RAF crew flies 260 miles to join rescue of five climbers after avalanches in Cairngorms

An RAF crew from Wales flew more than 260 miles to aid in the rescue of five climbers in the Cairngorms after two avalanches.

The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team responded to two human-triggered avalanches in Coire an t-Sneachda in the northern area of the mountain range on Tuesday.

The first rescue involved three climbers, and the second involved two.

In the first incident, two people were treated at the scene and one was taken by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital.

In the second, two people were airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after an ambulance, two air ambulances and a trauma team were dispatched to the scene.

A multi-agency response was scrambled, including crews from RAF Valley – from 268 miles away in Anglesey, Wales – and RAF Lossiemouth.

Crews were also called out to two climbers who had been hit by 'piles of hardened snow' on Sunday. — Crews were also called out to two climbers who had been hit by ‘piles of hardened snow’ on Sunday. Cairngorm Mountain Rescue/Facebook

The double rescue comes after crews were called to two climbers on Sunday on the corrie when an overhanging edge of snow collapsed, hitting them with “piles of hardened snow.”

That incident also triggered an avalanche and both climbers were airlifted off the mountain and taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

A Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson: “We responded to two human-triggered avalanches in Coire and t-Sneachda in the Northern Cairngorms on Tuesday.

“The first involve three climbers and the second involved two.

“Both incidents resulted in multi-agency responses.

“We would like to thanks RAF Valley and RAF Lossiemouth who gave medical attention and began the evacuation of the injured climbers before being joined by CMRT.

“As always Cairngorm Mountain Resort provided assistance throughout the rescues.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called twice on February 18 to attend two incidents in Coire an t-Sneachda in the Northern Cairngorms.

“An ambulance, critical care paramedic and HM Coastguard were dispatched to the first incident. Two patients were treated at the scene and one patient was transported by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital.

“For the second incident, an ambulance, two air ambulances and a trauma team were dispatched to the scene and two patients were transported by air to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”