Walker airlifted from Tryfan after medical episode

A solo walker was airlifted to hospital after suffering a medical episode on the North Ridge of Tryfan, Eryri (Snowdonia), on Saturday 17 October 2026, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation has said.

A walking group found the solo walker on the North Ridge of Tryfan and raised the alarm after they were unable to walk, the team said.

"Due to the location and serious nature of the medical condition, the Coastguard SAR helicopter was tasked to assist," the team said in a post on its website.

A winch paramedic was lowered directly to the casualty while the helicopter landed briefly at the team's base. Two team members then helped move the casualty a short distance to a better position before they were winched to hospital.

The team said the incident lasted three hours and 15 minutes and involved 14 of its members.

Tryfan

Tryfan is a mountain in the Ogwen Valley in Eryri, forming part of the Glyderau group. At 917.5 metres, it is the fifteenth-highest mountain in Wales and was voted Britain's favourite mountain by Trail magazine. (Wikipedia)

The team

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation is a voluntary team that responds to incidents in the Ogwen Valley, Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges and the surrounding area in northern Eryri, according to its website. It recorded 188 call-outs in 2025, according to the Mountain Rescue England and Wales annual review. (Ogwen Valley MRO, Mountain Rescue England and Wales)

Staying safe

Anyone in difficulty in the hills should dial 999 or 112 and ask for the police, then mountain rescue, giving details of their location and the nature of the incident before staying put until contacted. (mountain.rescue.org.uk)

Earlier call-outs in Gwynedd

• Two walkers rescued from Tryfan's north ridge

• Climbers winched off Tryfan after losing route on Grooved Arete

• Walker rescued after knee injury on Tryfan

Read Ogwen Valley MRO’s original post on its website.

Sources

1. Incident 186: Tryfan, North Ridge Ogwen Valley MRO
2. Tryfan Wikipedia
3. MREW Annual Review 2026, incident figures January to December 2025 Mountain Rescue England and Wales
4. Ogwen Valley MRO website Ogwen Valley MRO
5. In an emergency in the hills, dial 999 or 112, ask for the police, then mountain rescue. mountain.rescue.org.uk