Woman killed in Cairngorms was on outdoors date

A WOMAN killed by a falling rock on a climbing expedition in the Scottish hills was on outdoors date with a man she met online, it was revealed today

Coire An-t Sneachda in the Cairngorms, the couples were said to be on 'Pygmy ridge' when the accident happened. Picture: Complimentary

She and a companion were with two other couples who had met each other on the Outdoors Duo website - which bills itself as a meeting place for active outdoor people - and had been paired off before they started the climb.

The pair were were preparing to scale what rescuers called a “moderate ascent” in the Cairngorms when she was struck and killed by the massive boulder.

Two of the couples were on the ridge when the rocks suddenly started falling, they escaped injury.

The six climbers in the group are all understood to be from England and were all members of the online dating site Outdoors Duo.

The website states: “If you are looking to date an active outdoor partner and enjoy the outdoors hand-in-hand with a fellow enthusiast or just find a few friends with similar interests, then look no further.”

Others in the group scrambled down the mountain to try and bring her back to life

Mountain rescuers and a Royal Navy helicopter were sent to the scene at Pygmy Ridge in Coire an t-Sneachda - three miles from Aviemore Ski Centre - but it is understood the woman had died instantly.

Others in the group scrambled down the mountain to try and bring her back to life.

Willie Anderson, leader of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said: “It was the size of the rock which hit her that caused what we believe was instant death and emergency teams were unable to do anything.

“Our usual helicopter back up, Rescue 137 from RAF Lossiemouth, was tasked elsewhere, so Rescue 177 was scrambled from HMS Gannet at Prestwick to assist.

“It was an extremely technical process to bring her back off the mountain.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At about 2:32pm yesterday (Tuesday 2nd September) Police Scotland received a report of a casualty near the Pygmy Ridge on Coire an t-Sneachda in the Cairngorm Mountain range.

In March a climber was thrown 600ft down the corrie

“Police co-ordinated a mountain rescue with assistance from the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Rescue 177 but sadly, the woman could not be resuscitated.

“The woman will not be identified until all next of kin have been informed. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Last month, climbers using parts of the corrie were warned that the tail-end of Hurricane Bertha had brought torrential rain and winds which dislodged and loosened rocks in the area.

The corrie’s name translates as Corrie of the Snow and it is close to Cairngorm Mountain.

In March a climber was thrown 600ft down the corrie after hurricane-force winds dislodged a block of ice.

He escaped with only a minor leg injury thanks to landing in a snowdrift at the bottom of the mountain, blown there by the strong winds.