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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Steve Bagnall

Young man dies after 60-metre fall from Welsh cliff as Storm Corrie approached

A man plunged 60 metres from a Welsh mountain to his death on Sunday as a storm bared down on him.

The 25-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, fells off the cliffs of Glyder Fach on the south side of the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia at around midday.

Mountain rescue teams, North Wales Police and a coastguard rescue helicopter were scrambled to the scene, the Daily Post reported.

Despite their efforts, and those of two other climbers on the mountain face, the man could not be saved.

An Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson said: "Shortly after midday, the team leader was alerted by North Wales Police of a serious incident on the cliffs of Glyder Fach, on the south side of the Ogwen Valley.

The man fell on Glyder Fach in Snowdonia (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"They had received a call reporting that a 25-year-old male, had fallen 60 metres from the rock face, down into West Gully.

"The caller and two climbers who were local to the incident had made their way into the gully. They found the seriously injured casualty unconscious.

"On receipt of the call from North Wales Police, the team leader immediately requested the assistance of the coastguard’s helicopter, Rescue 936 based at Caernarfon as well as alerting members of the mountain rescue team.

"The helicopter was able to fly past the cliffs but due to low cloud was unable to conduct a rescue.

"He therefore collected two parties of five and six team members and flew them to Cwm Bochlwyd, just below the cliff.

"They made there way up the steep and loose screes to West Gully, where a small party of six climbed to the incident site."

According to the rescue team, the casualty died at the scene.

"Therefore the urgency was to get his climbing partner (also 25) and the two climbers who had stopped to assist, from the mountain," the OVMRT spokesperson said.

"By now the weather was beginning to deteriorate with the oncoming forecasted storm.

Emergency service workers from several bodies were called in to help (DAILY POST WALES)

"These three were able to abseil 70 metres down the rescue team’s ropes, supervised by team members."

They were then taken from the mountain to the rescue group's base, a mile away along the valley.

"Meanwhile, the rescue party hauled up a stretcher and secured the casualty," the spokesperson continued,.

"The stretcher was carefully lowered down this very loose gully with the team member trying to avoid dislodging rocks down the gully.

"By now, the strong gusting winds were blowing team members off their feet and also dislodging rocks.

"Additional resources were requested from Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team to assist with the long stretcher carry.

"They deployed 11 members, who met the Ogwen stretcher party at the base of the screes in the boulder field at the back of the Cwm. They carried the stretcher from the mountain, assisted by fresh Ogwen personnel.

"At the roadside, the casualty was handed over to North Wales Police. Team members returned to OVMRT Base after 10 hours on the mountain.

"Whilst the cause of this accident has yet to be investigated, it seems extremely unfortunate. Our thoughts are with the casualty’s family, his climbing partner and the two men who witnessed and assisted at the initial stages.

"Our thanks to the members of Llanberis MRT for their assistance."

Wales was lashed with strong winds of more than 50mph yesterday thanks to Storm Corrie, although the worst of the weather hit during the night.

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