The three were rescued after being trapped in sub-zero temperatures for 16 hours under 3ft of snow on the 4,000ft (1219m) Aonoch Mor peak near Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands.

The avalanche struck on Tuesday just an hour after the group, six scout members and their instructor, had begun a two-day winter climbing skills course.

Emma Ray, 29; Paul Hopkins, 28; Matthew Lewis, 28, and Ian Edwards, 30, died in the avalanche.

Steven Newton, 24; Sarah Finch, 25, and instructor Roger Wild, were carried off the mountain one at a time after rescuers found them at 0120 GMT on Wednesday.

They were taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William, where they were treated for hypothermia. All three are expected to leave hospital on Thursday.

Police inspector Charles Ross said: "It is amazing that anyone survived in the circumstances."

Terry Confield: I have never found anyone alive before in an avalanche

Terry Confield of Lochabar Mountain Rescue, which found the hikers, said: "I have never found anyone alive in an avalanche yet and I have been in the rescue service for 36 years. That speaks for itself."

Consultant David Sedgwick of Belford Hospital said: "They have been extremely lucky. The guardian angels are obviously watching over them."

Experts say they survived because they suffered no major injuries as they were buried in the snow.

They were also lucky that air pockets formed around their bodies and they had enough space around their mouths to breathe.

Mr Wild was praised for following "good mountain practice" and leaving detailed instructions about the group's whereabouts.

RAF helicopters and mountain rescuers have also been commended for braving further avalanches and winds gusting up to 50mph to bring the climbers down.