Lost climber used camera flash to guide rescuers

The 56-year-old climber feared he would have to spend a night on the hills after he lost his way at Loch Treig in Lochaber at the weekend and darkness started to fall.

After calling police on his mobile phone he was told to use the flash on his camera as soon as he heard the helicopter flying overhead.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team leader Terry Confield said: "He was not equipped with a torch and got lost because he was unable to read his map. The Loch Treig area has lots of gullies, so he did the right thing and called the police."

He said an RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth joined members of his rescue team in the search for the climber. Mr Confield added: "It was discovered the climber had a camera, so he was informed over his mobile phone to flash it when he heard the helicopter near him.

"The helicopter crew spotted the flashes and went straight to his location. The climber was told not to continue flashing as the helicopter approached, because it could blind the pilot. From there he was winched to safety."

The man, who did not want to be named, did not require medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Lochaber Team and an RAF helicopter were called into action earlier on Saturday to the aid of a climber who had fallen and injured his ankle.

Philip Amos, 31, and a companion were ice climbing at Creag Meagaidh when the accident happened.

Mr Amos, an environmental engineer from Edinburgh, had just completed climbing a steep pitch of ice and was preparing to cross on to snow when his ice axe lost grip.

He was unable to secure a hold and fell backwards, dropping about 25 feet. During the fall his right boot became caught on ice causing the injury.

The climber’s companion contacted police at Fort William and the RAF rescue helicopter located both men in Creag Meagaidh.

Mr Amos was airlifted to Belford Hospital where he had treatment to his sprained ankle. The injury did not require him being kept in overnight.