| When a female climber slipped and fell while | | | | and Rescue) helicopter from RAF Valley on the Isle |
| scrambling on the cliffs of Craig Yr Ysfa below | | | | of Anglesey can be on the scene within 20 minutes. |
| Carnedd Llewelyn in Snowdonia, the rescuers who | | | | The Sea Kings are operated by C Flight 22 Squadron |
| were first on the scene recognized that her leg | | | | (C Flt), one of the busiest SAR flights in the UK, |
| injuries required immediate treatment. Fortunately for | | | | carrying out around 300 rescue missions every year, |
| her, help was at hand in the form of RAF 22 | | | | and since the Flight formed at Valley in 1956, over |
| Squadron's Sea King helicopter, and she was in | | | | 6000 rescue missions have been flown. Sea Kings |
| hospital in Bangor within the hour. | | | | have been operated by 22 Squadron since 1997, |
| Snowdonia in North Wales contains some of the best | | | | replacing the Wessex which took over from the |
| mountain walking and climbing areas in the UK. | | | | Westland Whirlwind in 1976, and provide increased |
| Besides Snowdon itself, there are several other | | | | range and load capacity, plus enhanced night and bad |
| peaks above the 3000 ft mark, and these are | | | | weather performance. Helicopters are on standby 24 |
| surrounded by steep crags and sheer cliff faces | | | | hours a day, 365 days a year, and can be airborne |
| which are often the site of accidents, either as a | | | | within 15 minutes. Although their main function is to |
| result of fallen climbers, or walkers who have slipped | | | | perform search and rescue missions for RAF aircrew, |
| from a path. When accidents occur, members of the | | | | the bulk of their activity is centered on civilian |
| Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team are called out, | | | | rescues, often assisting mountain rescue teams |
| and if they require assistance to move the casualty | | | | across the UK. |
| quickly to hospital, a Sea King Mark 3 SAR (Search | | | | |