TWO DIE IN HORROR ON HILLS
Tragic day as climbers still missing on Ben Nevis
A MAN was killed in an avalanche and another died while out hiking with friends in a day of tragedy and drama on Scotland’s hills yesterday.
The mountaineer caught in the avalanche was climbing on Creag Meagaidh, about 19 miles north-east of Ben Nevis, when it struck yesterday afternoon.
A helicopter rescue team that had been looking for missing climbers Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, on Ben Nevis was diverted as a rescue was mounted.
The man and his climbing partner were airlifted from Creag Meagaidh to hospital, but he was pronounced dead yesterday evening. His friend was said to be in a serious condition.
Earlier yesterday, it emerged an elderly man died and two of his friends were being treated in hospital for hypothermia after they got lost hillwalking in Dumfriesshire.
Bobby Thomson, 64, George Crosbie, 73, and 74-year- old Jeffrey Stewart tried to shelter when 50mph winds and heavy rain swept the area on Tuesday.
They were found yesterday afternoon after spending the night in the open, but one was
‘Very challenging conditions’
pronounced dead in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Dumfries.
A huge search for the three men – involving police, mountain rescue teams and volunteers – was started at 7pm on Tuesday when they did not make it home.
It was called off at 2am yesterday and resumed at first light, with an HM Coastguard helicopter from Prestwick also brought in.
The men were found about two-and-a-half miles east of Durisdeer village near Thornhill, around noon. It is thought all were from the Dumfries area.
A neighbour of Mr Thomson said: ‘ The three of them have always enjoyed going climbing.
‘When they left to go on this trek nobody would have been thinking that anything would go wrong.
‘Sadly, it seems to have happened this time and the family must be devastated.
‘You don’t expect to lose someone when they are doing something they’ve done plenty of times before.
‘The conditions must have been quite bad because they are all quite experienced.’
The men were regular visitors to the Lowther Hills area of the Southern Uplands. They had left home at 8.30am on Tuesday, but the alarm was raised when they had not returned at 3.30pm.
Inspector Gordon McKnight, search co-ordinator for Police Scotland, said: ‘ The weather through Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning was very poor, however, it improved this morning which allowed the use of air support to assist the teams on the ground.’
A police spokesman added: ‘We can confirm that one of the three missing walkers has been pronounced dead at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The two other men are currently being treated for hypothermia. The procurator fiscal has been informed.’
The tragedy came as the search for a couple missing on Ben Nevis was stood down as the two other climbers were badly injured on 3,710ft Creag Meagaidh, near Roy bridge, Inverness-shire.
Rachel Slater and Tim Newton, who were on a Valentine’s Day trip to the UK’s highest mountain, have not been seen since Sunday morning.
The search for them has been hampered by bad weather.
But minutes after a Coastguard rescue helicopter managed to take off about 3pm yesterday, it was diverted to Creag Meagaidh when police received calls that cries for help had been heard after a large avalanche on the mountain, which is popular with ice climbers.
Sixty-seven people from the Lochaber, Cairngorm, Glencoe and Glenmore rescue teams were involved in the operation, in addition to police officers and Search and Rescue Dog Association personnel.
Police confirmed that two casualties were flown to Belford Hospital, Fort William.
A spokesman said: ‘ We received a report of an avalanche on Creag Meagaidh, a mountain range approximately 19 miles north- east of Ben
Nevis. HM Coastguard helicopter Rescue 951 was diverted from its search for two missing climbers in the Ben Nevis region.
‘Two casualties have been rescued from the area and airlifted to Belford Hospital in Fort William. Police Scotland can confirm that sadly a man has died following an avalanche in the North Lochaber area. The man was climbing with one male companion, who remains in a serious condition in hospital.’
Inspector Donald Campbell said: ‘Police Scotland would like to thank all rescue personnel involved in today’s rescue for the rapid r esponse and determination displayed i n very challenging conditions.
‘Sadly, one man succumbed to his injuries and his climbing companion remains in hospital.’
The avalanche was reported by other climbers who saw equipment on the surface of the snow.
Rescuers continued to search the area, but it is thought no one else was involved and the teams were stood down.
A tent belonging to Mr Newton and Miss Slater, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was discovered by police on the north side of Ben Nevis after Miss Slater did not turn up for work as an environmental consultant on Monday.
Her boyfriend is currently studying at Leeds University.
Yesterday, an appeal was made by Chris Denham, pastor at Hope City Church in Leeds, where Mr Newton’s brother i s assistant pastor.
He posted a picture of the couple on Instagram with the message: ‘Please pray today for the safe return of Tim & Rachel (Tim is the brother of our assistant pastor, Ed Newton, in Leeds). Also pray for the weather to clear which is preventing rescue teams from searching at present and for all the family. Believing for miracles to be taking place on that mountain because God is Able!’
Members of Miss Slater’s family from Canada arrived in the area yesterday to meet rescuers looking for her.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said they had failed to find any sign of the missing couple before being called to Creag Meagaidh.
A spokesman said: ‘Sadly, conditions on Ben Nevis are preventing
‘Important to assess the risks’
us from going out to look for Rachel and Tim.’
Leader John Stevenson said: ‘The most likely explanation is that they could have got caught up and been buried in an avalanche. Obviously, the longer we go on looking, the more worried you become.’
Ten days ago, a climber was airlifted to hospital after falling more than 1,000ft when he was caught in an avalanche on Creag Meagaidh. He was airlifted to Belford Hospital, while his companion was able to walk off the mountain with help from rescuers.
Yesterday, the avalanche risk for Creag Meagaidh was rated as ‘considerable’ above around 2,600ft on north to east aspects, meaning a single person could set off a snow slide. Ben Nevis had a similar risk above around 3,000ft.
There have been 69 avalanches recorded this season, with six in the past 48 hours.
Heather Morning, safety adviser with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said: ‘The wind is a huge factor as well as the cold. The conditions in the Highlands are among the most challenging anywhere in the world.
‘The sport is a risk – but it has been said it’s more of a risk driving along the A9.
‘We all accept there are risks when we head out to the mountains, but it is important to assess the risks and to do your homework before you head out.’
Meanwhile, a male ice climber in his 60s was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital, i n Inverness, with a suspected broken ankle after a fall on Coire an t’Sneachda in the Cairngorms.