RESCUERS have told how they saved an injured Kingswinford woman from a snow-bound hillside in Wales.

The unnamed woman was airlifted from near Tarren yr Escog crags close to Hay-on-Wye, Powys, as the UK’s worst winter storms in a generation hit at around 8pm on Monday January 4.

A helicopter from RAF Chivenor in north Devon took the female walker and her dog to hospital during a search an rescue operation which lasted around four-and-a-half hours.

The woman had been stuck in freezing conditions for two hours suffering with an ankle injury.

As well as the RAF, a police helicopter and 40 members of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team were involved in the incident.

Simon Woodhead, from Brecon Mountain Rescue Team , said: “As there is no mobile phone coverage in the area, the lady's husband made his way to a farm and called the Police. Police control called Mountain Rescue, in this case the Longtown Team.

“The incident was in the heart of the Black Mountains but our normal approach road was impassable.

“Vehicles were therefore required to approach the much longer route from the south to Llanthony.

“Personnel were ferried the final few miles of road by Land Rover and then continued on the hill on foot.

“The air temperature was minus eight before wind chill and the ground was very hard and icy - molten snow having refrozen.”

“After the lady's safe evacuation our next priority was to locate and evacuate her partner who had been making his way back towards her after reporting the incident.

“He was located safe and well and evacuated by mountain rescue personnel shortly after.”

Simon says the incident shows the importance of being properly equipped for possible emergencies during bad weather in remote locations.

He said: “They were unfortunate and the fact that both parties survived those conditions demonstrates their preparedness clothing-wise.

“As hill lovers we'd never discourage anyone from venturing outdoors but we would ask them to be prepared.

“Being prepared is not just about owning equipment but critically knowing how to use it. In this weather, when a mishap is more likely, adequate clothing and equipment can make the difference between life and death.”

The Brecon Mountain Rescue Team is a charity run by volunteers and funded only by donation, for more information visit www.breconmrt.co.uk

Do you know the couple saved in this incident or have you been rescued by the emergency services during the current arctic conditions?

If you have a story contact the Stourbridge News by clicking ‘contact us’ on our home page.