This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21469089

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Cairngorms avalanche: Two victims were RAF personnel Cairngorms avalanche: Police name RAF victim
(about 2 hours later)
Two of the three people who died after an avalanche in the Highlands were RAF service personnel, it has emerged. Police have named one of the three people who died after an avalanche in the 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. Sqn Ldr Rimon Than, 33, of RAF Valley, North Wales, was one of two RAF service personnel who was killed in the incident on Thursday afternoon.
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. Another man and a woman died after being caught in an avalanche in the Chalamain Gap area of the Cairngorms.
An MoD spokesman confirmed that two RAF personnel had been killed. All three had been airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after a search and rescue operation on Thursday.
Sqn Ldr Than was a member of the Army Mountaineering Association (AMA) and a qualified doctor. He was described as an experienced climber.
He had recently returned from an AMA expedition to China in December 2012, where his team had become the first to reach the peak of the 5,640m (18,504 ft) Wupingfeng mountain in Sichuan province.
Northern Constabulary said the next of kin of the other two climbers who died had asked for time to inform friends and family before their names were released to the public.
An MoD spokesman confirmed that two of those who died were RAF personnel.
He added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives."He added: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives."
Nine other people in the same party were unhurt. They walked off the mountain.Nine other people in the same party were unhurt. They walked off the mountain.
Tributes
First Minister Alex Salmond offered his sympathy and said: "This is another stark and tragic reminder of the dangers on our mountains."First Minister Alex Salmond offered his sympathy and said: "This is another stark and tragic reminder of the dangers on our mountains."
Northern Constabulary Area Inspector Murdoch MacLeod said: "Clearly this is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are currently with the families of those who have lost their lives.
"It is important that we pay tribute to work of the rescuers who responded extremely quickly to the incident and located all three climbers in a short space of time.
"All three were airlifted to Aberdeen, but sadly they died as a result of their injuries."
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.
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.
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."