Climbers hurt in avalanche

The incident took place in the Cairngorms

Two people have been injured in an avalanche in the northern Cairngorms.

Police said that one of the climbers was thought to have sustained serious leg injuries.

The avalanche took place at about 3,000ft at 1315 GMT on Tuesday on Coire an Sneachda.

We have picked up two people from an avalanche at Coire an Sneachda

Michael Mulford
RAF spokesman

A helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was sent to the area to help with the rescue operation.

RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said the climbers were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

He said: "We have picked up two people from an avalanche at Coire an Sneachda, south of Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms.

"It is difficult to be certain how people are under these circumstances, but the impression we have is one seriously injured and one less so."

Mr Mulford said rescuers spent 40 minutes preparing the casualties for the airlift.

'Moderate' risk

It is understood that one climber suffered leg and back injuries, while the other appeared to have a head injury.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service had issued a category two warning - or a "moderate" risk - for the northern Cairngorms on Tuesday.

This had been downgraded from Monday's category three warning of "considerable" risk.

The service issues advice based on a scale from one, which is "low", to five, which is "very high".