Mountain rescuer has tyres let down while training in Snowdonia in suspected vigilante attack

A mountain rescuer has had their tyres deliberately deflated while training in Snowdonia.

The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team believes the act may have been carried out by a vigilante aiming to deter visitors from the area during the coronavirus lockdown.

It took place despite the team member sticking to the rules by exercising within a short distance of their home.

Police are now looking into the incident following similar cases nearby.

The rescue team said: “With the continued restrictions and closures in Snowdonia and Wales in general, team members have had to get a little creative when it comes to training and fitness.

“The mountain closures and travel limits, quite rightly, apply to us too and we sympathise with people’s frustrations towards anyone flouting the rules.

“Unfortunately, while a team member was training on an open area of hills, they had a tyre let down on their parked vehicle.

“They were following all the government advice on travel and exercise and had driven a short distance from their home.

“Clearly this illegal and has safety implications beyond the frustration of changing a wheel.

“Current team policy is for team members to travel to an incident in their own vehicles, so on occasion there will be unfamiliar vehicles parking in and around villages in Snowdonia.

“The incident has been reported to North Wales Police who are taking an active interest in this type of incident (anecdotally there have been similar incidents recently.)

“The police can only act on incidents which have been reported so we urge anyone who has had a similar experience to report it to as soon as practical.”

Some comments on Facebook asked whether rescuers displayed any stickers in their vehicles to identify them.

The rescue team replied: “Many team members do have MR signs, but that’s not really the point.”