One Climber Dies After Highlands Avalanche

One of the climbers who were rescued following an avalanche in the

Highlands has died in hospital.

A search and rescue operation was launched after the avalanche in the Creag Meagaidh area of north Lochaber, northeast of Fort William.

Emergency services were called at 3.15pm on Wednesday afternoon.

A coastguard helicopter, several mountain rescue teams and search and rescue dogs were all scrambled to the area, around 19 miles northeast of Ben Nevis.

Two injured men were flown out by the helicopter and picked up by ambulances in Fort William.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman initially said both were in "a serious condition".

Police Scotland Inspector DonaldCampbell later confirmed: "Sadly, one man succumbed to his injuries and his climbing companion remains in hospital."

The helicopter was diverted from an existing search for two missing climbers, Rachel Slaterand Tim Newton.

Tin Newton and Rachael Slater has been miss since Monday

The couple, aged 24 and 27 and described as very experienced climbers, went missing while climbing Ben Nevis at the weekend.

Concerns were raised about the pair – from the Bradford area – on Monday afternoon.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue's MillerHarris said the search would continue for Ms Slater and Mr Newton.

He said: "At the moment there is such a high risk that we will not put people into the situation where there is a risk of avalanche. "We've already had two people avalanched this week.

"Where possible, if we can get people helicoptered, we are getting a window of two to three hours."

Mr Harris said he would not tell people to stop climbing in the current conditions, but they should check the rescue service’s website for information about local conditions.