The man who died had tried to help another climber

A North Wales Police spokesman confirmed that a 52-year-old man, from the Wirral, Cheshire, died in the accident at Bryant's Gully on Glyder Fawr, Snowdonia.

The victim was among a group of five who went to the assistance of another climber, who was in difficulties and stranded.

During the attempt to free the trapped climber, one of the rescuers fell about 490 ft to his death.

Members of the Llanberis mountain rescue team and a rescue helicopter from RAF Valley were sent to the scene.

The man was then winched aboard the Sea King helicopter and flown to hospital in Bangor.

The identity of the man who fell is expected to be issued by North Wales Police when next of kin have been contacted.

Earlier it was believed that the rescuer was a mountain biker, but police said later that he was climbing with a group in the area.