Walkers warned after man dies on mountain

A MAN has died in a fall on one of the UK’s highest mountains.

The walker was seriously injured on his descent from the 1,234m (4,048ft) summit of Aonach Beag, near Fort William in the Highlands, on Thursday afternoon.

He was with another man who managed to contact emergency services and Lochaber mountain rescue team went to the scene. The injured man was airlifted by helicopter, but later died.

It is the first reported death on Scottish mountains this year, but follows a number of high-profile rescue operations in the Highlands since January 1.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Late yesterday afternoon emergency services were alerted to a walker who had fallen, while descending from the summit of Aonach Beag.

“With the assistance of rescue helicopter 951 the man was rescued, however, very sadly, he had sustained fatal injuries.

A series of rescue operations in the first few days of the New Year have prompted a warning from mountaineering leaders.

Shaun Roberts, of the mountain centre Glenmore Lodge, said anyone taking to the hills needs to “ask questions of themselves” before setting off.

On Wednesday, two people were airlifted from Ben Nevis after one injured an ankle.

Before that, a couple and their dog were rescued after spending the night in a bivvy bag in the Cairngorms when the weather closed in on their New Year’s Day walk.

Robert and Cathy Elmer, from Leicestershire, were reported missing on Sunday but were found by mountain rescue teams on Monday afternoon.