Fallen hillwalker found by chance

The man was climbing in the Torridon range

An injured hillwalker was "lucky to be alive" after being found by chance on the Torridon mountain range.

The 34-year-old man had fallen and was unconscious when members of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue team found him at 1330 GMT, while out training.

The rescue team called Stornoway Coastguard, which sent a helicopter to the Sgorr Ruadh area, in Wester Ross.

Later, a second walker was airlifted by an RAF Lossiemouth helicopter after falling in Glen Nevis, Locharber.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team also attended and the man was taken to Belford Hospital, Fort William.

The walker rescued during the night regained consciousness and was treated in hospital for head injuries.

Chance encounter

A spokesman for Stornoway Coastguard said: "A male hillwalker had fallen, suffered head injuries and was unconscious when the Kinloss team came across him.

"It was a chance encounter and it sounds like he was very lucky to be found. It probably saved his life."

The rescue mission took longer than expected because of the steep gradient of the mountain, he added, and the lone climber, who is from Glasgow, had to be moved before the helicopter could reach him.

The man is still being treated in hospital for head injuries, which are not life threatening.