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11:34 GMT, Sunday, 14 December 2008

Lost walkers spark police anger

Ben Lomond from the south (Pic by Undiscovered Scotland)

Two walkers who sparked a six-hour search have been criticised by police for getting "everything wrong".

The pair were part of a group of about 20 sponsored walkers from Dennistoun in Glasgow who were heading to Ben Lomond.

It is understood the men had been drinking alcohol the night before and continued to drink during the walk.

Police said the weather was terrible on Saturday, with ice and snow, but despite the conditions the men were wearing tracksuits and trainers.

The men abandoned the walk late on Saturday morning but had failed to return to the minibus by the time the group returned at about 1430 GMT.

The first man was located at about 1545 GMT, five miles away on a farm track at Couligartan, near Loch Ard, after a member of the public called an ambulance.

Hypothermia symptoms

An RAF helicopter was scrambled to help police and Lomond Mountain Rescue Team with the search for the second man.

He was found five hours later, two miles in the other direction from Ben Lomond, near Comer Farm, Stronmacnair, with symptoms of hypothermia.

A Central Scotland Police spokesman said: "These two man had both been drinking the night before and continued to drink while walking.

"The weather was terrible with ice and snow. They were not dressed appropriately for walking.

"If you wanted an example of how to do everything wrong on a walk then this was it."




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Related to this story:
Rise in mountain rescue numbers (05 Sep 08 |  Tayside and Central )
Plan for new mountain rescue team (19 Aug 08 |  Highlands and Islands )
Stick-on patch for rescue teams (05 Aug 08 |  Highlands and Islands )
Rescuers warning to hill walkers (29 Jul 08 |  Tayside and Central )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Mountain Rescue Service
MRC Scotland
Undiscovered Scotland
Central Scotland Police
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