Trio of walkers from London have lucky escape after getting stuck on cliff in Snowdonia

A trio of walkers had a lucky escape after getting stuck on a cliff on Snowdonia.

Mountain rescuers were called to Glyder Fawr at around 6.30pm yesterday evening after three people from London became trapped on a difficult climbing route.

It is believed they had climbed Tryfan in the morning before continuing over the Glyderau and trying to descend Seniors Ridge.

A large team was deployed into Cwm Idwal as part of the rescue operation just as the HM Coastguard helicopter located the stuck group.

Unfortunately, they were unable to be winched to safety as the pilot believed the air from the rotor blade would blow them from the cliff.

Explaining how the rescue unfolded, a spokesperson for the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said: “The team climbed to the climbers descent of Idwal Slabs before pitching a fixed handrail almost 300m long to access a point above the casualties.

“A technical rope system was used to lower team members to the group and raise them all back up.

“By now extremely cold and wet, the casualties were placed in warm clothing, given torches, secured to the handrail and confidence roped back up to an abseil point at the climbers descent.

“Once down to safe ground, everyone then walked out through now swollen streams back to Ogwen Cottage at 1.30am to be met by the casualties’ family who, on hearing of the callout, arrived with hot drinks and food for the team.

“A lucky escape for this group – two team members bet against each other that it had to be climbers as no walkers could get there without falling.”

Pictures by Dave Brown, Marty Wall and Karl Lester.