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Glencoe avalanche: Three victims named | Glencoe avalanche: Three victims named |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Three of the climbers who died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday have been named by police. | Three of the climbers who died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday have been named by police. |
They are Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, from County Antrim, Tom Chesters, 28, who was living in Leeds and 24-year-old Christopher Bell, from Blackburn. | They are Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, from County Antrim, Tom Chesters, 28, who was living in Leeds and 24-year-old Christopher Bell, from Blackburn. |
The name of the fourth victim, a woman, has not been released yet. | The name of the fourth victim, a woman, has not been released yet. |
A fifth climber, a 24-year-old woman from the Durham area, is in a critical condition in a Glasgow hospital with serious head injuries. | A fifth climber, a 24-year-old woman from the Durham area, is in a critical condition in a Glasgow hospital with serious head injuries. |
The sixth member of the party, who survived the avalanche in Glencoe, said they were all "experienced winter walkers". | The sixth member of the party, who survived the avalanche in Glencoe, said they were all "experienced winter walkers". |
In a statement, the man, who has asked not to be named, said: "On Saturday 19 January 2013, five of my friends and I were descending a mountain in Glencoe, in an area known as Church Door Buttress, when the party was swept away by a snow avalanche. | In a statement, the man, who has asked not to be named, said: "On Saturday 19 January 2013, five of my friends and I were descending a mountain in Glencoe, in an area known as Church Door Buttress, when the party was swept away by a snow avalanche. |
"It is with much sadness and deep regret that some of my friends have died as a result. | "It is with much sadness and deep regret that some of my friends have died as a result. |
"All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers." | "All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers." |
The man thanked the rescuers for their efforts and requested to be left to grieve privately. | The man thanked the rescuers for their efforts and requested to be left to grieve privately. |
Police said Mr Bell, from Balderstone near Blackburn in Lancashire, was studying for a PHD in Ocean Mapping in Oban. | Police said Mr Bell, from Balderstone near Blackburn in Lancashire, was studying for a PHD in Ocean Mapping in Oban. |
Dr Finnegan was a junior doctor living in Edinburgh. | |
Mr Chesters was a PHD student at Hull University, living in Leeds. | Mr Chesters was a PHD student at Hull University, living in Leeds. |
The climbers were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT. | The climbers were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT. |
Following a major search two men and two women were found dead, buried beneath the snow. | Following a major search two men and two women were found dead, buried beneath the snow. |
Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond said it was an "appalling tragedy". | Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond said it was an "appalling tragedy". |
He added: "Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been lost." | He added: "Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been lost." |
Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, said: "This was a tragic event and I speak on behalf of all the mountain rescue team members involved when I say our hearts go out to the casualties and the families of all those involved. | Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, said: "This was a tragic event and I speak on behalf of all the mountain rescue team members involved when I say our hearts go out to the casualties and the families of all those involved. |
"People come from all over the UK and the world to experience and enjoy the mountain scenery and sports in this part of Scotland." | "People come from all over the UK and the world to experience and enjoy the mountain scenery and sports in this part of Scotland." |
The Reverend Moira Herkes of St Munda's Church, in the Highlands, said it was "the worst accident... here for many years". | The Reverend Moira Herkes of St Munda's Church, in the Highlands, said it was "the worst accident... here for many years". |
"It is very distressing, because people come here for pleasure and when something like this happens it hurts everyone involved," said Ms Herkes. | "It is very distressing, because people come here for pleasure and when something like this happens it hurts everyone involved," said Ms Herkes. |
"This is a very beautiful place, but at times it can be very dangerous." | "This is a very beautiful place, but at times it can be very dangerous." |
It is understood the group were descending from a peak on the south side of the valley, when the slope they were on broke away. | It is understood the group were descending from a peak on the south side of the valley, when the slope they were on broke away. |
Five of them were swept down the mountain and engulfed by ice and snow. | Five of them were swept down the mountain and engulfed by ice and snow. |
John Grieve, leader of Glencoe mountain rescue team, which co-ordinated the search, said the alarm was initially raised by two climbers - who were not part of the group of six - when they discovered one of the casualties lying in the snow. | John Grieve, leader of Glencoe mountain rescue team, which co-ordinated the search, said the alarm was initially raised by two climbers - who were not part of the group of six - when they discovered one of the casualties lying in the snow. |
Soon after, police were contacted by the party's male survivor who told them more people were missing. | Soon after, police were contacted by the party's male survivor who told them more people were missing. |
A major search operation, involving two mountain rescue teams and police dogs, located the bodies of the climbers. | A major search operation, involving two mountain rescue teams and police dogs, located the bodies of the climbers. |
Bidean Nam Bian is a Munro - a mountain higher than 3,000ft - with a number of different climbs. | Bidean Nam Bian is a Munro - a mountain higher than 3,000ft - with a number of different climbs. |
Mark Diggins, co-ordinator of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service, said weather conditions were fairly dry and there had been little snow over the last four days. | Mark Diggins, co-ordinator of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service, said weather conditions were fairly dry and there had been little snow over the last four days. |
But he added: "An avalanche is possible to be triggered by a single person." | But he added: "An avalanche is possible to be triggered by a single person." |