Man suffers suspected broken legs and spinal injuries after waterfall jump

A man has suffered suspected broken legs and spinal injuries after jumping from a waterfall in the Brecon Beacons. Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team was called to Sgwd Gladys near Pontneddfechan, Powys, on Saturday, August 13, at 5.24pm.

Due to the severity of severity of the incident the team requested help from the neighbouring Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. Helicopters from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) were also in attendance. The severely injured man was put in a vacuum mattress, placed on a stretcher, and winched from the scene before being taken to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff for treatment.

A spokesperson for Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team said: "Our 100th callout this year was to assist our Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team colleagues with a male who'd jumped off Sgwd Gwladus waterfall near Pontneddfechan and suffered suspected broken legs with possible spinal injuries. Another occasion of terrific joint working with Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service - EMRTS Wales Wales Air Ambulance and Maritime and Coastguard Agency Rescue187 #StAthan, we packaged the male into a vacuum mattress for full body immobilisation, placed him in a stretcher, then winched aboard the rescue helicopter and flown to University Hospital Cardiff. We wish the gentlemen a full and speedy recovery."

The scene of the incident (Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team)

The casualty was flown to hospital (Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team)

One woman who claims she was at the incident at the time said in a post on Facebook: "I unfortunately witnessed this and it is a sight/sound that will stay with me for sometime. I really do hope for a positive outcome for him and that this will help deter people and get them to do a little more research before risking their lives."

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