RAF helicopter rescues Huddersfield man on Snowdon

Mar 10 2009 by Claire Hayes, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A WALKER from Huddersfield was rescued from an ice-covered 500ft cliff on Snowdon.

The man in his 20s was found uninjured in the middle of a gale on the Welsh mountain.

He phoned for help on his mobile after becoming stuck below the mountain’s Crib Goch ridge.

An RAF Sea King rescue helicopter based at Valley on Anglesey plucked him to safety.

Rescuers said the man had not been wearing crampons although he did have an ice axe with him.

He had called for help at 9am on Sunday after setting off at 6.30am to scale the mountain.

He was intending to reach the summit but got into difficulties as conditions worsened.

A spokesman for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, which turned out to help the walker, said although he had an ice axe he was not wearing crampons, and this caused him to lose his footing.