A pair of good Samaritans have been praised for their potentially life-saving assistance to two walkers following drama on Tayside’s hills.
In a busy weekend for civilian and police mountain rescue teams, three people were airlifted off the snowy terrain of glens in Angus and Perthshire.
Thankfully, all avoided becoming a further addition to the tragic winter toll which has seen 11 people die on Scotland’s mountains in just two months.
It has now emerged that two ill-equipped Glen Doll walkers were helped by experienced winter climbers who turned back to give them assistance after hearing the pair’s cries for help, and the leader of Tayside Mountain Rescue Team has said the lucky escape should serve as yet another warning of the deadly risk people face if they venture out unprepared.
The two walkers, in their twenties, were in the Corrie Sharroch area of the glen around 4pm when their shouts were heard by others and the alarm was raised, sparking the callout of the civilian and police rescue teams and helicopter 137 from RAF Lossiemouth.
TMRT leader Stuart Johnston said: “The two men had earlier bumped into a couple of climbers and they returned to the location to provide assistance to the walkers, who had taken a small slide down a snow slope.
“The two climbers did a very good job. Weather conditions were considered to be very good but unfortunately the two walkers had no ice axe or crampons. For anyone going into winter conditions you have to ensure that you have the skills and equipment to tackle that terrain.
“Unfortunately they were inadequately equipped, which was partly responsible for the situation they found themselves in,” he added. “The climbers were very familiar with the Glen Doll area and had the skills and ability to go back to help the two men, so we would express our thanks to them.”
Mr Johnston said it was surprising that people would still choose to head to the wintry hills without proper kit or training.
“The strong messages coming out from bodies such as the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and others could not be more obvious,” he added.
Just a couple of hours after the Glen Doll incident, volunteer TMRT members and police team counterparts were then called to the Glas Maol area of Glenshee, where a helicopter from RAF Boulmer lifted a lost skier to safety.
The 23-year-old became disorientated but Mr Johnston said he did everything right to increase his chances of a textbook outcome.
“He remained calm and called for help. We were on the hills searching for the young man when we saw his torchlight and were able to direct the helicopter in. The skier was exceptionally well equipped and had all the survival equipment we would hope to see.”