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| Cairngorms avalanche: Third person dies | Cairngorms avalanche: Third person dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A third person has died after an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands. | |
| Two men and a woman were airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after a search and rescue operation in the Chalamain Gap area of the Cairngorms on Thursday. | |
| A man and woman were confirmed to have died later the same day. Police said on Friday morning that the second man had died as a result of his injuries. | |
| Nine other people in the same party were unhurt and walked off the mountain. | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond offered his sympathy and said: "This is another stark and tragic reminder of the dangers on our mountains." | |
| Police, mountain rescue teams, search and rescue dogs and an RAF helicopter were involved in the operation at the Chalamain Gap, which is a deep, rocky valley in the Cairngorms on the route from the Cairngorm ski road to the Lairig Ghru. | Police, mountain rescue teams, search and rescue dogs and an RAF helicopter were involved in the operation at the Chalamain Gap, which is a deep, rocky valley in the Cairngorms on the route from the Cairngorm ski road to the Lairig Ghru. |
| It is understood the three climbers involved were buried in the snow when rescuers found them. | It is understood the three climbers involved were buried in the snow when rescuers found them. |
| Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team were involved, along with the police and two helicopters from RAF Lossiemouth. | Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team were involved, along with the police and two helicopters from RAF Lossiemouth. |
| David Rutledge, the training officer for Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said: "We started mobilising within 15 minutes of the call coming through. | David Rutledge, the training officer for Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said: "We started mobilising within 15 minutes of the call coming through. |
| "We had a helicopter here incredibly quickly. We had three doctors available straight away who were able to get to the scene." | "We had a helicopter here incredibly quickly. We had three doctors available straight away who were able to get to the scene." |
| He said: "Snow conditions would have been affected massively by the weather we've had over the last few days, but significantly temperatures were increasing throughout the day and that will have had an effect on what was going on." | He said: "Snow conditions would have been affected massively by the weather we've had over the last few days, but significantly temperatures were increasing throughout the day and that will have had an effect on what was going on." |
| The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) had issued forecasts for Thursday warning of a period of avalanche activity overnight in the Cairngorms and a considerable hazard throughout the day. | The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) had issued forecasts for Thursday warning of a period of avalanche activity overnight in the Cairngorms and a considerable hazard throughout the day. |
| Series of avalanches | Series of avalanches |
| It is the latest in a series of avalanche incidents in the Scottish Highlands in the past few weeks. | It is the latest in a series of avalanche incidents in the Scottish Highlands in the past few weeks. |
| Four experienced climbers were killed in an avalanche in Glencoe on 19 January. Two of their party survived, with one suffering serious injuries. | Four experienced climbers were killed in an avalanche in Glencoe on 19 January. Two of their party survived, with one suffering serious injuries. |
| Two climbers escaped unhurt after being caught in a snow slide in Coire an Lochain, also in the Cairngorms, on the same weekend. | Two climbers escaped unhurt after being caught in a snow slide in Coire an Lochain, also in the Cairngorms, on the same weekend. |
| The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) said there were 52 fatalities on Scotland's mountains in 2011. Of those, 21 were climbing related. | The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) said there were 52 fatalities on Scotland's mountains in 2011. Of those, 21 were climbing related. |
| Mr Salmond said: "My thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of those who have sadly been killed in this tragic accident, as well as those who are still being cared for in hospital." | Mr Salmond said: "My thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of those who have sadly been killed in this tragic accident, as well as those who are still being cared for in hospital." |
| He said of the Cairngorms: "They are one of the most beautiful places on Earth but they can also be inherently dangerous with treacherous and changeable conditions." | He said of the Cairngorms: "They are one of the most beautiful places on Earth but they can also be inherently dangerous with treacherous and changeable conditions." |