Rescue climber in lost gear plea

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8528414.stm

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A climber who went to the aid of a friend who fell 50m in the Cairngorms has made a plea for the return of their climbing gear.

Paul Manson, from Edinburgh, raised the alarm after his 25-year-old companion fell from crags near to the Shelter Stone on Saturday.

In a message on the forum of website UKClimbing.com, Mr Manson said their equipment was abandoned at the scene.

He has asked other climbers if they would be willing to look out for it.

In the post on the forum, Mr Manson wrote: "We were involved in an incident on the Shelter Stone on Saturday and I had to abandon our rack and ropes to descend into Pinnacle Gully from Postern.

"We would be most grateful if anyone coming across these would consider returning them, I'm sure we could muster a wee bottle of whiskey in return. Cheers Paul."

Mr Manson's friend was dangling from the end of a rope for up to three hours after falling.

It is understood Mr Manson abseiled to him and dug him a seat on a snow ledge and then scrambled to safety to raise the alarm.

A helicopter airlifted the injured man to hospital in Inverness where he was treated for serious leg and spinal injuries.