. Finding this last section well beyond their ability, and assuming that this meant that they had lost the path, the group lost confidence, and with deteriorating weather and failing daylight, they called for assistance.

Using Phone-find technology, call-handlers were able to pinpoint the group's position, and a small hill-party was dispatched to help them off the mountain.  The Team deployed via Llanfihangle Y Pennant, making use of the farm tracks to drive close to Pencoed Barn, before transferring on to foot to reach the lost party. 

The group was located just below the "bad step" at the top of the stone chute path and, although a little cold and shaken by their experience, were still in good spirits. After being provided with warm drinks, food and warm, dry clothing, the walkers were assisted up the difficult section using a confidence rope along with assistance and encouragement from the rescue party. A secure harness was created for Penny the dog, who needed to be carried up this last section.  Once on better ground, out of the wind and moving downhill again, the group started to warm up. The party reached Team vehicles about an hour later, and everyone was safely don at the road by 10:40 p.m.

​Shortly after midday the Team was made aware of fell-runner with an ankle injury in the hills above Abergynolwyn.
A couple had been trail-running the forestry tracks near the village when the 34 year old woman fell and sustained a suspected lower leg fracture. Her clothing was suitable for running in wet and windy conditions but once stationary and injured the casualty cooled rapidly. Her partner had to leave her to find phone signal and raise the alarm.  

The informant has a relative on the Team, a local farmer and himself a keen runner, so after calling 999 and requesting assistance he called the relative directly. Living locally and farming the surrounding land, he was quickly on scene with a 4x4 vehicle and detailed knowledge of the forest tracks. The Team's technical rope rescue group was just packing up from a training session, so these team members were also able to respond very quickly.  The casualty was assessed, given pain relief and the injured leg was splinted. She was placed on stretcher and transported by 4x4 vehicle along forest tracks to the road-head, where she was handed over to the care of her partner who took her to hospital for further assessment and treatment.

As part of the multi-agency preparations for the potential consequences of Storm Eunice, the Team was stood-by at home in readiness to assist other agencies with flood rescue and any other incidents.

Fortunately, the worst case scenario in terms of flooding events was not realised, although there was structural damage across the area. The Team was involved in assisting North Wales Fire and Rescue Service as they evacuated a damaged building in Tywyn and transferred its occupants to a refuge centre.

​At approximately 3:45 p.m. call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a group of 4 walkers in difficulty close to the summit of Cader Idris.  

The party, originally part of a larger group, had set out from Minffordd earlier in the day. The poor weather conditions meant that some of the group turned back before reaching the summit. The others pressed-on despite poor visibility, strong winds, heavy rain and hail storms, and whilst traversing the summit plateau one of the party started to succumb to hypothermia and was unable to continue. At this point the group called for assistance

While the call-handlers were making initial investigations and formulating a plan, a team member, out walking for the day, had “by chance stumbled into the group” which speeded up the process greatly. Phone-find technology was used to pinpoint the location of the group, and the affected walker was reported to be slipping in and out of consciousness.

Immediate action by the lone Aberdyfi Team member, who was not carrying Team equipment but making do with his personal kit, helped protect the deteriorating male from the harsh weather on the summit as the rescue was initiated. The casualty's three companions also began to deteriorate in the extremely poor conditions and the decision was made to direct the three back to the shelter at the summit where they would be out of the worst of the weather.

Given the time of day, location prevailing conditions and potential complications in managing an unresponsive hypothermic patient, requests for assistance were made to South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team and the H.M. Coastguard helicopter, Rescue936.

Local weather conditions meant that Rescue936 could not reach the casualty site, and instead transported a small hasty part way up the south side of the mountain. A second hasty party backed up by two stretcher parties made their way on-foot up the Pony Path  from Ty Nant.

Team members assessed the first casualty, getting him ready for the stretcher party following on shortly behind. Meanwhile, having been given dry warm clothes, food and warm drinks, the party of three were collected from the summit hut and reunited with the first casualty for the journey off the mountain. 

Moving faster than the stretcher, the summit hut-party emerged from the cloud-base first and the group was transported down the rest of the way by Rescue936. The helicopter returned to pick up the stretcher party, now stopped as the casualty was in an increasingly critical condition. Some skilful flying meant that the stretcher could be winched onboard and the casualty was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd for further assessment and treatment.

All team members were safely accounted for and heading home at 1:00 a.m.

In total, 31 mountain rescue volunteers spent around 270 hours performing this rescue.

Our thanks again to South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team and HM Coastguard Rescue936 and crew from Caernarfon.

At around 2:30 p.m. call-handlers were made aware of a walker with an ankle injury at the north end of Lake Vyrnwy.

The 77 year old woman had been walking with her husband along the green route from the car-park to the waterfall when she injured her ankle. With no phone signal it was some time before they were discovered and the alarm raised. Fortunately, one of those who discovered her was an off-duty paramedic who remained on scene and continued her role as MR resources arrived on scene. The woman was evacuated by stretcher back to the car-park and handed over to a waiting ambulance for further assessment and treatment. 

Given the location, members of South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team also attended the rescue.

At around 3:30 p.m. Team call-handlers were made aware of two walkers lost on Cader Idris.

The couple had been attempting the Welsh 3-Peaks, and had started the Cader Idris section of their journey at 6:00 a.m. Following the Minffordd Path, they had summited, but opting to follow the loop around via Mynydd Moel, they had become lost and disorientated on their descent, ending up on the crags of Craig Cwmrhwyddfor. With little in the way of food, drink or equipment suited to the conditions, they recognised their predicament and requested assistance.

Although there was initially some difficulty in contacting the group by phone, a phonefind message was able to locate their position. When contact was eventually established, the pair were cold, wet and in in some distress.

​A hasty party and back-up party were dispatched from Cwm Rhwyddfor farm and quickly made contact with the walkers. The pair were in poor shape having had little or nothing to eat all day, and were wet through and very cold. After initial assessments and the addition of extra clothing  and food, a walk off was attempted. Plans were put in place to conduct a stretcher evacuation should it be required, but after initial concerns, the process of getting the pair moving again helped the situation, no further intervention was required, and the pair were escorted down off the mountain under their own steam.

​Everyone was safely off the hill by 7:00 p.m.

At around 2:45 p.m. call-handlers from the Team were made aware of a walker with an ankle injury on Cader Idris.

The male student, part of a group from a local outdoor education centre, had slipped on the lower slopes of the Pony Path above Ty Nant, and was unable to load-bear on the injured leg.

In deteriorating weather, groups of Team volunteers made their way to the casualty whilst colleagues from South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team (SSSRT) were put on standby in case greater numbers were required for the evacuation. In the event, the numbers on-scene proved sufficient for the stretcher-carry off the hill and SSSRT were stood-down.

Everyone was safely off the hill by 6:15 p.m., and the casualty-party made their own arrangements for seeking further assessment and hospital treatment.