Tweed Valley MRT members found the missing woman. Photo: Dave Wright/Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team

A missing woman was airlifted from a hillside in the Scottish Borders after she was found following a major search involving more than 30 members of two mountain rescue teams.

The 27-year-old woman, described as vulnerable, was suffering from mild hypothermia when she was discovered 8½ hours after she had last been seen.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was called out by police at 5.05 yesterday to search an area around Galashiels. 19 volunteer team members were joined by 12 from the RAF Leuchars MRT and a Sea King helicopter crew from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire.

Police said the woman was inadequately dressed for the outdoors and there was concern for her with forecast persistent rain and low temperatures.

The search centred on rural and semi-rural areas close to where the woman had last been seen by members of the public.

A Tweed Valley MRT spokesperson said: “At around 9.30pm, a party of six TVMRT personnel located the missing person after hearing cries for help.

“She was lying on an open hillside, was cold, wet and mildly hypothermic. The Royal Navy helicopter assisted with the evacuation of the casualty to a waiting ambulance where she was taken to the Borders General Hospital.”

Team leader Steve Penny said: “Working with information provided to the police by members of the public, the search teams were able to be deployed to areas in which the casualty was likely to be located.

“The team worked hard to search the areas as quickly and as thoroughly as possible and this resulted in the casualty being found at around 9.30pm.”