Drones to the rescue in Lochaber
LOCHABER Mountain Rescue team (LMR) has been using drones to search for injured or lost climbers.
The Fort William-based team used the technology twice last week.
A drone was deployed during the search for a lost climber on the Long Climb and an injured walker on Sgur á Bhuic in Glen Nevis.
A team spokesperson said: ‘On Sgurr á Bhuic, we had a female with leg injuries. The drone was deployed to locate the casualty, as there was no phone signal in the location, so the stretcher party could go straight to the casualty. While out in Glen Nevis, we used the drone to search selected areas and photograph. Software allows us to stitch together the pho- tographs and we can then create a 3D image which allows us to visually check the areas covered by the drone at base.’
The area LMR searched was the potential location for missing walkers Eric Cyl and Tom Brown.
Eric Cyl, 62, from England, was last seen in May 2015 heading off the Mamore mountain range near Fort William.
Tom Brown, 65, has also been missing since 2015. His rucksack and contents were found about 1km east of Steall Falls, Glen Nevis.
The team spokesperson said use of the drone is now standard procedure, when conditions allow, with two members already trained in its operation.