A woman has died following a climbing accident in the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye yesterday (Tuesday 31 May 2011). It is understood that the woman was attempting the Cioch Direct route in the Cuillin when her climbing partner dislodged a large rock which hit her causing fatal head injuries. Her climbing partner was also injured as he fell with the falling boulder.
A separate climbing pair were also injured when they were fit by the boulder and another party of three narrowly missed the rock as they were able to jump out of it’s path.
One of the men in the second group managed to walk off the mountain to raise the alarm despite suffering a broken shoulder and hand. Gerry Ackroyd, leader of the Skye Mountain Rescue Team told the BBC: “He walked off down the hill for help. He must have been some kind of iron man to do that with his injuries.”
The injured climbers were treated at Broadford hospital on Skye.
UPDATE: 16:30 June 1: Police have now named the deceased woman as Tessa Cousins, 56, self employed, from Cape Town, South Africa.
Three of the other people injured during the incident, including two men and a woman are recovering in hospital from their injuries.