Mountain rescuers issue warning to novice walkers after spate of panic attacks

22 July 2024, 08:15 | Updated: 22 July 2024, 08:23

Mountain rescuers want hikers to make sure they stay within their ability level
Mountain rescuers want hikers to make sure they stay within their ability level. Picture: Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue

By Asher McShane

A mountain rescue team has issued a warning to inexperienced hikers after being called to a spate of people suffering panic attacks.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team has been called out 97 times this year, with the latest rescue involving a walker who couldn’t move because of a panic attack near the summit of Tryfan - a peak in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia.

Rescuers helped four people who were stuck 600ft from the summit - and got them off the mountain safely.

The party of four became stuck in the waterfall gully area on Tryfan’s north ridge.

“The four were located and assisted back to the main path and then on down to the road,” an incident report states.

In an online message to visitors, the Ogwen team said: “The team have dealt with a number of panic attacks on Tryfan recently.

Read more: Six people - including two children - die after horror crash between car and motorbike

“Tryfan has considerable exposure with lots of climbing over or around ridges and edges. Will any of you be overly-affected by this?

“Tryfan is difficult to navigate over in a traditional manner, especially in poor weather. Are you able to navigate and relate map to ground?”

The mountain rescue team warned: ”There is no straight line to the car park – don’t be tempted to descend gullies just because you can see the valley floor.”

They believe social media is encouraging more novice walkers to attempt peaks that are beyond their skill level.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Senior woman having a mammography scan at hospital

Male health workers should be allowed to perform breast screenings amid staff shortages, experts say

Strawberry milkshake smoothie and fresh berries. Smoothie, vitamin drink, or yogurt in on a colorful background. Copy space.

Milkshakes and dairy substitute drinks could face sugar tax under government proposals

People in Spain and Portugal have been stocking up on supplies

Blackout stricken Spain declares state of emergency amid panic-buying and gridlock which could last for days

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine has said he will stop posting cycling videos after receiving a number of death threats and online abuse.

Jeremy Vine stops sharing cycling videos after death threats and trolling ‘got too bad’

Kneecap are due to support Fontaines D.C at their Boucher Road Playing Fields show in August, but Mr Robinson called for their removal from the bill

Kneecap have become 'a hatefest' that 'promotes division', DUP leader Gavin Robinson says

One-year-old girl dies following crash at campsite in North Wales

One-year-old toddler dies following crash at campsite in North Wales

Exclusive
Lawyer Spencer Kuvin represented nine Epstein victims

'I question everything': Epstein victims' lawyer says 'often initial story is not the truth' after Virginia Giuffre's suicide

Liverpool's Mo Salah celebrates Liverpool's triumph (l) while relegated Ipswich applaud their fans (r)

Liverpool crowned champions and the promoted teams relegated: How the Premier League campaign played out

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon

Runaway aristocrat Constance Marten denies carrying baby in 'supermarket bag' while on the run as trial continues

Spain has been hit with a huge power outage

‘Extremely rare weather phenomenon’ behind Europe power cuts - as Portugal blames 'fault' in Spanish network

Samuel Gould, 33, of Hornchurch, Essex, was seen by the 13-year-old girl masturbating in his car

Wes Streeting's former aide dodges jail after indecently exposing himself in front of girl, 13

Police and Forensic investigators at Amman Valley school, in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, after three people were injured in a stabbing.

Girl, 14, who stabbed two teachers and pupil handed 15-year sentence for attempted murder

The French grid operator RTE said parts of the country briefly lost power after outages hit Spain and Portugal on Monday afternoon

Spain-Portugal power outage: France also hit by blackouts as Europe is plunged into travel chaos

US tennis star Coco Gauff's interview was cut short due to a power cut in Spain.

Exact moment Spain is plunged into power cut chaos captured in Coco Gauff’s post-match interview

Harry Purcell, 17, Matilda 'Tilly' Seccombe, 16, and Frank Wormald, 16 died in the crash

Newly-qualified teen driver who killed three fellow pupils in crash given two years' detention

A Liverpool fan celebrates victory in the Premier League on a rooftop near Anfield, Liverpool.

Pictured: Liverpool celebrates as club wins historic 20th league title to equal Manchester United's total