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| Search for Ben Nevis climbers halted after avalanche nearby | Search for Ben Nevis climbers halted after avalanche nearby |
| (7 months later) | |
| The search for two climbers missing on Ben Nevis has been interrupted after a coastguard helicopter leading it was diverted to attend a nearby avalanche where people may be trapped. | The search for two climbers missing on Ben Nevis has been interrupted after a coastguard helicopter leading it was diverted to attend a nearby avalanche where people may be trapped. |
| The Lochaber mountain rescue team (LMRT) had resumed efforts to find Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, on Wednesday after weather conditions improved during the morning, but the search and rescue craft was then sent north to attend an avalanche in the Creag Meagaidh area. | The Lochaber mountain rescue team (LMRT) had resumed efforts to find Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, on Wednesday after weather conditions improved during the morning, but the search and rescue craft was then sent north to attend an avalanche in the Creag Meagaidh area. |
| Mountain rescuers had been searching for the couple from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who disappeared on Britain’s highest mountain during a weekend climbing trip. The pair had not left information about their planned route. | Mountain rescuers had been searching for the couple from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who disappeared on Britain’s highest mountain during a weekend climbing trip. The pair had not left information about their planned route. |
| Earlier, Donald Paterson, from LMRT, said his colleagues had not given up hope of finding the couple alive: “It’s only two days, we’re only looking at two days at the moment. We’ve actually had people on the Ben who have survived for four days. | Earlier, Donald Paterson, from LMRT, said his colleagues had not given up hope of finding the couple alive: “It’s only two days, we’re only looking at two days at the moment. We’ve actually had people on the Ben who have survived for four days. |
| “That’s why at this stage, we’re certainly not giving up and we’ll continue to do our best until we hear otherwise or hear any positive information that we can rely on.” | “That’s why at this stage, we’re certainly not giving up and we’ll continue to do our best until we hear otherwise or hear any positive information that we can rely on.” |
| The alarm was raised on Monday morning by Slater’s employers after she failed to arrive for work. | The alarm was raised on Monday morning by Slater’s employers after she failed to arrive for work. |
| The couple had been camping in a green tent immediately behind the Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) memorial hut on the north side of the mountain. The hut lies at the foot of the main north-face climbs of Ben Nevis, near the head of Allt a’Mhuilinn. | The couple had been camping in a green tent immediately behind the Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) memorial hut on the north side of the mountain. The hut lies at the foot of the main north-face climbs of Ben Nevis, near the head of Allt a’Mhuilinn. |
| According to the LMRT, 39 people were involved in the initial search. They have appealed for anyone who might have seen the climbers to get in touch immediately. | According to the LMRT, 39 people were involved in the initial search. They have appealed for anyone who might have seen the climbers to get in touch immediately. |
| Police in Scotland said the rescue team was receiving help from the RAF mountain rescue team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association. “The terrain does not allow for any vehicles to be used so the search is carried out on foot.” | Police in Scotland said the rescue team was receiving help from the RAF mountain rescue team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association. “The terrain does not allow for any vehicles to be used so the search is carried out on foot.” |
| Jackie Cahill, Slater’s aunt, said the missing couple had travelled to Ben Nevis for a Valentine’s trip. | Jackie Cahill, Slater’s aunt, said the missing couple had travelled to Ben Nevis for a Valentine’s trip. |
| The 54-year-old, who lives in Australia but is visiting family in the UK, said: “I’m not sure how long they have been together or how they met … I can only assume they got together through their love of climbing … Rachel is an experienced climber. All we can do is wait for news. It is shocking.” | The 54-year-old, who lives in Australia but is visiting family in the UK, said: “I’m not sure how long they have been together or how they met … I can only assume they got together through their love of climbing … Rachel is an experienced climber. All we can do is wait for news. It is shocking.” |
| Slater’s father, Nigel, is believed to have travelled from Calgary, Canada, to the UK at the weekend. | Slater’s father, Nigel, is believed to have travelled from Calgary, Canada, to the UK at the weekend. |
| Climbers discussing the disappearance on internet forums said the couple had last been seen climbing on the South Trident Buttress. Patrick Roman, who saw them just before midday on Saturday, wrote on a climbing forum: “I was outside the CIC on Saturday morning. There were two people matching the image in the photo: he was wearing a red jacket and she a green and turquoise jacket. I went around the back of the hut to sort some of my kit out of the wind. | Climbers discussing the disappearance on internet forums said the couple had last been seen climbing on the South Trident Buttress. Patrick Roman, who saw them just before midday on Saturday, wrote on a climbing forum: “I was outside the CIC on Saturday morning. There were two people matching the image in the photo: he was wearing a red jacket and she a green and turquoise jacket. I went around the back of the hut to sort some of my kit out of the wind. |
