RAF mountain rescue team saves walkers trapped on fifth-highest peak in Wales

A team from the RAF Mountain Rescue Service from RAF Valley has rescued two walkers who were trapped on the fifth-highest mountain in Wales, Glyder Fawr.

Working alongside Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation in the cold and dark, they lowered the walkers 500m by rope in stages from the 3,284ft (1,000m) peak in Snowdonia before walking them to safety.

The primary role of the RAF's mountain rescue teams is to provide a high-readiness, aircraft post-crash management search and rescue service, but the teams do occasionally support civilian rescue teams.

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Formed in 1943, the service was formed out of a wartime necessity to save the lives of downed aircrew in mountainous regions of the UK.

Forces News was given rare access to a training mission at RAF Valley in Anglesey in May 2023.

Managed by both permanent staff and part-time volunteers from all three services, each RAF Mountain Rescue Team is equipped for immediate deployment throughout the UK.