Sarah Finch, 25, and her 24-year-old boyfriend Steven Newton, both from Dartford, Kent, were buried under tons of snow for more than 16 hours after the avalanche on the 4,000ft Aonach Mor, near Fort William.

Along with their mountain guide, 43-year-old Roger Wild, they suffered only minor injuries and hypothermia after being trapped for 16 hours in three feet of snow.

Roger Wild: Going home

Their friends Emma Ray, 29, her boyfriend Paul Hopkins, 28, both from Wilmington, Kent, Matthew Lewis, 28, and 30-year-old Ian Edwards, both from Dartford, were all killed.

Ms Finch, an embryologist, and Mr Newton, a transmissions engineer, said nothing as they were discharged from Belford Hospital in Fort William. They are believed to be travelling home to their families in Kent. Mr Wild, of Fort William, was discharged on Friday.

The six friends, led by Mr Wild, were just an hour into a winter skills course when the avalanche hit them on Tuesday.

They had travelled from Kent to Scotland with nine other close friends the day before to stay on a houseboat near Fort William for a New Year holiday.

Friends' tribute

The remaining nine paid tribute to their "wonderful, loyal" friends and said they would never come to terms with their deaths.

In a statement, they said: "We will never get over the loss of four wonderful, loyal friends or forget their zest for life, their lively, fun companionship and the many great times we have shared together. They were all so popular and loved by everyone that we know we will not be alone in this."

Many of the group knew each other from their schooldays and had gone to Venture Scouts together.

They were all members of the Scout Fellowship, which helps cubs, guides, venture scouts and other scouting organisations.

In their statement, the friends, who have not been named, said: "Ian, Matthew, Emma, Paul, Sarah and Steve had been keen and enthusiastic to use their time here to learn and practise basic winter walking skills.

"They had fully investigated the possibilities and rightly chose to use the services of a fully qualified, professional mountain guide.

"As always, they entered into the course in high spirits and full of enthusiasm."