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Missing rescued after fell race | Missing rescued after fell race |
(about 6 hours later) | |
All the people who went missing in bad weather during a Snowdonia fell race have been found, RAF rescue teams say. | All the people who went missing in bad weather during a Snowdonia fell race have been found, RAF rescue teams say. |
Eight people were airlifted to hospital and another 25 people were helped to safety during the day. | Eight people were airlifted to hospital and another 25 people were helped to safety during the day. |
Two people remained unaccounted for some time but they were finally located late on Saturday. | Two people remained unaccounted for some time but they were finally located late on Saturday. |
The annual, 22-mile Welsh 1,000m Peaks Race involved 245 competitors and had been due to finish on the summit of Snowdon, but was later abandoned. | The annual, 22-mile Welsh 1,000m Peaks Race involved 245 competitors and had been due to finish on the summit of Snowdon, but was later abandoned. |
Mountain rescue teams and the RAF were involved in the search in the Carneddau mountains, near Bethesda, from about 1500 BST. | Mountain rescue teams and the RAF were involved in the search in the Carneddau mountains, near Bethesda, from about 1500 BST. |
The race involves teams of runners and mountaineers from clubs and the armed services. A soldier died in a 500ft fall while competing in the race in 2007. | The race involves teams of runners and mountaineers from clubs and the armed services. A soldier died in a 500ft fall while competing in the race in 2007. |
The event started on the Gwynedd coast at Aber before a course through peaks in the Carneddau mountains, with the finish on Snowdon. | The event started on the Gwynedd coast at Aber before a course through peaks in the Carneddau mountains, with the finish on Snowdon. |
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said the race began at around 0900 BST, with calls to police coming in from about an hour later due to the "atrocious weather conditions". | A North Wales Police spokeswoman said the race began at around 0900 BST, with calls to police coming in from about an hour later due to the "atrocious weather conditions". |
The force co-ordinated the rescue from the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team base and counted runners, walkers and mountaineers as they returned. | The force co-ordinated the rescue from the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team base and counted runners, walkers and mountaineers as they returned. |
Those rescued included some army cadets. | Those rescued included some army cadets. |
Dave Worrall, team leader of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team said most of those runners they had dealt with were suffering from cold and hypothermia. | |
The 22-mile long race took in Snowdonia peaks and was due to finish on Snowdon | |
He said the weather had been exceptional for the time of year and it would have been a "difficult call" for race organisers. | |
Helicopters from RAF Valley, on Anglesey, and Chivenor, in Devon, were involved in the rescue, along with members of the Ogwen Valley and Valley Mountain rescue teams. | Helicopters from RAF Valley, on Anglesey, and Chivenor, in Devon, were involved in the rescue, along with members of the Ogwen Valley and Valley Mountain rescue teams. |
In a separate rescue on the Llanberis pass, an ill woman was airlifted to hospital. | In a separate rescue on the Llanberis pass, an ill woman was airlifted to hospital. |
A spokesman for the RAF rescue centre at Kinloss in Scotland said the rescue efforts had been hampered by low cloud, heavy rain and strong winds. | A spokesman for the RAF rescue centre at Kinloss in Scotland said the rescue efforts had been hampered by low cloud, heavy rain and strong winds. |
Tony Varley, chair of the Fell Runners' Association, said: "I think everyone taking part is likely to be physically fit. | Tony Varley, chair of the Fell Runners' Association, said: "I think everyone taking part is likely to be physically fit. |
"And there are strict requirements about carrying things like water cover and windproof cover, hats and gloves, emergency food, a map and compass." | "And there are strict requirements about carrying things like water cover and windproof cover, hats and gloves, emergency food, a map and compass." |
"Obviously things go wrong no matter how fit you are - you could injure yourself or get totally disorientated if you're tired and the weather's bad." | "Obviously things go wrong no matter how fit you are - you could injure yourself or get totally disorientated if you're tired and the weather's bad." |