Ridge plunge man ‘lucky’

A man who fell 400ft off aWester Ross ridge was “incredibly lucky”, according to the leader of the rescue team.

The 60-year-old from Dorset was airlifted from Forcan Ridge on Tuesday afternoon after slipping on wet grass while scrambling up the difficult and exposed approach to The Saddle, one of the Kintailmountains in Glen Shiel.

He remained in RaigmoreHospital yesterday after suffering facial injuries in the accident.

His condition has been described as not life-threatening.

Themanis believed to have been on holiday in the area.

The rescue was led by a team from Kintail Mountain Rescue Team, with support from the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter. Skye Mountain Rescue Team members stood for a time at Ashaig airstrip on Skye

“Other side is much rougher with a lot more boulders”

in case additional help was required.

The operation was coordinated by Kintail Mountain Rescue Team deputy leaderMark Colbertwhosaid the walker was lucky not to have suffered more serious injuries. He said: “He has basically slipped on wet grass which could have happened to anyone and he’s obviously fallen a long way, so he’s been very lucky.

“He went over the lefthand side of the ridge, which was lucky for him because the other side is much rougher with a lot more boulders. The side he has gone down has much more grass so that’s why he’s not been more seriously injured.”

The mountain rescue team received the call out at around 3.20pm. The team were picked up the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 100 before being flown into the hills to collect the injured man.