A hillwalker has died after falling about 400ft while descending one of Scotland’s highest mountains.
Emergency services were scrambled to the slopes of Aonach Beag in Lochaber after reports the man had fallen late on Thursday afternoon.
He was recovered by the Inverness-based coastguard helicopter Rescue 951 and taken to Carr’s Corner to be met by a doctor.
However, he succumbed to his injuries.
Mountain rescuers believe the man – who was in his 50s – may have slipped on black ice while descending from the mountain’s 4,048ft summit towards Glen Nevis.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team leader John Stevenson described the fall as a “pure accident”.
The man has not yet been named but police are in contact with his next of kin.
It is understood he was from England and was in the Highlands on a Munro-bagging trip with a friend.
His male companion was uninjured and raised the alarm with the emergency services.
The mountain rescue team mustered and were set to head out to search for the injured man but Rescue 951 was able to spot him and winch him on board before they arrived at the scene.
Team leader Mr Stevenson said he had not spoken to the surviving member of the party and did not know exactly what had happened.
He said: “It is very icy up there, black ice so it’s quite possible he just slipped on that.
“The other man made it down safely so it sounds like it was just a pure accident unfortunately.”
A spokeswoman for the police confirmed that “very sadly” the man had died.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “Lochaber police are liaising with the man’s next of kin and a report is being prepared for the procurator fiscal.
“The man was walking with a male companion who was not injured.
“Further details on the man’s identity will be released in due course.
“Police would like to thank partner agencies for their assistance during the incident.”
Aonach Beag is the second highest peak in the Nevis range after Ben Nevis and is frequently climbed in combination with its sister peak Aonach Mor.
It is the first mountain death in Scotland this year, although there has been a spate of operations for the north’s rescue teams in the last week.
