Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team assists injured solo teen climber

Two climbers were rescued in as many days over the weekend after falling in the same area of the Cairngorms.

Eighteen members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team were called out on Saturday to a solo teenage climber who had fallen in Coire an t-Sneachda and sustained a lower leg injury.

It follows a call out the previous day to help a woman climber who had a lucky escape after plunging 100 feet in the same area – hitting the rock face on her way down

A heavy snow shower and poor visibility prevented the Coastguard rescue helicopter flying into the location at first on Saturday.

CMRT leader Iain Cornfoot said: "The team packaged the casualty into a stretcher and lowered him to the Coire floor. As he reached the Coire floor there was a break in the weather and the helicopter was able to fly in and winch the casualty up.

"He had not fallen that far and suffered a leg injury and was taken to Raigmore Hospital.

"We would like to thank the climbers that raised the alarm and Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team – who were training in the area – for their assistance during this rescue.

"There was heavy snow at times and both these rescues are just normal climbing incidents. It is part of the risk of the sport."

In the earlier incident, the woman was with a male companion in Coire an t-Sneachda about 3300 feet up when she fell.

Initial assistance was provided by climbers on an adjacent route.

In total 20 members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team went to her aid after the alarm was raised around 2pm on Friday.

Team leader Iain Cornfoot said three rescuers managed to climb up from below and reach the woman who had suffered lower leg and rib injuries.

"She was roped with the other climber and must have hit the rock face when she fell," he said. "She was winter climbing and it is pretty steep there. Even though she was injured she had a lucky escape - it could have been worse.

"With help she was lowered on to a ledge and the team provide medical care on the crag.

"At first the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness could not get in because of the cloud, but a break allowed it to winch the climber to safety and evacuate her to hospital"

The woman was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Her condition is unknown but is not believed to be life threatening.

The team were also put on stand by after a paraglider crashed at Coignafearn near Tomatin, but were not needed as a helimed managed to reach the injured pilot.

The CMRT is a volunteer service. For more details on their work and to make donations click here

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