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| Skier missing after avalanche in Scottish Highlands | Skier missing after avalanche in Scottish Highlands |
| (5 days later) | |
| A search has begun for a skier believed to have been caught in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands. | A search has begun for a skier believed to have been caught in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands. |
| Northern Constabulary said emergency services were alerted to the avalanche, which occurred close to the Glencoe ski centre, just after 1pm on Saturday. | Northern Constabulary said emergency services were alerted to the avalanche, which occurred close to the Glencoe ski centre, just after 1pm on Saturday. |
| Around 30 people are involved in the search operation in an off-piste skiing area in the Etive Glades, Glencoe mountain rescue team said. The operation, which was called off as dark fell on Saturday night and will resume at first light on Sunday, also includes police, a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and Lochaber mountain rescue team. | Around 30 people are involved in the search operation in an off-piste skiing area in the Etive Glades, Glencoe mountain rescue team said. The operation, which was called off as dark fell on Saturday night and will resume at first light on Sunday, also includes police, a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and Lochaber mountain rescue team. |
| Glencoe mountain resort posted on its Facebook page: "[We] regret to say that an experienced off-piste skier skiing outside the ski area was caught in a major avalanche this afternoon. Mountain rescue teams and Glencoe ski patrol have been on site for the last four hours." | Glencoe mountain resort posted on its Facebook page: "[We] regret to say that an experienced off-piste skier skiing outside the ski area was caught in a major avalanche this afternoon. Mountain rescue teams and Glencoe ski patrol have been on site for the last four hours." |
| A forecast on the SportScotland avalanche information service website on Friday had placed Glencoe at "considerable risk" of an avalanche. | A forecast on the SportScotland avalanche information service website on Friday had placed Glencoe at "considerable risk" of an avalanche. |
| "The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes," it said. "Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. In some cases medium-sized, in isolated cases large-sized, natural avalanches are possible." | "The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes," it said. "Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. In some cases medium-sized, in isolated cases large-sized, natural avalanches are possible." |
| Mark Fulton, 25, from Gourock, Inverclyde, who was skiing all day with his family on the slopes at the Glencoe ski centre, said he saw the rescue mission unfolding. | Mark Fulton, 25, from Gourock, Inverclyde, who was skiing all day with his family on the slopes at the Glencoe ski centre, said he saw the rescue mission unfolding. |
| "I was up there from about 10am and at lunchtime we went in to get something to eat at the cafe and we saw an emergency helicopter hovering about," he said. | "I was up there from about 10am and at lunchtime we went in to get something to eat at the cafe and we saw an emergency helicopter hovering about," he said. |
| "It looked as though it was coming in to land near the bottom of the hill. When we were leaving later I saw police and mountain rescue vans all gathered as well. | "It looked as though it was coming in to land near the bottom of the hill. When we were leaving later I saw police and mountain rescue vans all gathered as well. |
| "I didn't actually know there had been an avalanche until I was driving home and heard it on the radio. | "I didn't actually know there had been an avalanche until I was driving home and heard it on the radio. |
| "It's just not something you think about when you're going out skiing, you never think something like that will happen to you – it's like when you get on a plane, you don't think it's going to crash. | "It's just not something you think about when you're going out skiing, you never think something like that will happen to you – it's like when you get on a plane, you don't think it's going to crash. |
| "I just hope the person is found safe and well." | "I just hope the person is found safe and well." |
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