Rescue operation launched after inexperienced group tries to climb Snowdonia peak with no map or compass

A rescue operation was launched earlier today after nine friends attempted to climb one of Snowdonia’s best known peaks without equipment.

The group, who had no experience of mountaineering, tried to scale Tryfan after spotting it from the roadside whilst travelling to North Wales.

Rescuers said they did so with no route in mind and without a map with them.

While three of the the group gave up early on, two of them went on ahead and reached the summit, leaving four more to climb up slowly.

The pair at the top of the peak phoned the group of four and advised them to head back, which is when they got into difficulty.

The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team said: “With no map or compass they strayed onto the west face where one of the group with a history of panic attacks subsequently had one and couldn’t breathe properly.

“A hill party deployed to the casualty group and moved them slowly back to the North Ridge before the coastguard rescue helicopter from St Athan became available after a rescue on Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon.

“R187 was able to winch the hyperventilating casualty aboard, fly him down to Oggie Base while the hill party continued to walk the remaining group back down to the roadside.”