Snowdon helicopter rescue for father and daughter, 8

A Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Valley made two rescues on Snowdon

A man and his eight-year-old daughter were rescued by an RAF helicopter from Snowdon which had earlier airlifted an 82-year-old man.

They were on the Clogwyn Du'r Arddur crag and became trapped on a narrow sloping ledge, with a big drop beneath.

Elsewhere a major search was launched after a child went missing in Rhyl and the resort's lifeboats also dealt with four dinghies swept out to sea.

Rescuers in north Wales said it was one of their busiest days of the year.

Coastguards in Holyhead dealt with 15 incidents in just over three hours on Thursday afternoon.

The inshore and all-weather lifeboats at Rhyl were called out to six separate incidents.

As well as the missing child who was later found and the dinghy rescues they also dealt with a small motor cruiser that broke down.

Lifeguards and coastguard volunteers were also involved.

'Well equipped'

A Sea King rescue helicopter based at RAF Valley on Anglesey had to use a long length of cable to winch the father and daughter pair into the aircraft from Snowdon.

Elfyn Jones of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said: "They were doing an easy grade scramble but made a navigational error and went slightly off route, wisely finding it safer to call for help.

"They were well equipped and dressed."

Earlier the helicopter had flown an 82-year-old man off Snowdon after he twice fell and bumped his head. He was taken to hospital at Bangor for a check-up.

Holyhead Coastguards handled a total of 15 incidents between 14:47 and 18:01 BST from Barmouth to Prestatyn on the north Wales coast.

All required an emergency service response and all were safely resolved.