Two injured in Ben Nevis avalanche

A FEMALE climber has been seriously injured after being caught in an avalanche below the North face of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

File photo of Ben Nevis. Both climbers were injured in the Coire Leis area. Picture: Geograph.co.uk

A male climber has also been injured in the avalanche in the Coire Leis area of the 1,344 metre high peak.

Initial reports had indicated that four climbers had been hit by the avalanche high on Ben Nevis.

Members of the Lochaber Mountain rescue team were deployed to go to the aid of the climbers, together with Rescue 177, the search and rescue helicopter based at HMS Gannet at Prestwick.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said the female climber, who had been caught in an avalanche in the Coire Leis area, had been airlifted from the mountain by the Royal Navy helicopter and then taken by ambulance to Belford Hospital in Fort William suffering from serious in juries. A male climber caught in the avalanche was described as “walking wounded.”

In a second incident a climber who had fallen an estimated 30 metres in the Kinlochleven area was also airlifted to safety by the crew of Rescue 177 this afternoon.

A force spokesman said: “Police received a report at 3.36pm today of a man having fallen approximately 20 to 30 metres whilst out hill-walking in the Kinlochleven area. Assistance was provided by Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team and Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter 177.”

He added: “The injured man, who was conscious and breathing, was flown to a waiting ambulance and subsequently taken to Belford Hospital.”