Man and woman rescued from mountains having sheltered in a bivouac sack during blizzard conditions overnight

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A couple and their dog who spent the night in freezing conditions on a Scottish mountain range have been found safe and well by rescue teams.

The man and woman, aged 59 and 56, and their collie dog got lost in the Cairngorms after bad weather closed in on them during a New Year’s Day walk.

They were were forced to spend the night high up in blizzard conditions as temperatures dropped to -20C (-4F). Rescuers said they survived by sheltering in a bivouac sack, or bivvy bag.

The Cairngorm mountain rescue team (CMRT) started searching on Sunday evening after the couple failed to return to their campsite. But rescuers could find no trace of the pair, thought to be from England.

Six members of the team braved severe conditions to search through the night without success. In the morning they were joined by around 50 people including specialists from Police Scotland, the Royal Air Force mountain rescue team, Braemar mountain rescue team and the coastguard helicopter.

CMRT’s leader, Willie Anderson, said the couple were found a few hundred feet below a 1244-metre (4084ft) summit and were very cold. “They misjudged how long their walk would take them yesterday and then the cloud closed in and it started snowing.

“They were a bit disorientated but at least they had a bivvy bag to shelter them. That probably saved their lives.”

Anderson said the pair had tried to find a way off the mountain but were disorientated when a fierce blizzard blew in.

“It was probably -20C with the wind chill … They were experienced walkers and had gone for a day out with their dog but after they failed to return it became a very concerning situation,” he said.

He said the wind reached 30mph at times, and praised the rescue team who continued to search the mountain throughout the night, braving “atrocious conditions.”

“It was blizzard conditions at times … It was pretty horrendous weather. We are just very pleased to have had a successful outcome. You can be an experienced walker but you may have never experienced Cairngorm weather before – and that can catch anybody out.”

The couple were found just after midday. Rescuers walked them to a track vehicle because poor visibility meant it was not safe to use a helicopter. They were then driven to the funicular railway and taken off the mountain.

The pair were checked over by medics and found to be safe and well.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland says extra care is needed before tackling Scottish mountains in the winter with shorter days and adverse weather conditions requiring extra preparation.

It gives a 10-point safety checklist which includes making sure people have all the right kit including head torches and bivvy bags or emergency survival bags. It also states that people should carry extra clothes and equipment to help them survive if they get stuck on the high peaks after dark.