Bill Wynn said he needed studded footwear for the icy-covered rocks

They were carrying the casualty to lower ground when the aircraft was able to reach him through a gap in the cloud and fly him to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

The man, who is being treated for a broken ankle and cuts, was the third emergency in the area within hours of officials at Snowdonia National Park Authority urging walkers to be prepared for icy conditions.

The four-hour operation to bring the climber to safety began around 5pm when his colleague called on his mobile phone to say his friend had fallen.

Rescuers worked in darkness and bitter cold to bring him down safely.

That afternoon the rescue helicopter team had also been called out to winch up an American who became stuck while taking an impromtu walk while out driving.

Walkers are warned about Snowdon's weather

Bill Wynn, 55, who is from Alabama but lives on Anglesey, was unprepared for the ice-covered rocks at Idwal Slabs and had to called the emergency services on his mobile phone.

Member of the Ogwen Mountain Range located him and he was airlifted off the mountainside.

Around the same time, an 11-year-old boy cut his head after falling while descending a mountain trail.