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Climber rescued in huge operation Hurt climber airlifted to safety
(about 2 hours later)
An ice climber who was stranded on a cliff after breaking his leg is being brought to safety after a rescue operation involving up to 50 people.An ice climber who was stranded on a cliff after breaking his leg is being brought to safety after a rescue operation involving up to 50 people.
Teams from RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth braved blizzards to save the man located at 0430 GMT on Thursday in Raeburns Gully, Deeside, Aberdeenshire. Teams from RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth braved blizzards to save the man, who was located at 0430 GMT on Thursday in Raeburns Gully, Deeside, Aberdeenshire.
The climber, aged 61, was sheltering at a first aid post on Lochnagar.The climber, aged 61, was sheltering at a first aid post on Lochnagar.
Inspector Andrew Todd, from Grampian Police, said the climber was lucky to have found his way to safety. He has been picked up by an RAF helicopter, which is taking him to hospital.
Rescue crews had started to bring the man off the hill on foot because of the bad weather conditions, including gale-force winds and heavy snow and sleet, which they said made the operation "near impossible".
These first aid posts have been placed within specific locations over a number of years by the rescue teams for exactly this type of occurrence Insp Andrew Todd Grampian Police
But the conditions cleared, allowing the helicopter from Lossiemouth to attend the scene.
Insp Andrew Todd, from Grampian Police, said the climber was lucky to have found his way to safety.
He added: "These first aid posts have been placed within specific locations over a number of years by the rescue teams for exactly this type of occurrence."He added: "These first aid posts have been placed within specific locations over a number of years by the rescue teams for exactly this type of occurrence."
The man is expected to be off the cliffs and receiving hospital treatment by mid-morning.
The rescue operation got under way after the climber's wife reported him missing when he failed to return from his solo climb on Wednesday.The rescue operation got under way after the climber's wife reported him missing when he failed to return from his solo climb on Wednesday.
Initial efforts were hampered by gale-force winds and heavy snow and sleet, which rescuers said made the operation "near impossible".
The agencies involved in the rescue included Braemar and Grampian Police Mountain Rescue Teams, Royal Air Force teams from RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars, and the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team.The agencies involved in the rescue included Braemar and Grampian Police Mountain Rescue Teams, Royal Air Force teams from RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars, and the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team.