Three climbers die in avalanches

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Three climbers die in avalanchesPolice were alerted to the Ben Nevis incident by a member of the public. Three people have died after three large avalanches on Scottish mountains.

Rescuers found the bodies of two of the climbers in Number Three Gully on the north face of Ben Nevis following a large snow slide.

It later emerged that a 54-year-old man who had been rescued from Liatach Ridge, Torridon, had also died after being airlifted to hospital.

Three other climbers were rescued from an avalanche on Beinn an Dothaidh in Argyll.

The incidents came just hours after a warning from Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) about hazardous conditions on the hills.

The two dead climbers, one of whom is understood to be from the Wiltshire area and the other from Wales, are thought to have been among a group of five who were all caught up in the avalanche.
Ch Insp John Chisholm of Northern Constabulary said: "They were all well-equipped, highly-experienced and European-accredited climbers. "But it appears they were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team leader John Stevenson said conditions on the mountain were difficult. "Our lads were being buffeted by the strong winds which was making things very unstable and there was a lot of snow slab about," he said. "It was extremely dangerous for the rescuers and we had spotters out to watch for any of the team getting into trouble."

Northern Constabulary said its officers had been alerted following a report from another climber of a large avalanche several hundred metres in length in the Coire Na Ciste area of Ben Nevis. The force said the two climbers would not be formally identified until relatives had been informed.

Torridon Mountain Rescue Team and dogs and handlers from the Search and Rescue Dog Association helped in the search for the avalanched man on Liathach.

Three avalanches were reported on Scottish mountains on Wednesday.

For further condition reports please refer to the Scottish Avalanche Information Service and the relevant mountain weather forecasts (on our links page)