TWO teenage girls with suspected hypothermia had to be winched to safety from a mountain by helicopter.

On Wednesday afternoon, 22 August, Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were called to assist a 16-year-old girl who collapsed on Cader Idris.

The girl was part of a large outdoor education centre group walking on the Foxes Path.

She had taken a tumble on the loose and steep ground and was badly shaken but appeared otherwise unhurt.

A number of other factors then came into play, which likely included the poor weather and physical location of the incident, and the casualty started to deteriorate and lose consciousness.

A second 16-year-old girl from the same group also started to deteriorate and display signs of hypothermia.

Mountain rescue volunteers arrived on scene to stabilise the situation, and to co-ordinate the response of the Coastguard helicopter R936.

Despite thick mist and driving rain, the aircraft was able to find a way in under the cloud base and in separate actions winched both girls aboard. The two casualties were flown to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, for further assessment and treatment.

The Aberdyfi team would like to thank the Maritime & Coastguard Agency R936 crew for their “exceptional work in very challenging conditions”, and also South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team who assisted us in this rescue.

Aberdyfi team leader Chris Dunn was pleased with the operation.

“This was a good example of the seamless inter-team and inter-agency working as the requirements of the incident escalated. This is what we plan and train for,” he said.

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