Climber injured in Ben Nevis fall

AN ICE climber was seriously injured yesterday after falling hundreds of feet down an area of Ben Nevis where two people were killed in December.

The alarm was raised at about 10:25am by two men climbing with the injured man in an area known as the Organ Pipes on the north face of the mountain.

They and four others on the hill kept the man warm and administered first aid until rescuers arrived.

Members of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team were taken to the scene, along with a doctor from Fort William, and they found the casualty in Coire na Ciste.

The climber, who was suffering from head, leg and arm injuries, was later flown to Belford Hospital in Fort William.

He was expected to be transferred last night to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

He had not been identified last night, but is understood to be from England.

A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman said the injured man had fallen "several hundred feet" from an ice climb.

She said it was unclear whether the accident occurred as a result of an avalanche or if snow had fallen on top of the man after he fell.

The force issued a warning to climbers and walkers about the risk of avalanches.

Area commander Chief Inspector John Chisholm said: "We are expecting more severe weather and heavy snowfalls over the next couple of days.

"Any climbers going on to the hills should check the latest reports issued by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service and the latest weather reports."