A PENSIONER had to be stretchered back to safety after tumbling from a footpath near Abergynolwyn, narrowly avoiding an active railway line.

The 73-year-old, from the Nantwich area, fell on Saturday evening in “very poor” weather conditions from a path on the steep slopes leading to Gwernol train station and, because of the treacherous terrain, was unable to regain the path by herself.

Rescue volunteers from the Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team quickly rushed to the scene and assessed the casualty in position and found she showed no sign of obvious injury.

However, due to the nature of the fall and the extreme gradient, it was decided to raise the pensioner back up to the path by stretcher in order to ensure her safety.

Rope technicians rigged a hauling system from above the path to lift the woman back up the slope where she was successfully recovered.

“The woman had a very lucky escape,” said team member Graham O’Hanlon, who helped co-ordinate the rescue.

“If she had slipped a few metres more she would have hit the even steeper slope down onto the railway track, and the outcome might not have been so favourable.”

According to the rescue team, the casualty left the scene with a relative having been advised by team medics to seek further medical attention.