Glencoe rescue climber in hospital with hypothermia Published duration 9 March 2019

image copyright Glencoe/Oban Mountain Rescue image caption One climber was airlifted to safety

A climber is seriously ill after he went missing overnight on a mountain in the Highlands.

The 57-year-old was airlifted from Stob Coire nan Lochan, part of the Three Sisters ridges in Glencoe, on Saturday.

He and another climber, 47, were found at about mid-day, both with hypothermia, after they were reported overdue from a climb the previous day.

Police Scotland said the older man was in a life-threatening condition at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

image copyright Northpix image caption A climber was airlifted from the mountain suffering from hypothermia

The other climber is at Belford Hospital in Fort William and described as stable.

The men, from Nottinghamshire, were found following an extensive search involving police, HM Coastguard and mountain rescue teams.

Major operation

Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader for Glencoe Mountain Rescue said: "Both are hypothermic but one more so than the other.

"One casualty who is worse off has been taken to the Belford Hospital in Fort William by helicopter.

"The second casualty is walking wounded and is just being picked up.

"It's been quite a big rescue , it's been a good effort by us and our neighbouring teams."

image copyright Glencoe/Oban Mountain Rescue image caption A number of teams combed the area to find the two men

image caption Two coastguard helicopters were involved in the operation

Inverness Coastguard helicopter transported Glencoe and Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Teams to the area, while a Prestwick Coastguard helicopter searched the walkers' route.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard added: "HM Coastguard Stornoway helicopter was sent to the area just before 22:00 to carry out a search. They were unable to find the walkers but reported that they did see evidence of an avalanche in the area.

"Due to the weather conditions on scene the search was suspended until first light today.

"The search was resumed just after 08:00 this morning with two Coastguard helicopters from Inverness and Prestwick tasked to assist.

"One climber was located at mid-day and the helicopter paramedic winchman assessed them for hypothermia.

"The second climber was located around 12:30."

image caption The men had been climbing at Stob Coire nan Lochan

The risk of avalanche in Glencoe on Friday and Saturday was rated "considerable" by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS), particularly at corrie rims, gully tops and steep slope tops.

A SAIS report warned that conditions would "remain wintry and unsettled" for a few days.