 Rescuers reach Waldek Galeja Pictures: Andrew Tredwell |
A walker is recovering in hospital after a dramatic rescue operation involving two helicopters in the Brecon Beacons. Waldek Galeja, who is visiting Wales from Poland, fell into a river from a log, breaking both his feet.
His brother-in-law, Andrew Tredwell, had to trek about a quarter of a mile to reach him, and called the emergency services on his mobile phone.
A helicopter was called in, and took only about ten minutes to arrive.
 I had gone ahead and the next thing I heard was a splash and Waldek calling my name  |
But Mr Tredwell, from Ystradgynlais, on the edge of the Beacons, said it did not have a winch, and a second helicopter was called.
Dangerous
Mr Galeja, a 32-year-old electrical mechanic whose sister is married to Mr Tredwell, has been in Wales for about a month.
He was taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, where he is said to be comfortable.
The accident happened just after 1430 BST on Saturday at Henrhyd Falls in Coelbren near Abercraf.
Mr Tredwell was carrying a camera and took photographs of the rescue.
 The helicopter had to hover at tree height |
"We had decided to cross a river by walking over a log which I thought was safe enough to go over," Mr Tredwell told BBC Wales News Online.
"I had gone ahead and the next thing I heard was a splash and Waldek calling my name.
"I turned round to see had fallen from the log and into the river about 12 feet below."
Because the log was on an incline Mr Tredwell decided it was too dangerous to go back down it.
That meant he had to run around the river for a quarter of a mile until he could help his brother-in-law.
"He had blacked out for a few seconds and I could see he had two nasty cuts to his head as well as broken bones in his feet," said Mr Tredwell.
 Waldek Galeja pictured just minutes before the fall |
After ringing the emergency services on his mobile phone, a helicopter arrived within ten minutes but had to be sent away because Mr Galeja's position meant he would have to be winched to safety.
The RAF Sea King helicopter arrived an hour later.
"It took them a few attempts to get to him and in the end the helicopter had to hover at tree height to pick him up," said Mr Tredwell.
It was the second time a helicopter had to be scrambled on Saturday to help a walker after a RAF Valley 22 squadron helicopter was called to Snowdon.
That walker suffered a broken leg and was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
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