Bad weather, coincidences turn mountain climbing trip into rescue mission

A rescue helicopter from 22 Squadron, Royal Air Force Valley, Wales, winches up the casualty from halfway down Mount Snowdon, ready to take him to the hospital. Three British firefighters, Alan Coldwell, Chris Gould, and Jerry Miles, all 100th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, and their mountain guide, Dave Wainwright, 100th Force Support Squadron outdoor recreation, rescued the man they found alone and suffering from hypothermia and frostbite at the peak of Mount Snowdon Oct. 3. After calling emergency services, the four helped bring him halfway down the mountain, with the help of passengers on a train from Snowdon Mountain Railway. The train never usually runs at this time of the year as the weather is too bad, but by coincidence, it was taking passengers to the top of Mount Snowdon at the same time the firefighters found the man. (Courtesy photo/Doug Blair, Snowdon Mountain Railway)