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Two women die in separate hiking accidents

Charlie Buckland
BBC News
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation A red and white coastguard helicopter lifting two people in the air on a winch from the mountains in Eryri National Park. The sky is blue with patches of sun hitting the grassy mountain range in the background. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue said a group of team members were dropped in by helicopter to help on 16 February

Two women have died in separate walking accidents in Eryri National Park in the past 10 days.

The walkers fell while hiking Glyder Fach and Tryfan mountain, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said.

One woman slipped on a patch of grass and fell approximately 32ft (10m) on 16 February, while the other woman fell around 65ft (20m) on 22 February.

The rescue team said: "The thoughts of all involved are with the casualties' families and friends, thank you to all the members of the public who tried to help."

On February 16 a couple were descending the main face of Glyder Fach when the woman slipped on a patch of grass and fell.

Her partner also fell while trying to reach her and suffered head and wrist injuries but managed to call for help and began CPR, a rescue spokesperson said.

In a statement, they added an air ambulance was unable to access the couple so they were reached by rescue teams on foot, but the woman did not survive.

The second woman was part of a group and fell around 65ft into steep terrain while ascending the north-ridge of Tryfan mountain on 22 February, which stands at at 917m (3,010ft).

Passers-by with climbing equipment abseiled down to make the woman safe, while a nearby team member started CPR, according to the rescue team.

The woman died from her injuries and she was brought down to the mountain rescue base.

Getty Images Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing. Hillary is dressed in blue padded trousers and top, with white mittens, and is wearing an oxygen mask and a pilot style leather helmet, behind him Norgay is in a yellow padded jacket with an oxygen mask and helmet. Both are wearing large rucksacks and the pair are roped together in the snow.Getty Images
Sir Edmund Hillary and his team used Tryfan mountain to test oxygen equipment and safety techniques before the first successful Everest climb

Tryfan is often described as a peak that marks the line between hiking and mountaineering and is difficult to navigate in a traditional manner, especially in poor weather.

With no marked footpaths to the summit, it requires using hands and scrambling skills to reach the top.

It was used as a training ground to test oxygen equipment and safety techniques before the first ever successful climb of Everest in 1953.

Chris Lloyd, chairman of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, has encouraged people to "check the weather forecast and make sure you are suitable equipped" before venturing on the mountains.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Mr Lloyd said: "The amount of times we are called because people have been caught out by darkness because they didn't bring a torch with them even though it's a really simple thing."

He said there is still snow on the top of the mountains at 3,000ft and described the rocks during the day as "greasy" due to damp in the air.