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Two Britons die on Norwegian peak | Two Britons die on Norwegian peak |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two British cross-country skiers have frozen to death in bad weather on a Norwegian mountain, police said. | Two British cross-country skiers have frozen to death in bad weather on a Norwegian mountain, police said. |
A third skier is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering severe hypothermia. | A third skier is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering severe hypothermia. |
The man was only alive thanks to a Red Cross patrol that found him by chance, the mountain rescue service said. | The man was only alive thanks to a Red Cross patrol that found him by chance, the mountain rescue service said. |
The three men, who worked for a pharmaceuticals company in Scotland, began their trek through the western Hardangervidda region on Friday. | |
Conditions at the time were described as cold and foggy conditions. | |
The identities of the men and how they died are not yet clear, but they were believed to be 18 and 50 years old. | The identities of the men and how they died are not yet clear, but they were believed to be 18 and 50 years old. |
The survivor, who police said was in his 40s, was taken to hospital in the west coast city of Bergen by helicopter. | The survivor, who police said was in his 40s, was taken to hospital in the west coast city of Bergen by helicopter. |
They were heading for a hut, a cottage, and they got lost. It was very foggy weather, it was snowy and windy Oddvar NordfonnBergen police | They were heading for a hut, a cottage, and they got lost. It was very foggy weather, it was snowy and windy Oddvar NordfonnBergen police |
All three were thought to be from Inverness-shire. | |
Lifescan Scotland, which manufactures products for diabetics, confirmed the three men were employees at its plant in Inverness. | |
A spokeswoman said the company and staff were "saddened" by the incident. | |
The survivor was able to tell rescuers that he and his fellow skiers were from Scotland. | The survivor was able to tell rescuers that he and his fellow skiers were from Scotland. |
Oddvar Nordfonn, of Bergen police, said the group had got into difficulty as they made their way towards a mountain cottage. | Oddvar Nordfonn, of Bergen police, said the group had got into difficulty as they made their way towards a mountain cottage. |
"They were heading for a hut, a cottage, and they got lost. It was very foggy weather, it was snowy and windy," he said. | "They were heading for a hut, a cottage, and they got lost. It was very foggy weather, it was snowy and windy," he said. |
He added that the survivor was taken to hospital by helicopter while the bodies of the dead men were driven by car to the hospital. | He added that the survivor was taken to hospital by helicopter while the bodies of the dead men were driven by car to the hospital. |
Further treatment | Further treatment |
The survivor was suffering from hypothermia but was slowly warmed up "in a medical way". | The survivor was suffering from hypothermia but was slowly warmed up "in a medical way". |
He is now in a good physical condition but is "mentally in shock", Mr Nordfonn said. | He is now in a good physical condition but is "mentally in shock", Mr Nordfonn said. |
The man is still receiving hospital treatment. | The man is still receiving hospital treatment. |
Bernt Apeland, of the Norwegian Red Cross, said the trio may not have had the equipment to deal with the "changeable" weather. | Bernt Apeland, of the Norwegian Red Cross, said the trio may not have had the equipment to deal with the "changeable" weather. |
He said: "Of course it was very strong and harsh weather and I don't think they were properly equipped for that kind of weather. | He said: "Of course it was very strong and harsh weather and I don't think they were properly equipped for that kind of weather. |
"The terrain is not very challenging but the climate is very changeable and that's what you need to look out for in that kind of area." | "The terrain is not very challenging but the climate is very changeable and that's what you need to look out for in that kind of area." |
The party was accompanied for part of the journey by two Norwegian skiers who turned back when the weather deteriorated. | The party was accompanied for part of the journey by two Norwegian skiers who turned back when the weather deteriorated. |
Aslak Braatveit, one of the Norwegians, said: "We could never imagine they were going to continue after the weather changed. It was getting much worse." | Aslak Braatveit, one of the Norwegians, said: "We could never imagine they were going to continue after the weather changed. It was getting much worse." |
The survivor was found buried in the snow, frozen and unconscious next to a ski track, by a Red Cross team on a training exercise. | The survivor was found buried in the snow, frozen and unconscious next to a ski track, by a Red Cross team on a training exercise. |
The bodies of the men were found in the snow nearby. | The bodies of the men were found in the snow nearby. |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the reports and we are following up on that. Consular officials are looking into it but we can't confirm anything at the moment." | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the reports and we are following up on that. Consular officials are looking into it but we can't confirm anything at the moment." |
Hardangervidda is Europe's largest mountain plateau and is home to thousands of reindeer and a large national park that is a popular tourist attraction. | Hardangervidda is Europe's largest mountain plateau and is home to thousands of reindeer and a large national park that is a popular tourist attraction. |