BB FANS

Nine people, including children aged two, three and five, have been airlifted to safety from Snowdon.

The group of four adults and three children from Liverpool and two students from Cardiff was taken by helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

The children were treated for the effects of cold, but were due to be released from hospital on Wednesday.

Gwyn Roberts, of Llanberis Mountain Rescue, said his team was "horrified" when they heard the children's age.

Dr Roberts said the rescue team was alerted at 1720 GMT to rescue the nine-strong group - two couples and their children and two students in their 20s who had joined them on the mountain.

By the time 999 was called, the youngest child had stopped crying, which is a bad sign

The team attempted to reach the group using a 4x4 vehicle but were forced to call in a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley.

Dr Roberts told the BBC Wales news website: "It's a happy outcome - the kids are going to be fine and I believe they are due to be released from hospital.

"But it could have been very different."

He added he was "shocked" when the team heard there was two-year-old on the mountain in sub-zero temperatures.

He said: "It's very unusual - we were horrified when we had the call.

"The youngest child was in a back carrier and was becoming quite cold.

"If children are being carried, they are not generating any heat and can succumb to hypothermia.

"By the time 999 was called, the youngest child had stopped crying, which is a bad sign."

Dr Roberts said there was "some pretty poor decision making by the group" who had not taken a torch or map up Wales' highest peak, while one of the students was wearing trainers.

He added: "They set off quite late in the day - at 1pm - and were close to the summit when they realised it was icy and the children were crying.

"They decided to carry on to the summit and get the train down - however, the train is not running at this time of year."

The group reached the summit at 1645 GMT and tried to follow the railway back down the mountain before calling 999 at about 1700 GMT.

Dr Roberts said the group had been irresponsible and were "extremely lucky".

He added his team receives a higher number of call-outs during school holidays.

He said: "We would like to get across the message that the mountains are extremely icy, even if there is not much snow.

"We would also urge people not to take young children into the hills."

Story from :
BBC NEWS
Published: 2006/02/22 22:02:31 GMT

Snowden in winter and kids..hmmm

Some people just do not deserve to be parents

I'm glad everyone is safe!

Lets hope the rescue bill goes to whoever sent them up there in the first place

The parents should be LOCKED UP and the children taken into 'Protective Care'.
When I read the story it brought back memories of the Cairngorms where I used to film rescue trips for TV.

Not all rescues had a happy ending

Some people have not idea when they do these things. They were very lucky to get away with it.

The report doesn't say when it happened but I heard a group (5680 KHz Upper Sideband) being air lifted either Sunday evening or Monday evening can't remember which.
It says "due to be released from hospital on Wednesday" so it might have been Tuesday or earlier.

The running costs of the rescue choppers is very high, something like £3,500 per MINUTE so the could get one hell of a bill.

telegraph
(Filed: 23/02/2006)

A family who took three young children up a mountain without proper clothing or equipment could have died, rescuers have said.

Nine people, including three children under five, were rescued from Snowdon last night.

The group were found near the peak in temperatures of minus five degrees and wind chill of minus 19. One of the children had passed out when the group was found, it was reported.

They were taken by RAF helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and were treated for the effects of cold. They are expected to be released later today.

Flt Sgt Trevor Priest from RAF Valley in Anglesey said: "They didn't have the proper equipment. It was like they were going for a walk along the beach," he said.

It is thought that the parents planned to walk up the mountain and take a train back down. However, trains do not begin running until next month.

Bloody idiots! I pay better attention to my rabbit than that! Just careless and thoughtless. Sheer neglect. Some people really don't deserve to have children.

It's kinda neglect by proxy, The gene pool throws up a few like that!

*waits for the next edition of the 'Darwin awards'

true but it isn't fair tho. some people actually want kids and would do a better job than that at looking after them!

My nephew is a week old and we are so careful about how we hold him and how fragile he is, his little head is the size of a tennis ball. His tiny little legs are the length of my finger. It's human nature to protect kids and feel emotional and worry about them and put them first. Any idiot that doesn't take that seriously doesn't deserve to have kids in the first place!