In the news

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday 11th Aug, call-handlers from Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were made aware of a solo walker struggling in the heat on Cader Idris.

The man, in his early 50’s, had summited the mountain and was descending via Mynydd Moel, when he started to feel nauseous, unstable and exhausted.

Having confirmed his position with phone-find technology, and with an estimated hour before a team could reach him, it was suggested that he continue down the fence-line on the exposed mountain side as best he could, and find some shade amongst the stone walls lower down. When rechecked by phone-find he had got as far as the bottom stile on Mynydd Moel and was resting again.

An advance party of two Team volunteers reached the man shortly after he had reached this lower position, and were able to start the process of shading and cooling. In the meantime, other Team members brought up key equipment for the evacuation. When confident that the man was stable, he was carried by stretcher to the slate bridge at the top of the Minffordd steps. The stream was put to good use in cooling him further and his general condition improved to the point that he opted to try walking down under his own steam. This proved successful and everyone was safely off the mountain by 7:40 p.m.

Team member Graham O’Hanlon helped co-ordinate the rescue. “Heat related illness poses a significant and serious risk to everyone, including our Team volunteers. It is really important that people venturing onto the hills under the current high temperatures dress appropriately, carry sufficient water, and set themselves realistic goals about what can be achieved during the prevailing conditions. The mountain will always be there on another, cooler, day.”