By Dave Lord

THE CONSEQUENCES for a pair of teenage girls rescued from a Perthshire hillside could have been “catastrophic” were it not for their thorough training and calm attitude, it was claimed yesterday.

Perth Academy pupils Claire Downie and Vicky Wann were airlifted to safety on Wednesday night after they began to show signs of hypothermia during a Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme trip.

Emergency services were alerted and the 16-year-olds were flown to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and placed under observation before being allowed home.

Fears have been raised that the consequences of the unusually inclement weather could have been far worse had the girls not been so well prepared for the walk from Loch Ericht to Loch Errochty.

Perth Academy head teacher Charles Kiddie yesterday admitted the pupils had been caught out by “unusually harsh weather” but praised their “good judgment.” In all, eight groups from the school took part in the outdoor expedition but all have now returned from the hills.

“Many of the pupils have been keen to continue with the exercise and see it all as a bit of an adventure,” he said. “However, given the unusually harsh weather, they can see the sense of exercising good judgment by coming down from the hills.”

Mr Kiddie defended the trip and said the dramatic incident went to prove how effective the pupils’ training had been. “The whole expedition process is overseen by highly trained and experienced assessors with whom the teachers in the hills have had regular contact,” he said.

“Reports indicate that staff and young people have been making the right decisions. This confirms the value of the training they received throughout the winter, and earlier this term, on the hills. I would like to commend all of the pupils for their mature response in the circumstances.”

Pupils had pitched tents and attempted to keep warm in sleeping bags as the dire conditions continued to deteriorate.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman joined Mr Kiddie in commending the youngsters for their “responsible” attitude.

“Thanks to the thoroughness of their training the pupils have been able to react and respond appropriately to the severe conditions,” he said. “Teaching staff are on location with the pupils and—as a precaution in the severe weather—directed pupils to come down from the hills.”

Local councillor Alexander Stewart also spoke of the vital importance of the girls’ training. “I would like to pay tribute to the individuals involved who showed real resilience in difficult circumstances. Obviously they were very well prepared as this could have been a catastrophic incident.

“In reality the girls managed the situation very well and showed real maturity.”

Neither of the girls involved in the rescue were yesterday available for comment.