Mountain rescuers have saved a group of ill-prepared climbers after they became stuck on Scotland’s highest mountain in “horrendous” conditions.
The party of four, some of whom were wearing trainers, came into trouble on ice at Coire Eoghainn, near the summit of Ben Nevis, during blizzard conditions on Monday.
Twenty-two members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and a UK Coastguard helicopter were called to the Munro in the afternoon.
All members of the group were traced by 4.15pm.
After being found, the helicopter airlifted the walkers from the Half Way Lochan and took them to Belford Hospital.
The rescue team described the group as “extremely lucky people”.
They added that three of the group were wearing trainers and that none of them had any winter walking gear whatsoever.
A statement on the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team’s Facebook page reads: “No winter kit – no ice axes, no crampons and as far as we are aware no maps. Three of the guys were in trainers.
“They were about 150 metres down into Coire Eoghainn on steep ice and if they had slipped or gone down any further consequences could have far more serious.
“What Three Words app took (the) team to within metres of their location. Fair does to the guys as they did survive in some of the most challenging weather this year. Could have so easily ended up so different.
“Fantastic effort by the team members to find them and get them down safely. The boss is letting the members from summit team have an extra sugar in their tea and a ginger nut each now.
“Thanks to R151 for assistance and some great flying to get casualties lifted from Half Way Lochan.”
The wind chill on Ben Nevis is said to have been -20C during the rescue with strong winds creating blizzard conditions.
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It comes as Scotland was hit by heavy snow showers in the wake of Storm Ciara, which brought widespread chaos to the country across the weekend.
