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Two ice climbers die after rescue Climbers die after rescue effort
(40 minutes later)
Two ice 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 and from Aberdeen University Climbing Club, were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The men, aged 18 and 23 from Aberdeen University's climbing club, were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after being found on Monday morning.
It is suspected the men were caught out by extreme weather in Coire an t-Sneachda in the Northern Corries on Sunday. It is suspected the men 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.
Police said their details were not being released at this stage.Police said their details were not being released at this stage.
The pair had hitched a lift with eight friends from the climbing club - who were taking part in a safety course at Glenmore Lodge - to go climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda.
Northern Constabulary said they had agreed to all meet up at the lodge later on Sunday.
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 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.
However, worsening conditions forced the search to be called off until 0845 GMT on Monday.
Rescue teams located the first man at about 1052am and he was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
The second was found an hour later, 400 yards away, by search dogs.
Both were found about 15 to 20 minutes walk from a car park, which is an hour's walk from Coire an t-Sneachda.
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."
A report into the circumstances of the incident will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Deep snow
The first man was found at 1052 GMT on Monday by search dogs. The second was found an hour later, 400 yards away.The first man was found at 1052 GMT on Monday by search dogs. The second was found an hour later, 400 yards away.
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 RAF spokesman Michael Mulford They were taken separately to hospital by a RAF Sea King helicopter.
They were taken to hospital by RAF Sea King helicopter.
A search was launched overnight with a helicopter from Lossiemouth using an infra-red camera and four mountain rescue team members on the ground.
The operation resumed on Monday morning and involved 30 members of Cairngorm and RAF Kinloss mountain rescue teams and a search dog team.
Before the men were found, rescue services spoke of the difficult conditions in the area.
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 helicopterThe 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.