Woman climber killed and three hurt in mountain rocks avalanche

A WOMAN climber has died and at least three others have been injured after they were hit by an avalanche of rocks on a Scottish mountain.

Two rescue helicopters were sent to the Isle of Skye after several people were reported injured on the 3,235ft Sgurr Dearg, the second-highest mountain in the Cuillin range.

The climber who died was a woman in her 50s. She was hit by a boulder that was dislodged by her climbing partner on the Cioch Direct climb.

He was also injured when he fell with the boulder.

Two other climbers from a separate party - a man and a woman - were also injured by the boulder. The woman sustained injuries to her back and chest, and the man fractured his shoulder and right hand.

He walked down the mountain to get help and was later taken to hospital, Gerry Ackroyd of Skye Mountain Rescue said.

A third party narrowly escaped injury when they jumped out of the boulder's path.

Police, mountain rescue teams, and coastguard and RAF helicopters were scrambled shortly after 3pm, when a fellow walker heard the sound of rocks falling and screams.

The rescue operation finished shortly before 9pm.

None of the people involved in the accident have yet been formally identified.

All three injured were taken to the Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital in Broadford on Skye.

Mr Akroyd last night paid tribute to the "iron man" climber who made it down the hill with his fractured shoulder.

He said: "He walked off down the hill for help. He must have been some kind of iron man to do that with his injuries."

The second man was winched to hospital by helicopter and the woman carried out by stretcher.

The first of the injured was airlifted to the hospital after 6pm last night.

A spokeswoman for Portree Police said the climbers were hit by a major rock fall in a 10ft gully in the Coire Lagan junction of the main Cullin ridge that links Sgurr Dearg, Coire na Banachdich and Coir'-uisg: "It was big and must have lasted 30 to 40 seconds. The party unfortunately got caught in it. They were hit by large boulders.

"Next of kin will be informed of the death."

One of the injured is to be transferred Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. The others are remaining in Broadford Hospital on Skye.

Sgurr Dearg, Red Peak in Gaelic, is topped by the famous Inaccessible Pinnacle, a fin of rock measuring 150ft along its longest edge.

It is the only Munro with a peak that can only be reached by technical rock-climbing.

Three injured climbers were also rescued from other mountains in the Highlands yesterday. A Royal Navy helicopter from Prestwick airlifted an injured man from Ben Nevis, another man, with a hand injury, from Aonach Eagach, Glencoe, and a woman with an ankle injury, from the Lost Valley, also in Glencoe.

They were all taken to the Belford Hospital, Fort William for treatment.