Man dies in SAS-style endurance event in national park

A 68-year-old man has died while taking part in an endurance event used in SAS training.

Emergency services were called to Pen y Fan in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, on Saturday at 11:00 BST.

The man had been taking part in the 15-mile (24km) Fan Dance when concerns were raised for his welfare on south Wales' highest peak.

Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating, but said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

Race organisers Avalanche Endurance Events (AEE) said its thoughts were with the man's family but that it would not be commenting further.

The race is described as the world's oldest and most famous SAS selection test.

Since 2013, the event has been open to the wider public who may want to test themselves.

AEE say the race takes between three and seven hours to complete, depending on weather conditions.

On Saturday, temperatures near Brecon were about 20C.

In a statement, AEE said: "At this immediate time our focus and thoughts are with the family, therefore, AEE, nor I as the march director will issue any further press release until the family is in possession of the full timeline of events and approve any further messaging.

"Our team is working on this at the time of posting.

"I wish to express my thanks to the Air Ambulance Service, Brecon Mountain Rescue Team and AEE's Mountain Safety Team for their swift response and professionalism."

Dyfed-Powys Police said: "We received a call following welfare concerns for a male on Pen y Fan at around 11am on Saturday 4 July.

"Officers attended alongside Mountain Rescue and the Ambulance Service. Sadly, the 68-year-old man passed away. His next of kin are aware and his death is not being treated as suspicious."

Reporter Jordan Davies said a heat haze could be seen on the slopes of Pen y Fan on Wednesday afternoon with temperatures at 33C (91F).

Wales' third highest mountain provides some of the toughest terrain in the UK, making it a proving ground for soldiers and elite civilian athletes.

The Fan Dance, as it is known in the military, forms the backbone of all British special forces selection, including the world-famous SAS.

Three SAS reservists died in a selection march there in July 2013.

Thirteen years later, walkers and others stopping at the Storey Arms car park have described the death at the weekend as "very sad".

Zoe Morris, 31, and her mother have been running a Storey Arms burger van that sits at the bottom of Pen y Fan for the past 40 years.

She said they serve the hikers that walk up the mountain "every day except Christmas" including the participants of the Fan Dance.

"They usually do the same route.

We usually cater for them in the winter and the people that know us still come for some food," she added.

Morris said she was not working on Saturday, but her mother noticed it was "quiet for a Saturday afternoon".

"We didn't hear anything from them after midday.

"So we thought something might have happened," she said.