Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team has had two callouts in two days in virtually identical weather conditions to locations a few hundred metres apart.

On Tuesday the team was called to a group lost on Cader Idris. The party - a father, his nine-year-old son and their eight-month-old dog had been attempting to reach the summit of the mountain but turned back because of the extremely poor weather conditions.

However, whilst retracing their steps they missed the route off the mountain and got lost in low cloud and high wind amongst the scree and boulder-fields on the slopes of Cyfrwy.

Realising the difficulty they were in and their proximity to the cliff faces, they called for assistance.

With an approximate location, a team of volunteers made their way to the area and quickly located the party, aided greatly by the barking of the dog.

A little shaken by the experience but otherwise uninjured, the group was given some food and extra clothing before being walked down off the mountain. Everyone was safely off the hill by 6.15pm.

Shortly before midday on Wednesday the team was made aware of a man with an injured ankle in a similar location.

The man in his 50s had lost footing in the high wind and poor visibility, and had sustained a suspected broken ankle. In an exposed position high on the mountain, he also began to get very cold. Passing walkers provided clothing and shelter as the team initiated its response.

A party was deployed to locate and stabilise the casualty, while a second wave of volunteers gathered the heavier equipment to deal with the evacuation. Although the casualty was well in the cloud, the level of the cloud base meant the team was able to make use of the coastguard helicopter to lift people and equipment part way up the mountain and so speed up the rescue.

The casualty was treated for his injury and insulated as much as possible before being stretched down the slope to the helicopter. The injured man was airlifted to Ybyty Gwynedd for further assessment and treatment.

His dog, also cold and anxious because of the ordeal, was carried off the mountain by a walker who initially attended the casualty.

She was handed over to injured man’s son at Ty Nant car-park.

Everyone was safely off the hill by 5pm.

Team volunteer Graham O’Hanlon was involved in both rescues.

He said: "The mountain can be enjoyed in a variety of different conditions, but poor weather, such as the high winds and low cloud of the last few days, increases the demand on good navigation and equipment, increases the chance of a simple slip or trip, and also increases the consequences of a long wait in an exposed position.

"We always encourage walkers to check a forecast before heading to the mountains, and to make sure their experience, equipment and emergency provision is up to the conditions expected."