Pupils rescued from mountains '˜never missing' says head

A GROUP of schoolchildren rescued from the Brecon Beacons during a Duke of Edinburgh exercise were never missing, their headmaster has said.
A group of children who went missing in the Brecon Beacons have been found. Picture: Getty ImagesA group of children who went missing in the Brecon Beacons have been found. Picture: Getty Images
A group of children who went missing in the Brecon Beacons have been found. Picture: Getty Images

Police and mountain rescue teams said a major search operation was launched after 26 teenagers disappeared in low cloud and torrential rain.

But Jonathan Gillespie, headmaster at St Albans School, in Hertfordshire, said their location was known but they needed help after two of the group were taken ill.

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“At no stage have any of them been unaccounted for or missing,” he said. Three mountain rescue teams, police and ambulance crews were sent to the area in south Wales at around 1pm yesterday after the alarm was raised when a group was said to have got lost.

Emergency services said the teenagers’ bid to find their way back on their own was hampered by torrential rain, strong wind and poor phone reception in the remote ten-hectare area near Abercraf.

Twelve rescuers from Western Beacons, Central Beacons and Brecon mountain rescue teams took part in the search, as well as police, and all pupils were found safe and well.

Mr Gillespie said he was “grateful” to the emergency services for their help.

He said 47 Year 11 pupils were on the second day of a three-day silver Duke of Edinburgh award expedition when two pupils began to feel unwell.They were part of a small group of seven pupils who followed training procedures and called for help, he added.

The school was contacted and a member of staff was able to give police the six-digit grid reference for the pupils’ location. He said two members of staff reached the group within 90 minutes and the mountain rescue team led them off the hill.

“They were fit enough to walk off the hill,” he said, adding that the pupils were given a precautionary medical check but were fine. He said several of the groups were still on track to complete the expedition and all pupils were expected to return to the school today.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: “We are pleased to confirm that all 26 members of the party involved have been accounted for.”