AN RAF helicopter was called in to dramatically pluck an injured climber to safety.

The woman, in her 20s and from Chester, had fallen around 20ft as she was scaling a crag near Dinbren, above Llangollen.

After being alerted by her male climbing partner, a Welsh Ambulance Service crew walked up to the spot where she had fallen.

But after stabilising her condition they decided it would be safer if the woman, who has not been named, was airlifted to hospital.

They called North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR), whose members specialise in co-ordinating aerial rescues, and a helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey was guided to the scene.

The stricken climber was flown off the hillside to Wrexham Maelor Hospital for treatment.

NEWSAR team leader Iain Ashcroft said: “We were called in at about 4.30pm on Thursday and 15 of our members in two Land Rovers made their way to the scene in the Eglwyseg Rocks.

“An ambulance crew was already there and had been directed to the spot by the woman’s climbing partner.

“They stabilised her condition and put her on a spinal board because in the case of an angle injury the spine can be jarred.

“Because of this they thought it better that she was airlifted out by helicopter, so Rescue 122 was called in from RAF Valley.

“We used our radio link to direct them to the scene.

“The RAF crew lowered down a winchman with a stretcher.

“She was given more pain relief and taken up to the helicopter to be flown off to Wrexham Maelor.”

Iain added: “Later in the evening we heard that she had been treated and was doing well.

“We understand that she had been climbing all day and fell when one of the metal protection pegs holding her to the rockface came out.

“This was another successful rescue for us and our 24th of the year so far.”