Ben Nevis

A man was led unharmed from the summit of Ben Nevis early this morning after spending almost nine hours on the mountain.

Emergency services were alerted to the walker’s plight at 4.15pm yesterday, Wednesday, when the man was reported to be in difficulties on the 1,344m (4,409ft) mountain in heavy snow and strong winds.

A Sea King helicopter from RAF Kinloss airlifted 14 members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team on to the mountain.

A spokesperson from the Northern Constabulary said: “The walker was located safe and well near to the summit of Ben Nevis but, owing to the prevailing weather conditions, the helicopter was unable to assist with extracting the walker and the mountain rescue team from the summit.

“As a result, the rescue team members escorted the walker down the hill to safety.”

The spokesperson said the man was very cold and wet after his ordeal in ‘very testing conditions’. All those involved were off the mountain by 1am this morning.