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Climbers die after rescue effort | Climbers die after rescue effort |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two climbers rescued after a night spent in "dreadful" conditions in the Cairngorms have died. | Two climbers rescued after a night spent in "dreadful" conditions in the Cairngorms have died. |
The men, aged 18 and 23, were a student from Aberdeen University and a recent graduate of the university. | |
They were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after being found by rescue teams on Monday morning. | |
It is suspected the pair, who have not been named by police, were caught out by extreme weather near Coire an t-Sneachda on Sunday. | |
They were found 15 to 20 minutes walk from a car park, about an hour's walk from the corrie. | |
The men had hitched a lift with eight friends from Aberdeen University climbing club - who were taking part in a safety course at Glenmore Lodge - to go climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda. | |
An Aberdeen University spokesman said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of one of our students and one of our graduates. | |
Conditions on Cairngorm were appalling last night and conditions for rescuers today were not any better with driving wind and snow showers Northern Constabulary spokesman | |
"The University would like to express its most sincere condolences to the families of both men at this very sad and difficult time." | |
Northern Constabulary said the group had agreed to all meet up at the lodge later on Sunday. | |
When the pair failed to turn up by 1930 GMT the party became worried and raised the alarm. | |
Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team members began a ground search of the area assisted by an RAF Rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth. | Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team members began a ground search of the area assisted by an RAF Rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth. |
'Sadly died' | |
However, worsening conditions forced the search to be called off until 0845 GMT on Monday. | However, worsening conditions forced the search to be called off until 0845 GMT on Monday. |
Rescue teams located the first man at about 1052 GMT and he was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. | Rescue teams located the first man at about 1052 GMT and he was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. |
The second was found an hour later, 400 yards away, by search dogs. | The second was found an hour later, 400 yards away, by search dogs. |
They were taken separately to hospital by a RAF Sea King helicopter. | They were taken separately to hospital by a RAF Sea King helicopter. |
A police spokesman said: "Sadly both men died following their arrival at hospital. | A police spokesman said: "Sadly both men died following their arrival at hospital. |
"Conditions on Cairngorm were appalling last night and conditions for rescuers today were not any better with driving wind and snow showers." | "Conditions on Cairngorm were appalling last night and conditions for rescuers today were not any better with driving wind and snow showers." |
A report into the circumstances of the incident will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. | A report into the circumstances of the incident will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. |
Deep snow | Deep snow |
Winds in the area gusted at up to 70 mph, lowering the temperature to -20C, and there was deep snow. | Winds in the area gusted at up to 70 mph, lowering the temperature to -20C, and there was deep snow. |
Earlier, RAF spokesman Michael Mulford described what the searchers were faced with. | Earlier, RAF spokesman Michael Mulford described what the searchers were faced with. |
He said: "It is a relatively small area but conditions are really awful. | He said: "It is a relatively small area but conditions are really awful. |
"You have got a lot of snow up there, you have got an avalanche danger. This is the difficulty with that whole area of Coire an t-Sneachda." | "You have got a lot of snow up there, you have got an avalanche danger. This is the difficulty with that whole area of Coire an t-Sneachda." |
The second climber is carefully taken off the helicopter | The second climber is carefully taken off the helicopter |
One veteran mountaineer told BBC Scotland that Coire an t-Sneachda is a honey pot for climbers because it is easy to get to and offers grade one to nine climbs for beginners to the highly experienced. | One veteran mountaineer told BBC Scotland that Coire an t-Sneachda is a honey pot for climbers because it is easy to get to and offers grade one to nine climbs for beginners to the highly experienced. |
In March, an RAF Sea King had to make an emergency landing in the corries after its rotors iced up. | In March, an RAF Sea King had to make an emergency landing in the corries after its rotors iced up. |
The crew had to abandon the helicopter, which was eventually flown back out after heating experts de-iced it. | The crew had to abandon the helicopter, which was eventually flown back out after heating experts de-iced it. |
The helicopter got into difficulty in a blizzard during a call-out to rescue a man injured while climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda, Gaelic for corrie of the snow. | The helicopter got into difficulty in a blizzard during a call-out to rescue a man injured while climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda, Gaelic for corrie of the snow. |