Three climbers die as avalanche hits Ben Nevis
Rescue team at Ben Nevis McGregor returns to beach house THREE climbers died, and another was injured, after they were caught in an avalanche on Ben Nevis yesterday.
The alarm was raised shortly before noon to the incident at Number Five Gully, about 2,700ft up the UK’s highest mountain.
Members of the Lochaber and Glencoe mountain rescue teams raced to the scene. A coastguard helicopter sent to assist was initially grounded due to poor weather, but by late afternoon was able to reach the site and began airlifting the climbers off the mountain.
Two died at the scene and their bodies were taken to Fort William. Two other injured climbers were airlifted away. One died yesterday evening and the other was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow.
Writing on a climbing forum one mountaineer said he was in a hut on Ben Nevis sheltering from the weather when the avalanche hit with “huge powder clouds”.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as “absolutely tragic news”. She said: “My thoughts are very much with the bereaved and injured.” She added: “My gratitude as always for the work of our emergency services, Mountain Rescue and Coastguard.”
Police said they were tracing next of kin. Ben Nevis, at 4,413ft, attracts around 125,000 visitors a year but there has been a spate of tragedies recently.