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| Glencoe avalanche: Survivor speaks of regret | Glencoe avalanche: Survivor speaks of regret |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The survivor of an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands, in which four of his friends died, has said they were all "experienced winter walkers". | The survivor of an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands, in which four of his friends died, has said they were all "experienced winter walkers". |
| The man, who asked not to be named, spoke of his sadness and deep regret at the deaths in Glencoe on Saturday. | The man, who asked not to be named, spoke of his sadness and deep regret at the deaths in Glencoe on Saturday. |
| Three of those who died have been named by Northern Constabulary. | |
| They are Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, from County Antrim, Tom Chesters, 28, who was living in Leeds and 24-year-old Christopher Bell, from Blackpool. | |
| Mr Bell was a Phd student studying Ocean Mapping in Oban, Northern Constabulary said. | Mr Bell was a Phd student studying Ocean Mapping in Oban, Northern Constabulary said. |
| The sixth member of the climbing party, a 24-year-old woman, from the Durham area, was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. | The sixth member of the climbing party, a 24-year-old woman, from the Durham area, was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. |
| She has been transferred to the Southern General in Glasgow where she remains in a critical condition. | She has been transferred to the Southern General in Glasgow where she remains in a critical condition. |
| The climbers were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT on Saturday. | The climbers were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT on Saturday. |
| 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. |
| Different parts of UK | Different parts of UK |
| Police said the climbing party were from different parts of the UK. | Police said the climbing party were from different parts of the UK. |
| A statement from the male survivor was read out at a police media conference on Sunday afternoon. | A statement from the male survivor was read out at a police media conference on Sunday afternoon. |
| It 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 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. | |
| 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." |