Snowdonia rescue: Warning after climber falls 300ft and breaks arm

Rescuers have warned people not to go into the mountains of north Wales over Easter unless fully prepared.

It follows two falls by experienced climbers on Lliwedd in Snowdonia in 24 hours in icy conditions.

One man, in his forties and from Coventry, slid about 300ft (90m) and broke his arm.

Phil Benbow, secretary of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, said conditions on many mountains were treacherous.

"Both these men were well equipped with crampons and ice axes and they got into difficulties in what are really still very difficult conditions," he said.

"Our message is unless you are well-equipped and know what you are doing, please stay away over from high in the mountains over the weekend.

The man from Coventry was fell on Lliwedd while descending the Snowdon Horseshoe about 18:20 GMT on Thursday evening.

"We deployed two members of the team to help the man who was fully equipped with crampons and ice axe," said Mr Benbow.

"They stayed with him until the winchman from the RAF helicopter from Valley came down to help and also flew with him to hospital."

The injured climber was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, for treatment.

In the earlier rescue, a 53-year-old local man was airlifted to hospital after he fell 100ft while climbing on Snowdon on Wednesday.

Rescuers said he was properly equipped and an experienced climber.

The man had head and back injuries after the tumble on snow on Lliwedd.