Pensioner, 87, breaks record for oldest person to climb mount Snowdon… but cannot get back down

John Llewellyn, an 87-year-old pensioner from Swansea, reached the summit of Mount Snowdon in what mountain rescue teams confirmed was a record as the oldest person to make a solo ascent. The climb was a final fundraising effort for cancer charities in memory of his late father, and highlights both his long history of charitable mountaineering and the risks of tackling the mountain in severe weather.

Llewellyn reached the 3,560ft summit after a six-hour ascent in heavy rain, thick fog and winds of up to 70mph; his son followed at a distance to preserve the solo attempt. On the descent, his legs gave way and he could not continue, so Llanberis Mountain Rescue stretchered him to safety after a two-hour wait in the rain, with about four miles still to go. He said he was pleased with the achievement but did not think he could repeat it.