OAP in 20-hour barbed wire ordeal

Mr Fraser became trapped as he tried to climb a barbed wire fence

An elderly man has been fighting for his life after becoming stuck on barbed wire for more than 20 hours in sub-zero temperatures.

Former quarry worker Willie Fraser, 83, became entangled while trying to climb over the fence near the Torvean golf course in Inverness.

He was found at 1100 GMT on Wednesday by a friend and was just 150 yards from the A82 Fort William road.

Mr Fraser had been trapped since 1500 GMT on Tuesday in -7C temperatures.

Mr Fraser, who regularly walks along the course near his home, was frozen and exhausted but surprised paramedics by his alertness.

How he survived outside in the freezing cold for so long is amazing Neighbour of Mr Fraser

He was suffering from extreme hypothermia and airlifted by air ambulance to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

NHS Highland said his condition was critical but stable.

His daughters Linda and Janet have been keeping a bedside vigil.

Janet's husband, Steve Bray, said: "Everyone in the family is devastated. He cared for his wife for 12 years before she died. He is such a nice man.

"He is always calling his neighbours 'old'. He doesn't consider himself old."

Lost wife

Mr Fraser's wife, also Janet, died last year and his faithful dog which joined him on his walks around his home in Millerton Avenue died shortly after.

A neighbour said: "He is always doing something for his neighbours, like taking out their wheelie bins.

The fence is next to a golf course

"How he survived outside in the freezing cold for so long is amazing. He is 83, but must be very hardy."

Another neighbour, Rena Murray, 49, said she and her husband David had noticed there were no lights on at Mr Fraser's bungalow on Tuesday night.

She said: "We have known Bill for years. He lost his wife after a long illness just last year. He used to walk his dog around the course all the time.

"My husband said he had noticed there was no light on at his house when he came in. There is always a light on normally."

Mr Fraser is well-known at Torvean Golf Club.

One golfer said: "It is astonishing how he managed to survive so long with the deep frost we've been having."