Two women have been taken to hospital after they were struck by lightning at the top of Snowdon.

Volunteers from Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were called to the summit of Wales‘ highest mountain by North Wales Police around 1.30pm on Wednesday.

When rescuers reached the women, who were part of a five-strong group by the 3,560ft (1,085m) peak, they discovered one was “falling in and out of consciousness, with blood down one side of the face”.

They treated the women for the effects of a lightning strike and determined that one had minor injuries and the other more serious.

The pair were taken to Clogwyn railway station on the Snowdon Mountain Railway before being flown to hospital in Bangor by a Coastguard rescue helicopter.

Rescuers said neither woman had sustained life-threatening injuries.

“They were very lucky,” rescue co-ordinator Phil Benbow told BBC News.

“But the advice generally is don’t be on the top of a mountain when thunder and lightning is about.

“As a team we didn’t hang around on the summit or the ridge going down.”

Members of the public are cautioned to stay clear of summit areas if there are any signs of thunderstorms.

Llanberis MRT tweeted to say it had been “very busy” this year in assisting police with 104 incidents.

The team is on permanent call and relies entirely on donations from the public.

Mr Benbow added: “Our advice is when thunderstorms are forecast people should avoid mountain tops, exposed ridges and open flat areas because that it where lightning is most likely to strike.

“Get a weather forecast before you start. And make sure it’s a mountain weather forecast off the Met Office.”

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