This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/19/ground-search-missing-ben-nevis-climbers-halted-bad-weather-tim-newton-rachel-slater
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ground search for missing climbers remains suspended due to bad weather | Ground search for missing climbers remains suspended due to bad weather |
| (7 months later) | |
| The ground search for the young couple missing on Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands since last weekend remains suspended as high winds and drifting snow made conditions too dangerous for rescuers to venture on to the mountain on foot. | The ground search for the young couple missing on Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands since last weekend remains suspended as high winds and drifting snow made conditions too dangerous for rescuers to venture on to the mountain on foot. |
| John Stevenson, from Lochaber mountain rescue team, said the risk of avalanche and difficult weather conditions meant that a ground search on Friday for Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was unlikely. | John Stevenson, from Lochaber mountain rescue team, said the risk of avalanche and difficult weather conditions meant that a ground search on Friday for Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was unlikely. |
| He told the Good Morning Scotland programme on Radio Scotland: “We’re hoping to get a squad out tomorrow. We’re looking at getting localised searches of different areas. We’re going to go into the areas where the general public are not normally in during the week. It’s a bit dangerous in groups of twos or threes, so we’re really going to need to try and get a squad out tomorrow.” | He told the Good Morning Scotland programme on Radio Scotland: “We’re hoping to get a squad out tomorrow. We’re looking at getting localised searches of different areas. We’re going to go into the areas where the general public are not normally in during the week. It’s a bit dangerous in groups of twos or threes, so we’re really going to need to try and get a squad out tomorrow.” |
| Stevenson added that aerial searches on the mountainside had so far been unsuccessful in finding any trace of the couple, who are thought to have been camping near the Charles Inglis Clark memorial hut on the north side of Ben Nevis over the weekend. | Stevenson added that aerial searches on the mountainside had so far been unsuccessful in finding any trace of the couple, who are thought to have been camping near the Charles Inglis Clark memorial hut on the north side of Ben Nevis over the weekend. |
| He said: “We had the helicopter out yesterday with the team members doing some searches on board but again weather conditions have kept us fairly limited as to what we could do.” | He said: “We had the helicopter out yesterday with the team members doing some searches on board but again weather conditions have kept us fairly limited as to what we could do.” |
| Although the couple were experienced climbers they did not leave a route for their Valentine’s expedition, which has hampered the search. Stevenson said: “It is very frustrating and we’re trying to get something for the families mainly and we’ve got nothing to go on. We don’t know where to look yet, so we’re just going to have to start basically at the beginning and just work our way around the hill.” | Although the couple were experienced climbers they did not leave a route for their Valentine’s expedition, which has hampered the search. Stevenson said: “It is very frustrating and we’re trying to get something for the families mainly and we’ve got nothing to go on. We don’t know where to look yet, so we’re just going to have to start basically at the beginning and just work our way around the hill.” |
| The families of Slater and Newton said on Thursday that they remained hopeful the pair would be found. As Slater’s parents arrived in Scotland from Canada, where she and her family moved to from the UK about 10 years ago, the families issued a joint statement appealing for anyone who was in the Ben Nevis area last weekend who may have seen or spoken to the missing climbers to get in touch. | The families of Slater and Newton said on Thursday that they remained hopeful the pair would be found. As Slater’s parents arrived in Scotland from Canada, where she and her family moved to from the UK about 10 years ago, the families issued a joint statement appealing for anyone who was in the Ben Nevis area last weekend who may have seen or spoken to the missing climbers to get in touch. |
| Thanking those involved in the search, including members of the public and the climbing community, the statement added: “We’d also like to appeal to anyone planning to climb or hike in the area this weekend to be aware of the ongoing search activity and to report anything they feel may be relevant – even if it appears insignificant – to police on 101. | Thanking those involved in the search, including members of the public and the climbing community, the statement added: “We’d also like to appeal to anyone planning to climb or hike in the area this weekend to be aware of the ongoing search activity and to report anything they feel may be relevant – even if it appears insignificant – to police on 101. |
| “As the search continues we remain hopeful Rachel and Tim will be found and reunited with their families and friends.” | “As the search continues we remain hopeful Rachel and Tim will be found and reunited with their families and friends.” |
| The frustration of the Ben Nevis search concludes a difficult week for Scotland’s mountain rescue services. Four teams were scrambled to the Creag Meagaidh range, north Lochaber, on Wednesday after an avalanche which killed one climber and left another in a serious condition in hospital. | The frustration of the Ben Nevis search concludes a difficult week for Scotland’s mountain rescue services. Four teams were scrambled to the Creag Meagaidh range, north Lochaber, on Wednesday after an avalanche which killed one climber and left another in a serious condition in hospital. |
| Two hillwalkers who disappeared overnight on Tuesday in the Southern Uplands died in hospital from hypothermia after being found by three rescue teams and a helicopter on Wednesday. | Two hillwalkers who disappeared overnight on Tuesday in the Southern Uplands died in hospital from hypothermia after being found by three rescue teams and a helicopter on Wednesday. |
| The family of the third hillwalker to be rescued on the hills around Durisdeer, Dumfries and Galloway, said on Friday morning that he was recovering well. | The family of the third hillwalker to be rescued on the hills around Durisdeer, Dumfries and Galloway, said on Friday morning that he was recovering well. |
| Relatives of Bobby Thomson, 64, said he hoped to be able to leave hospital soon, and extended their condolences to the families of his fellow trekkers Geoffrey Stewart, 74, and George Crosbie, 73, who died. | Relatives of Bobby Thomson, 64, said he hoped to be able to leave hospital soon, and extended their condolences to the families of his fellow trekkers Geoffrey Stewart, 74, and George Crosbie, 73, who died. |
| Thomson’s family said: “Our family would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of George and Geoff following this tragedy.We are very grateful to all the services that were involved in the search and rescue and would like to thank them, and the staff at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, for all their efforts.” | Thomson’s family said: “Our family would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of George and Geoff following this tragedy.We are very grateful to all the services that were involved in the search and rescue and would like to thank them, and the staff at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, for all their efforts.” |