Three rescued from Cairngorms avalanche

Three people have been rescued following an avalanche in Coire an t-Sneachda in the Cairngorms today (Saturday 2 February). Although all three were taken by helicopter to hospital in Inverness it is thought that none of them have serious injuries.

The avalanche was reported to have happened shortly before 11:30 hours this morning in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms.

Officers from Northern Constabulary were assisted by members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Helicopter One Three Seven and Strathclyde Police Mountain Rescue Team, who were conducting training in the area.

Earlier in the day two men escaped another avalanche when snow gave way beneath them near the Fiacaill Buttress in the Coire an t-Sneachda. It is thought the second avalanche happened about 40 minutes later when the three were ascending at around 1000 metres when the avalanche took place, carrying them around 150 metres, although they were not buried. The Police have not yet released any details of the casualties.

Al Gilmour of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue told the BBC: “There was actually a separate avalanche in the area before we got the call out for the later one with three people. Two people involved in that walked away completely unscathed so they were lucky.

“The later one involved three men who were carried about 150m over rocks but they were wearing helmets and, from accounts of the rescue personnel on the hill, that probably saved them and they got away with leg injuries, although one of them may have a particularly serious lower leg injury.”

Whilst hill walking conditions were fairly good in the Cairngorms there was a high avalanche risk forecast for some slopes.