Elderly walker saved by joint rescue effort on Ben Nevis (with footage)

Teamwork between the Coastguard helicopter and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team​ and RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Team​ (MRT) has led to the safe return of an elderly walker who was stranded in sub-zero conditions on the peak of Ben Nevis, 4000ft above sea level.  

The man had spoken of his intention to climb Ben Nevis the day before and had not returned when he was scheduled to – which led to a search and rescue operation the following morning (21 March 2017).  Hampered by periodic inclement weather, which drastically reduced the visibility, and freezing conditions, the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team trekked through waist-deep snow and eventually found the man just below the summit of Ben Nevis suffering from severe hypothermia.

With adverse conditions and near zero visibility the four man team from Lochaber MRT started to bring the casualty and themselves down the tourist path of Ben Nevis.  Due to extremely low cloud cover, the UK Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter based at Inverness carried extra MRT members at Halfway Lochan to assist with recovery of the man.  Fortuitously, a very short four minute weather clearance occurred allowing the Coastguard helicopter to winch the man to safety from the tourist path.  The casualty was airlifted to Torlundy where he was met by an awaiting Lochaber MRT Doctor.

UK Coastguard Winchman Paramedic Alan Speed said:  ‘Thankfully, the Mountain Rescue Teams reached the man first and were able to inform us when there was a window to fly in safely.  We train with the teams for every eventuality and thanks to their expertise and professionalism we were able to winch the man quickly on board.  Despite his ordeal, we have been told he is on the road to recovery which is great news.’


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