Mountain Rescuers started searching at first light today (Thursday 5 January) for two walkers missing overnight on the Cairngorm plateau. The alarm was raised at 8pm last night when the pair failed to return from their hillwalk. Wintery weather conditions last night included below freezing temperatures and heavy snow.
Police are coordinating rescue efforts by the Cairngorms Mountain Rescue Team and the RAF helicopter search team.
UPDATE: 12:30 The two walkers have now been found safe having spent the night on the hills. The two men, aged 22 and 29, were spotted by the RAF helicopter at approximately 11 am and were airlifted to Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore. It is not known what condition the men are in or whether they have required medical treatment.
According to the BBC, those involved in the search included members of Strathclyde Police Mountain Rescue Team, who were training in the area, along with 21 members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, 10 from RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team and four Search and Rescue Dog Association dogs and their handlers.