(Stock Photo) At about 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday 12th August, call handlers from Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were made aware of two missing walkers on Aran Fawddwy.
The two male walkers, aged 21 and 6, were part of a family party of five from London. The group had set out at around 4:00 p.m. from Cwm Cycwarch to climb Aran Fawddwy. Becoming disorientated on the tops, the group ended up on steep ground at the head of the valley, and the two missing walkers had separated from the rest of the party to find another path as the others started descending the steep hill side. When the two failed to reappear at the valley floor, the alarm was raised at a nearby farm house.
Although it was a still August evening, the clear sky meant that the temperature dropped quickly, and there was great concern for the missing party given the age of the youngest, and the fact that neither had any clothing or equipment suitable for the mountain environment.
A likely search area was identified, and parties of rescuers set off up the hill. The Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 936, was also made available, and began a sweep of the hilltops using an infra-red camera. At 12:30 a.m. Rescue 936 identified two targets near to one of the Aberdyfi search groups, was able to pick up the two walkers, and deposited them, cold but unharmed, back to their waiting family on the valley floor.
The Search Parties started making their way back down off the mountain, and although everyone was off the mountain by 2:00 a.m. a number of rescuers would not see their bed much before 3:00m a.m.
The two male walkers, aged 21 and 6, were part of a family party of five from London. The group had set out at around 4:00 p.m. from Cwm Cycwarch to climb Aran Fawddwy. Becoming disorientated on the tops, the group ended up on steep ground at the head of the valley, and the two missing walkers had separated from the rest of the party to find another path as the others started descending the steep hill side. When the two failed to reappear at the valley floor, the alarm was raised at a nearby farm house.
Although it was a still August evening, the clear sky meant that the temperature dropped quickly, and there was great concern for the missing party given the age of the youngest, and the fact that neither had any clothing or equipment suitable for the mountain environment.
A likely search area was identified, and parties of rescuers set off up the hill. The Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 936, was also made available, and began a sweep of the hilltops using an infra-red camera. At 12:30 a.m. Rescue 936 identified two targets near to one of the Aberdyfi search groups, was able to pick up the two walkers, and deposited them, cold but unharmed, back to their waiting family on the valley floor.
The Search Parties started making their way back down off the mountain, and although everyone was off the mountain by 2:00 a.m. a number of rescuers would not see their bed much before 3:00m a.m.