Rescuers’ video plea in bid to raise £50,000 for centre

Mountain team give heartfelt message after tragic year

A mountain rescue team have produced a moving video spelling out the dangers they have faced, to help raise £50,000 for a new rescue centre.

Torridon MRT said 2015 was the worst for fatalities in their hills with six deaths.

The short video tells how they have 17 Munros in their “patch”, and face rescue missions in extreme conditions that can put rescuers at risk as well as the climbers already in trouble.

The team also say they have been working out of a

“Working out of a large cupboard is clearly not appropriate for a modern team”

‘ cupboard’ in Torridon Youth Hostel.

The £50,000 will help complete the project, which has been backed by St John Scotland.

“We are indebted to the Scottish Youth Hostel Association for allowing us to make our base in the Torridon Youth Hostel for over 40 years. However, working out of a large cupboard is clearly not appropriate for a modern mountain rescue team.

“Infact we probably have the smallest base of any team in Scotland,” said the team. “We are fortunate that the National Trust for Scotland has made available to us an ideal site, at the foot of our most spectacular mountain, Liathach, next to the Loch Torridon Community Centre and the Torridon Medical Centre.

“We will start building on this site in March and expect to complete the project by the autumn. We are greatly indebted to St John Scotland who are funding the major part of the build cost. Nevertheless, we estimate that we need to raise another £50,000 to complete the project."

The video can be found at http://www.torridonmrt.org.uk where there is also a link to the team’s donation page.

LIFESAVERS: The Torridon team have issued a plea for cash help to build their new centre after six mountain deaths in 2015

Torridon MRT need more money for their centre