Couple survive mountain plunge

The couple were climbing in the Cairgorms

A couple survived a 700-feet fall after they plunged from a Scottish mountain and landed in soft snow.

Rescuers said the husband and wife, from Guildford in Surrey, were lucky to have survived after falling off Coire an Sneachda in the Cairngorms.

They were climbing on the same rope when the ground beneath the woman's feet gave way.

The alarm was raised at 1730 GMT on Thursday when the woman dialled 999 on her mobile phone.

But the Cairngorm and RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Teams did not locate the couple for four hours due to poor visibility.

'Very lucky'

They were both taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness shortly after 0000 GMT.

The man, who is in his 40s, suffered a serious leg injury while the woman, who was in her 30s, was treated for cuts and bruises.

Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team leader John Allen said the couple were fortunate to be alive after falling off the 3,857ft peak.

He said: "They fell approximately 600 to 700 feet and both were conscious when they landed in soft snow.

"The snow was definitely a major factor in saving their lives and they were very lucky that they got away almost unscathed.

"They were also lucky in that the woman could get a mobile phone signal so she could make a 999 call."

Mr Allen said two male climbers in the area helped the couple by building a snow shelter for them and waiting until rescue teams arrived.