Mold based NEWSAR called to rescue injured hiker from Moel Sych amid adverse conditions
Mold based North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) and South Snowdonia Search & Rescue Team (SSSART) members successfully conducted a challenging rescue operation on Moel Sych summit on Saturday.
The teams received a distress call just after 4.30 pm from North Wales Police to aid a party of six.
One member of the party had sustained a knee injury and had possibly fainted at the top of Moel Sych, the third highest summit in the Berwyn range.
Despite facing adverse weather conditions, a mixed team of NEWSAR and SSSART members was promptly deployed to the location.
Upon assessing the casualty, the teams skillfully transported them to safety on a Bell stretcher, covering over 3km of very challenging and wet terrain.
Further South Snowdonia members joined the operation just before midnight, arriving like “knights in shining head torches” to assist the team that had been out for hours. The entire party safely arrived back at the café at 12.30 am.
The rescue teams have expressed their appreciation for the preparedness of the group, which played a crucial role in the successful execution of the rescue operation.
A NEWSAR spokesperson said the team would like to, “extend our gratitude to Phil, the owner of Tan-y-Pistyll Café, and South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team for their support and assistance.”
This successful rescue operation highlights the relentless commitment and bravery of the NEWSAR and SSSART teams, who, despite challenging conditions, ensured the safety and well-being of those in distress, reaffirming the crucial role of search and rescue teams in ensuring the safety of hikers and adventurers in the region.
24/7
NEWSAR is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the team primarily operates in North East Wales, covering the counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham, and parts of Conwy and Powys.
In addition to their local work, NEWSAR regularly assists other Mountain Rescue teams in North Wales, as well as Lowland Search and Rescue teams in Cheshire and Shropshire.
The team is comprised entirely of volunteers who dedicate their time to search for vulnerable people missing from home or those in need of rescue.
It costs approximately £30,000 per year to run the team, covering fuel and repairs for vehicles, protective equipment, training courses, and essential team equipment such as ropes and stretchers.
As a registered charity, NEWSAR relies primarily on grants, individual donations, legacies, street collections, and collection tins to fund its vital operations.
[All photos: NEWSAR]
