A mother of three had to be airlifted to safety after breaking her leg while hiking Mount Snowdon.
Amanda Potter, 53, was on the Welsh mountain on October 6 to celebrate her daughter Megan’s birthday.
The hike took a sudden turn when Amanda slipped on a wet rock, breaking her leg in two places. Megan, 28, quickly dialed 999, and mountain rescue services sent a helicopter to assist.
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“It was supposed to be a birthday gift from my mum,” Megan, from Chelmsford, Essex, shared with VKNews24. “We chose one of the harder trails, but we researched it beforehand.”
The weather, however, was not on their side. “It was extremely wet and windy that day, making the path very slippery,” Megan recalled. “It’s not suitable for beginners in those conditions—it’s just too dangerous.”
After Amanda’s fall, Megan said she became anxious about how they would manage to descend the mountain. “I was really worried. There was no way I could carry her down,” she admitted.
Despite being in pain, Amanda remained calm and tried to protect her daughter from getting too distressed. “Even with her leg wobbling, she downplayed the injury so I wouldn’t freak out,” Megan said. “She’s the strongest woman I know.”
Luckily, the pair had phone signal since they were only an hour into the hike and below the cloud line. Mountain rescue volunteers, who had to be woken up, responded within 30 minutes, though Megan said it felt like an eternity.
During the wait, a passerby came to their aid by setting up a wind and rain shelter for Amanda and making sure her foot remained straight to maintain circulation.
Megan expressed her gratitude for the assistance. “A tour guide who had some mountain rescue training used his shelter to keep us warm and dry until help arrived. He kept her foot straight, which was painful for her, but it was necessary.”
Earlier that morning, Amanda had downloaded What3Words, an app that helps pinpoint any location on Earth, and it played a crucial role in the rescue.
“Mum had just downloaded it, and we ended up using it. That’s how they found us,” Megan explained. “It’s such an important tool for hikers.”
In addition to the helicopter, ten volunteers had also climbed the mountain with a stretcher in case Amanda needed to be carried down.
“I had a 10-person escort down the mountain,” Megan said, describing how the team reassured her throughout the ordeal. “I just wanted to get to the bottom and be with my mum.”
Reflecting on the day, Megan said, “It’s hard to relive the moment, but if we can raise some money for the mountain rescue team, that’s the silver lining. They were incredible. They told me they do this all the time and had already rescued four people the day before.”
For those wanting to support the Mountain Rescue team, donations can be made through JustGiving.
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SOURCE: Dramatic moment mum-of-three stranded on Snowdon after breaking leg is airlifted to safety
