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Schoolgirls in rescue drama
Apr 4 2004
Six schoolgirls and their teacher were airlifted to safety after getting lost in the Brecon Beacons, rescuers said today.
The girls aged 16 and 17, and their female teacher, from King Edward VI School in Birmingham were suffering from mild hypothermia when they were rescued from a hillside near Ystradgynlais in the Brecon Beacons just before midnight yesterday.
Peter Howells of South Wales Search & Rescue said the alarm was raised by the teacher who contacted police at 7.30pm on her mobile phone.
She said herself and the group of girls had become lost during a practice Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
Some 28 people were involved in the rescue and a helicopter from RAF Chivenor in North Devon was used.
The group were found at 11.40pm and treated for mild hypothermia by a paramedic at the scene.
Mr Howells said: "They had crossed streams and were wet and cold from the heavy rain and strong winds. They were suffering from mild hypothermia but did not require hospital treatment."
They were airlifted to the mountain rescue team's base before returning to their campsite.
Mr Howells said the rescue highlighted the problems of walking in the mountains at this time.
"The problem we have is that it is still very early on in the year and we get poor weather conditions that change very quickly.
"The students were properly equipped but the weather conditions were severe."
Police in Brecon said they were alerted to two other incidents in the Brecon Beacons yesterday that required the involvement of rescue teams. He added that neither of these incidents were life threatening.
