A climber had a “lucky escape” after plunging more than 130ft on the UK’s highest mountain.
The man in his 20s only broke an ankle after his fall was cushioned by thick snow on Ben Nevis.
Ten members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team went to his aid after the alarm was raised around 2.30pm on Wednesday.
In a four-and-a-half hour rescue the man was stretchered by the team to a position on the 4411ft high mountain before a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick took him to the Belford Hospital in Fort William. His condition is unknown.
John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber MRT, said the man was climbing with a friend on Point Three Gully on the mountain’s North Face.
He added: “He was a lucky boy to fall that far and only break an ankle. There is still lots of snow about and that probably cushioned his fall.
“He fell about 40 metres (131ft) and his mate held him with the rope. It was a textbook operation. But where he fell is a really steep gully – he was also lucky he did not fall further. He just landed on his ankle and snapped it – but he got off lightly. It could have been a lot worse.”
Another climber in Glen Coe also needed rescuing on Wedneday
Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team requested Coastguard helicopter assistance for a 51-year-old climber sustained minor head, rib and elbow injuries. He called for help around 1pm.
The man was flown to Fort William into the care of ambulance personnel and onward to the Belford Hospital in the town. His condition is unknown.
Meanwhile, a walker was airlifted to hospital yesterday after injuring their knee on a Scottish mountain.
The alarm was raised just after 2pm when the hiker slipped on 3,694ft Ben Cruachan in Argyll.
The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick was sent along with the Oban Mountain Rescue Team. The walker was airlifted to Glasgow and passed into the care of the ambulance service. Their condition is unknown.
