Prince William pilots rescue of Nottingham mountain hiker on
pilgrimage to scatter fathers ashes
When Richard Lloyd and his family set off on a walk up Cadair
Idris, a mountain in Gwynedd, Wales, none of them quite intended
the day to end with Richard breaking his leg and requiring a
mountain rescue airlift to hospital in a Sea King Helicopter
piloted by Prince William.
The family had originally set off for a hike to scatter the
ashes of Richard’s father, John Lloyd, who died last year. Being of
Welsh decent, the family decided it would be fitting for his ashes
to be scattered on the mountain.
Cadair Idris lies at the southern end of the Snowdonia National
Park. Their destination was the glacial Tal-y-llyn Lake which lies
approximately half way up the mountain. Taking part in the hike
with Richard were his sisters Anni and Cabe, their respective
partners Mark and Ian and children Luke, Jian and Conrad.
The accident happened shortly after they arrived at the lake.
“It all happened in a split second.” Richard recounted. “One moment
I was taking a picture of the beautiful lake, the next my foot
slipped on a small rock and I fell to the ground. As I was falling
I felt a ‘pop’ in my lower leg and immediately knew there was a
real problem.”
Richard continued “As soon as the helicopter rescue team reached
me I was given morphine so it was only in hospital that my sister
asked me if I had recognised the helicopter pilot. I was shocked
when I heard it was Prince William, but very grateful to the entire
rescue team for airlifting me to safety in such a professional
manner.”
Richard has since had a major operation to plate his leg and is
expected to be in plaster for six weeks, but will make a full
recovery. He has returned to work for his employers, Towergate Risk
Solutions in Nottingham, where he works as Operations Director.
Richard added, “I’m just really glad to be in one piece and back
at work with my doctors permission. Towergate have been great. I am
being looked after by my sister in Warwick at weekends and can’t
drive. I really appreciate the assistance Towergate Nottingham have
given me, including making sure my work station is safe. There is
no way I could have just sat at home simply resting after this
experience!”
Each year Towergate employees across the UK raise over £1million
for charitable causes. Richard plans to make a donation in aid of
Mountain Rescue England and
Wales.