| “The male came round a minute later and stood very close to me – I remember thinking at the time that he probably thought I was raking through the tent. I don’t know if it was his tent, but he stood there for a few minutes before walking back round to the front of the hut. When I returned round a few minutes after that, I remember seeing the girl putting on white sunglasses by the water pipe and begin heading back down the path. I started up towards Coire na Ciste and after another couple of minutes I spotted her for the last time about 100 metres or so further down the path.” | “The male came round a minute later and stood very close to me – I remember thinking at the time that he probably thought I was raking through the tent. I don’t know if it was his tent, but he stood there for a few minutes before walking back round to the front of the hut. When I returned round a few minutes after that, I remember seeing the girl putting on white sunglasses by the water pipe and begin heading back down the path. I started up towards Coire na Ciste and after another couple of minutes I spotted her for the last time about 100 metres or so further down the path.” |
| Martin Millmore, director of the Mineral Planning Group in Bradford, where Slater works as an environmental scientist, said: “My colleague Chris raised the alarm at 9.30am on Monday and called mountain rescue when Rachel hadn’t turned up promptly as she does at 8am. We rang mountain rescue and I called Rachel’s parents, who live in Canada. Rachel has been marvellous for the year she has been here, she’s a first-class planner. Every weekend she was off like a bullet on a Friday afternoon to go climbing.” | Martin Millmore, director of the Mineral Planning Group in Bradford, where Slater works as an environmental scientist, said: “My colleague Chris raised the alarm at 9.30am on Monday and called mountain rescue when Rachel hadn’t turned up promptly as she does at 8am. We rang mountain rescue and I called Rachel’s parents, who live in Canada. Rachel has been marvellous for the year she has been here, she’s a first-class planner. Every weekend she was off like a bullet on a Friday afternoon to go climbing.” |
| Slater moved to Canada with her family in 2005. She returned to the UK in 2009 to study environmental science at the University of Manchester. In September 2013, she completed a six-month contract with an environmental consultancy in Glasgow before embarking on a three-month climbing trip to France and Spain. | Slater moved to Canada with her family in 2005. She returned to the UK in 2009 to study environmental science at the University of Manchester. In September 2013, she completed a six-month contract with an environmental consultancy in Glasgow before embarking on a three-month climbing trip to France and Spain. |
| The LMRT has posted a request for information on its Facebook page. Responding to the message, Tony Walker wrote: “The missing persons are Rachel Slater (my niece) and her partner, Tim Newton. Both very experienced climbers. Most likely they are wearing the same clothing as in the photo. Any info greatly appreciated.” | The LMRT has posted a request for information on its Facebook page. Responding to the message, Tony Walker wrote: “The missing persons are Rachel Slater (my niece) and her partner, Tim Newton. Both very experienced climbers. Most likely they are wearing the same clothing as in the photo. Any info greatly appreciated.” |
| Newton, originally from Leicester, has studied physics at the universities of Manchester and Leeds, according to his Facebook profile. | Newton, originally from Leicester, has studied physics at the universities of Manchester and Leeds, according to his Facebook profile. |
| Police Scotland confirmed that a tent had been found on the mountain, where temperatures dropped to almost -7C over the weekend, according to the nearest weather station at Aonach Mòr. | Police Scotland confirmed that a tent had been found on the mountain, where temperatures dropped to almost -7C over the weekend, according to the nearest weather station at Aonach Mòr. |
| Meanwhile, police said they have found three walkers missing in the Southern Uplands since Tuesday afternoon, but that one of them later died. | Meanwhile, police said they have found three walkers missing in the Southern Uplands since Tuesday afternoon, but that one of them later died. |
| Bobby Thomson, 64, George Crosbie, 73, and Jeffrey Stewart, 74, had not been seen since heading off in the hills around Durisdeer, in Dumfries and Galloway, on Tuesday afternoon. They told family they would be home by 3.30pm but relatives called the police two hours later when they failed to return. | Bobby Thomson, 64, George Crosbie, 73, and Jeffrey Stewart, 74, had not been seen since heading off in the hills around Durisdeer, in Dumfries and Galloway, on Tuesday afternoon. They told family they would be home by 3.30pm but relatives called the police two hours later when they failed to return. |
| Police said the men were found 2.5 miles (4km) east of the village of Durisdeer. They were airlifted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where two are being treated for hypothermia. | Police said the men were found 2.5 miles (4km) east of the village of Durisdeer. They were airlifted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where two are being treated for hypothermia. |