Tributes have been paid to a woman who died in a 10m-to-one “freak” accident when she was struck by lightning while hiking with friends in the Highlands.

Isobel Bytautas, 55, was killed and a second woman was injured when they were hit by lightning on a mountain ridge near Fort William on Saturday evening.

Helicopters and mountain range rescue teams were dispatched to rescue the group who were found five miles south of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak.

Bytautas was one of seven members of a hiking group, the Linlithgow Ramblers, who were walking through a short thunderstorm when the lightning struck.

Writing on social media, her daughter Ashley Bytautas, said her “beautiful” mother had died instantly in a “freak one-in-a-million accident you never think is possible”, adding that she was “lost” without her.

On behalf of the Linlithgow Ramblers, Tompion Platt paid tribute to Bytautas and expressed his condolences to her loved ones. He said: “We are all deeply shocked to hear this tragic news. Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with Isobel’s family and friends – and with those of the other injured walker and Linlithgow group – today. Our focus now is on supporting those involved in any way we can.”

Police Scotland said the group were found on a ridge on the 3,465ft Na Gruagaichean, which lies between Glen Nevis to the north and the village of Kinlochleven to the south, in the Mamores mountain range.

Andy Nelson, leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, said he could not recall another death in the Highlands from lightning. The British Medical Journal puts the chance of being struck by lightning at 10 million to one, roughly the same as death from a nuclear accident.

“Most were relatively unscathed,” Nelson said. “The deceased was incredibly unlucky. The group were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a short-lived thunderstorm, it lasted about 20 minutes. It was a very heavy sky, there was a flash and then the rumble. We saw a lightning flash.”

He added: “The party got straight through to raise the alarm by mobile phone. I can’t recall another death in Scotland’s mountains caused by lightning. It is common in the Alps, and a known risk, but we do not usually get the weather conditions in Scotland on the hills.”

Insp Isla Campbell, of Police Scotland, said: “We are grateful for the prompt and professional response from partner agencies to this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the lady’s family.”

A statement from Scottish police said: “At 5.42pm on Saturday 8 June, Police Scotland were alerted to an incident where two members of a walking group comprising seven people had been struck by lightning and injured.

“Sadly, a woman aged 55 years died as a result of her injuries. The next of kin of the woman who died have been advised and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”