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A man has died in Snowdonia after snow hanging over a ridge he was walking on collapsed and swept him down a gully.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was with two women on Y Garn, in the Glyder range, when he fell about 500ft (150m) shortly after 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

The snow gave way and caused an avalanche which also swept up one of the women, but she was rescued by a mountaineering guide.

An RAF helicopter made four trips to carry 16 rescuers to the scene.

The rescue attempt was launched in snow and hail just below the 3,000ft (914m) summit.

No rock underneath

Teams from Ogwen Valley and RAF Leeming were flown to 2,000ft (610m), where the helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey was able to land.

The rescue mission carried on into the evening.

Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team said North Wales Police received an emergency call from a mountaineering guide who saw the man fall.

"The man was well equipped with all the right kit. He had met up with two female students to discuss the best walk off the mountain in the cloud," said Mr Lloyd.

"They were walking over the snow towards the north east ridge, but suddenly about 50m of snow overhanging the ridge collapsed casting one of the girls and the man down the gully.

"They didn't realise there was no rock underneath. The guide went down and rescued the girl.

"He then went down again, found the man very seriously injured and made the 999 call."