DRAMATIC video of an airborne rescue off the jagged face of Britain’s tallest mountain has surfaced online.
On Sunday a climber on Ben Nevis became stranded after injuring himself in a fall at around 3,000ft.
Marooned on the sheer rock face of the mountain the man’s climbing companions were unable to evacuate him down the still-snowy slopes.
Eventually the Coastguard helicopter was called out from Inverness – and their dramatic airlift of the climber was caught on camera.
As the clip opens the climber can be seen lying on an exposed rocky outcrop.
He is surrounded by members of his climbing party who are seemingly unable to move him over the treacherous terrain.
The helicopter eventually maneuvers itself alongside the climbing party – before the winchman is lowered down towards them.
The climber and winchman are then lifted up from the isolated spot – with the climber seemingly in a leg-brace.
As they are evacuated the pair spin wildly in the wind over a 100ft drop onto the snowy rocks of 4,412ft Ben Nevis below.
As the video closes the pair have just made it to the cabin on the helicopter – steadying themselves from the dizzying spiral of their ascent.
A Coastguard spokesman said: “Police Scotland called in the Coastguard helicopter to help rescue a climber who had fallen and injured his hand and leg 1,000m (3,300ft) above sea level.”
A police spokeswoman said they received the original callout at about 1:15pm on Sunday.
She added that the man – who is in his 50s – was climbing on Castle Ridge with a group of visitors when he fell.
She went on: “He was airlifted off the hill by the Coastguard helicopter, then taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William by road ambulance.
“He suffered leg injuries and was kept in hospital overnight.”
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team leader John Stevenson said his crew has been on standby, but had not needed to attend the scene of the accident.
He said: “I don’t think the casualty fell very far. I believe it was cause by a rock fall.
“The rocks gave way and came down – one injured his hand and another hit him on the leg.”
Yesterday the Coastguard helicopter airlifted another casualty off Ben Nevis after a distress call was made at around 2:45pm.
Mr Stevenson said the man – in his 60s – and a visitor to the area has been walking in the Mor Dearg Arete with a group.
He explained: “The walker became unwell and couldn’t continue the route.
“He was having serious problems with his vision, possibly due to dehydration and exhaustion.”
