Three climbers rescued from Ben Nevis during a blizzard were wearing trainers.
They were without proper winter equipment and had to be lifted from the mountain after running into trouble near the summit.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, who had 22 members out searching for the four in “horrendous weather”, said they had no ice axes, crampons or – as far as they were aware – maps.
They said in a statement: “All casualties lifted from Half Way Lochan by R151 and transported by team to the Belford Hospital.
“Extremely lucky people. No winter kit – no ice axes, no crampons and as far as we are aware no maps. Three of the guys were in trainers.
“They were about 150 metres down into Coire Eoghainn on steep ice and if they had slipped or gone down any further consequences could have been far more serious.”
The rescuers said the group survived “in some of the most challenging weather this year”, before adding: “Could have so easily ended up so different.”
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