Creag nan Damh. Photo: Stu Smith

Police have praised a motorist whose prompt actions led to a hillwalker being rescued.

The walker was airlifted from a Highland mountainside after a passing driver spotted his flashed distress signal late on Saturday night as she was passing the Glenshiel Battle Ground on the A87 in Wester Ross. The motorist, Valerie Gilmartin, of Kyle, reported the flashing light to police who investigated.

A spokesperson for Northern Constabulary said: “Police officers responded and also saw this light on the hill known as Creag nan Damh.  The officers signalled with a torch and using an SOS signal, received confirmation of the presence of a person in difficulties on the hill.”

Members of the Kintail Mountain Rescue Team went to the walker’s aid, and a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth joined the operation.

The man was located about 11.20pm and airlifted to hospital, suffering from head and leg injuries. Police said the walker, a 33-year-old teacher from Dumbarton, had fallen a considerable distance.

He was flown to Belford Hospital, Fort William, before being transferred to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness for specialist treatment. His condition is described by police as non life-threatening.

Inspector Duncan MacLean of Northern Constabulary said: “There is no doubt that had it not been for the vigilance and prompt action of Ms Gilmartin in alerting the emergency services, it would have been some time before anybody was alerted to this man’s predicament.

“Without Ms Gilmartin’s information, protracted enquiry and search may have been required before the emergency services located him and this would have delayed vital medical treatment.  Ms Gilmartin’s actions and the police officers’ initiative are therefore to be highly commended”.

The teacher was eventually reported overdue by his partner shortly after midnight on Sunday, by which time the rescuers had located the man.

The walker is still being treated in hospital. His details have not been released.

The 918m (3,011ft) munro Creag nan Damh is the most westerly peak of the south Glen Shiel ridge.