All 'safe and well' after rescues

12 April 2012

Rescue teams searching for runners caught up in treacherous weather during a fell race have said all participants had now been found.

At least six people were taken to hospital by helicopter as police and mountain rescue crews worked with two RAF helicopters in the Snowdonia range in North Wales to recover athletes from the Welsh 1,000m Peaks Race, which was abandoned due to heavy wind and rain.

Around 245 people were estimated to have started the race and a number had to be airlifted to safety by helicopter.

The last missing man was found in the Carneddau area of the range after an extensive search operation in the fading light.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "All persons have now been found safe and well and accounted for, and the search and rescue operation is now standing down."

An RAF spokesman said the man was unharmed and was "definitely the last one".

He added: "It's had a positive outcome. There are some people with minor injuries and there will no doubt be some experience gained. There will be a lot of relieved people tonight."

The rescue operations were hampered by the adverse weather, with rescuers battling strong winds, lashing rain and low clouds.

According to the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team 600 people had been expected to take part in the annual race from Aber on the North Wales coast to Snowdon on Saturday, but only 245 actually started it.

North Wales Police said the race began at around 9am, with calls to police coming in from 10am due to the "atrocious weather conditions".

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