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| Ice fall rescue 'huge challenge' | Ice fall rescue 'huge challenge' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Mountain rescue teams say an operation to rescue an injured climber in Snowdonia was one of the hardest they have encountered. | Mountain rescue teams say an operation to rescue an injured climber in Snowdonia was one of the hardest they have encountered. |
| The Cardiff man in his 20s fell 40m (130ft) while ice climbing at Cwm Idwal on Saturday, breaking a leg and ankle. | |
| An experienced and well-equipped climber, he only survived after his female climbing partner managed to arrest the fall with his safety rope. | An experienced and well-equipped climber, he only survived after his female climbing partner managed to arrest the fall with his safety rope. |
| She was praised for keeping cool and supporting him throughout the rescue. | She was praised for keeping cool and supporting him throughout the rescue. |
| He remained trapped in a gully until members of the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team lowered him to safety. | He remained trapped in a gully until members of the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team lowered him to safety. |
| "It was probably the most interesting, dramatic and challenging rescues I've been involved in 30 years," said Chris Lloyd, from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. | "It was probably the most interesting, dramatic and challenging rescues I've been involved in 30 years," said Chris Lloyd, from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue. |
| Chris Lloyd, of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said the operation was tricky. | |
| "It was very difficult working in confined spaces, with everything covered in thick powder snow, which meant it was hard to see what you were standing on, and to find safe rope anchor points." | "It was very difficult working in confined spaces, with everything covered in thick powder snow, which meant it was hard to see what you were standing on, and to find safe rope anchor points." |
| The climber, who was described as well-equipped and experienced, had been on an ice climb known as Devil's Cellar at Devil's Kitchen in Cwm Idwal. | The climber, who was described as well-equipped and experienced, had been on an ice climb known as Devil's Cellar at Devil's Kitchen in Cwm Idwal. |
| He had been climbing with a female partner, both from a south Wales mountaineering club. | He had been climbing with a female partner, both from a south Wales mountaineering club. |
| Rescuers said the man had almost reached the top of the 40m climb when "something went wrong". | Rescuers said the man had almost reached the top of the 40m climb when "something went wrong". |
| "Perhaps the ice broke off," speculated Mr Lloyd. | "Perhaps the ice broke off," speculated Mr Lloyd. |
| "But whatever happened, he fell 40m. His partner managed to hold him, and made her way down to him." | "But whatever happened, he fell 40m. His partner managed to hold him, and made her way down to him." |
| Four other climbers in the area came to their aid, and two went for help. | Four other climbers in the area came to their aid, and two went for help. |
| The mountain rescue team was alerted at around 17.00 GMT, and its first members reached the pair by 18.30, in the dark and arctic conditions. | The mountain rescue team was alerted at around 17.00 GMT, and its first members reached the pair by 18.30, in the dark and arctic conditions. |
| A sea-king rescue helicopter from 22 Squadron at RAF Valley also joined the operation, but were unable to winch the fallen climber from the gully. | A sea-king rescue helicopter from 22 Squadron at RAF Valley also joined the operation, but were unable to winch the fallen climber from the gully. |
| The rescue happened near Devil's Kitchen in freezing temperatures | |
| "The guy was still in the gully, but because of the downdraft and the spindrift of snow it was too dangerous to winch him out," explained Mr Lloyd. | "The guy was still in the gully, but because of the downdraft and the spindrift of snow it was too dangerous to winch him out," explained Mr Lloyd. |
| 'Star of the rescue' | 'Star of the rescue' |
| "Instead, we had to lower him down another 600ft (182m), down scree covered in thick snow. We could then get him on board the helicopter and he was taken to hospital." | "Instead, we had to lower him down another 600ft (182m), down scree covered in thick snow. We could then get him on board the helicopter and he was taken to hospital." |
| The injured man was finally flown to Bangor at around 22.00 GMT. | The injured man was finally flown to Bangor at around 22.00 GMT. |
| The mountain rescue team also paid tribute to the efforts of his climbing partner. Throughout the rescue, the woman, also in her 20s stayed with him. | The mountain rescue team also paid tribute to the efforts of his climbing partner. Throughout the rescue, the woman, also in her 20s stayed with him. |
| "She was a complete star in this rescue," added Mr Lloyd. | "She was a complete star in this rescue," added Mr Lloyd. |
| "She stayed with him, was very cool and calm, reassuring and very supportive. | "She stayed with him, was very cool and calm, reassuring and very supportive. |
| "She must have been absolutely freezing." | "She must have been absolutely freezing." |